Eight Men Out (1988)

Director:

John Sayles

Writers (WGA):

Eliot Asinof (book)
John Sayles (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Sport

Tagline:

1919. The year America saw major league baseball played a whole new way...underhanded.

Plot:

A dramatization of the Black Sox scandal when the underpaid Chicago White Sox accepted bribes to deliberately lose the 1919 World Series.

Plot Keywords:

World Series | Scandal | Chicago White Sox | Gambler | Black Sox Scandal

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Cusack	...	George 'Buck' Weaver
Clifton James	...	Charles 'Commie' Comiskey
Michael Lerner	...	Arnold Rothstein
Christopher Lloyd	...	'Sleepy' Bill Burns
John Mahoney	...	William 'Kid' Gleason
Charlie Sheen	...	Oscar 'Hap' Felsch
David Strathairn	...	Eddie Cicotte
D.B. Sweeney	...	Joseph 'Shoeless Joe' Jackson
Michael Rooker	...	Arnold 'Chick' Gandil
Don Harvey	...	Charles 'Swede' Risberg
James Read	...	Claude 'Lefty' Williams
Perry Lang	...	Fred McMullin
Gordon Clapp	...	Ray Schalk
Jace Alexander	...	Dickie Kerr
Bill Irwin	...	Eddie Collins
Richard Edson	...	Billy Maharg
Kevin Tighe	...	Joseph 'Sport' Sullivan
Michael Mantell	...	Abe Attell
John Anderson	...	Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Studs Terkel	...	Hugh Fullerton
James Desmond	...	Smitty (as Jim Desmond)
John Sayles	...	Ring Lardner
Eliot Asinof	...	John Heydler
Clyde Bassett	...	Ban Johnson
John D. Craig	...	Rothstein's lawyer
Michael Laskin	...	Alfred Austrian
Randle Mell	...	Michael Ahearn
Robert Motz	...	District Attorney
Bill Raymond	...	Ben Short
Barbara Garrick	...	Helen Weaver
Wendy Makkena	...	Kate Jackson
Maggie Renzi	...	Rose Cicotte
Nancy Travis	...	Lyra Williams
Tay Strathairn	...	Bucky
Jesse Vincent	...	Scooter
Jack George	...	Fan
Tom Surber	...	Fan
Tom Ledcke	...	Fan
David Carpenter	...	Fan
Bert Hatch	...	Fan
Jerry Brent	...	Writer
Bruce Schumacher	...	Writer
Robert Walsh	...	Writer
Matthew Harrington	...	Writer
Richard Lynch	...	Writer
Gary Williams	...	Writer
Michael Harris	...	Writer
Ken Berry	...	Heckler
David Rice	...	Enemy fan
Tom Marshall	...	Browns umpire
Jack Merrill	...	Grabiner (as Merrill Holtzman)
Josh Thompson	...	Winslow
Julie Whitney	...	Woman in Bar
Dana Roi	...	Woman in Bar
Philip Murphy	...	Jimmy
Stephen Mendillo	...	Monk
J. Dennis Newman	...	Reds Player
Charles Siebert	...	Ivey Wingo (as Charles Siebert II)
Jim Martindale	...	Cincinnati Umpire
Bill Jennings	...	Chicago Umpire
David Hinman	...	Announcer
Danton Stone	...	Hired Killer
Patrick Grant	...	Irish Tenor
Tim Laughter	...	Betting Man
Brad Armacost	...	Attendant
Jim Stark	...	Reporter
Brad Griffith	...	Reporter
Steve Salge	...	Reporter
Dick Cusack	...	Judge Friend
Eaton Randles	...	Clerk
Max Chiddester	...	Tom Nash
Rich Komenich	...	Jury Foreman
Patrick Brown	...	New Jersey Fan
John Griesemer	...	New Jersey Fan
Charles Yankoglu	...	New Jersey Fan
Michael B. Preston	...	New Jersey Fan (as Michael Preston)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John E. Blazier	...	Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
Luther Creek	...	Ball Park usher (uncredited)
Jack Randall Earles	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Sam Gaw	...	Usher (uncredited)
Wayne Pyle	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Bill Reeves	...	(uncredited)
Keith Schrader	...	Umpire (uncredited)
Aaron Weiler	...	Reds Player, Hoboken Player (uncredited)

Directed by
John Sayles

Writing credits (WGA)
Eliot Asinof		(book "8 Men Out")
John Sayles		(screenplay)

Produced by
Barbara Boyle	....	executive producer
Jerry Offsay	....	executive producer
Sarah Pillsbury	....	producer
Peggy Rajski	....	co-producer
Midge Sanford	....	producer

Original Music by
Mason Daring

Cinematography by
Robert Richardson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Tintori

Production Design by
Nora Chavooshian

Art Direction by
Dan Bishop

Set Decoration by
Lynn Wolverton-Parker		(as Lynn Wolverton)

