A Winner Never Quits (1986) (TV)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Mel Damski

Writer:

Burt Prelutsky (writer)

Release Date:

14 April 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Family | Sport

Plot:

Fact-based story of a young boy who lost his right arm in a childhood accident, but went on to fulfill his dreams of playing major-league baseball...

Plot Keywords:

Boy | Baseball | Memphis Chicks | St. Louis Browns | Outfielder

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Keith Carradine	...	Pete Gray
Mare Winningham	...	Annie
G.W. Bailey	...	Tatum
Dennis Weaver	...	Mr. Wyshner
Huckleberry Fox	...	Nelson Gary Jr.
Jack Kehoe	...	Bloom
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Mrs. Wyshner
Ed O'Neill	...	Whitey Wyshner
Dana Delany	...	Nora
Charles Hallahan	...	Nelson Gary Sr.
Mary Jo Deschanel	...	Mrs. Gary
Jeff McCracken	...	Sheldrake
Jim Morgan	...	Hatfield
David Haid	...	Henderson
Brad Sullivan	...	Taylor

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:All | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Blatt-Singer Productions

Good family fare

This movies is based on a true story. Pete Gray, son of a poor immigrant coal miner in Pennsylvania, loses an arm during childhood. He learns to overcome his disability and to play baseball with just one arm. When he grows up, he pursues the dream of playing in the majors during the '40s.

It's an inspiring story. For instance, to field a ball, Gray would catch it in his glove (which was smaller than the standard), toss the ball back up in the air long enough to allow him to toss off the glove, then catch the ball in the bare hand and throw it again. It's incredible to think about someone being able to do that well enough to play with the pros, but he did.

I think any child or person that might be worrying about whether their personal limitations might keep them from trying to fulfill a dream should watch this movie.

Carradine is very convincing as Gray; I suppose there might be moments when you could catch a glimpse of his "extra" arm stuffed in his shirt, but I don't remember any.

"Married with Children" fans can have fun with the scenes with Ed O'Neill as Carradine's older brother.

FYI: I worked as an extra on this movie in some scenes filmed near Chattanooga, Tenn. (in nearby Marion County). It is amazing what the crew did with what they had to work with.

You won't be disappointed if you can find this on video or catch a broadcast. It's not one of those all-time great movies, but it's several notches above standard TV movie fare.