Costume Design by
Cynthia Flynt

Makeup Department
Bonnie Clevering	....	hair stylist
Gigi Coker	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Cyd Adams	....	unit manager
Sarah Green	....	assistant production manager
Mary F. Jansen	....	post-production supervisor (as Mary Feldbauer Jansen)
Peggy Rajski	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
C.C. Barnes	....	second second assistant director
Gary Marcus	....	first assistant director
Gina Randazzo	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Bill Ballou	....	construction coordinator
Linda Brenick	....	buyer
Jeff Butcher	....	assistant on-set dresser
Sandi Cook	....	scenic artist
Kirk Corwin	....	property master
Dianna Freas	....	buyer
Don Gibbin Jr.	....	assistant art director (as Don Gibbin)
Ted Haigh	....	lead scenic artist
Todd Hatfield	....	scenic artist
Carole Hughes	....	head on-set dresser
Janet Kalas	....	scenic artist
Alba Leone	....	lead person
Chris Miller	....	set dresser
Rebecca Montagne	....	set dresser
Raoul Moore	....	carpenter
Leo Murphy	....	assistant props
Joel Ossenfort	....	scenic artist
John Ralbovsky	....	chargeman scenic artist
Dan Smiley	....	carpenter
Florence Vercheval	....	scenic artist
Richard Blake Wester	....	set dresser (as Richard Wester)
Mark Wieringa	....	lead carpenter

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	assistant sound editor (as Gina R. Alfano)
Jeanne Atkin	....	apprentice sound editor
David Brownlow	....	sound mixer
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Jolie Gorchov	....	apprentice sound editor
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor (as Robert A. Hein)
Michael Jacobi	....	adr editor
Frank Kern	....	assistant sound editor
Lori Kornspun	....	assistant sound editor
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Tony Martinez	....	sound editor
Sylvia Menno	....	apprentice sound editor
Laurie Mullen	....	sound editor
Abe Nejad	....	sound editor
Ken S. Polk	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Ken Polk)
Lisa Schnall	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Mary Cybulski	....	visual effects
Mitch Wilson	....	optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Joey Alvarez	....	grip
Steve Apicella	....	video assist operator
Mary Cybulski	....	camera loader
Mark Shane Davis	....	key grip (as Mark Davis)
Lex DuPont	....	first assistant camera
Nelson Elwell	....	grip
Lisa Harper	....	grip
Steve Lang	....	best boy grip
Bob Marshak	....	still photographer
Matthew S. Myers	....	lighting technician
Reinhart 'Rayteam' Peschke	....	gaffer (as Ray Peschke)
Bill Pierson	....	dolly grip
Marc Reshovsky	....	camera operator: second unit
Michael Riley	....	electrician
Frank Scheidbach	....	best boy electric
Jeff Barklage	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Eve Battaglia	....	casting associate: New York
Doug Beebe	....	casting production assistant
Carrie Frazier	....	casting: Los Angeles
Shani Ginsberg	....	casting: Los Angeles
Avy Kaufman	....	location casting
Barbara Shapiro	....	casting: New York
Jonathan Starch	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Emmett Lee Bales	....	stand-by costume: extras
Claudia Brown	....	assistant costume designer
Elizabeth Feldbauer	....	wardrobe assistant
Adam Lee Freeman	....	wardrobe assistant
Jolie Gorchov	....	wardrobe assistant
Susan Lyall	....	assistant costume designer
Marina Marit	....	wardrobe production assistant
Kathleen Mobley	....	wardrobe assistant
Jacqueline Pinon	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Kate Sanford	....	apprentice editor
Tim Squyres	....	assistant editor
Heidi Vogel	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Art Baron	....	musician: trombone
Peter Ecklund	....	musician: trumpet
Stu Gunn	....	musician: tuba
Jimmy Mazzy	....	musician: banjo
Billy Novick	....	musician: clarinet
Bill Reynolds	....	musician: drums
Butch Thompson	....	musician: piano
Robyn Verdier	....	musician: piano

Transportation Department
William F. Brady	....	driver
William 'Fleet' Eakland	....	transportation coordinator (as Fleet Eakland)
Bart Heimburger	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Beth Bernstein	....	office production assistant
Ken Berry	....	baseball coach
Ged Dickersin	....	office production assistant
Vincent Gratzer	....	historical consultant
Vincent Gratzer	....	promotions director
Brian Hulse	....	production assistant
Georgia Kacandes	....	assistant production coordinator
Nancy Kriegel	....	assistant auditor
Paul Marcus	....	location manager
Heather McGrath	....	office production assistant
Evan A. Nesbitt	....	production assistant
Jackie Pine	....	script supervisor (as Jacqueline Pine)
Carrie Rudolf	....	production assistant
Jeannette Scheibe	....	production assistant
Neil Toussaint	....	production assistant
Matilde Valera	....	auditor
Amelia Villero	....	production assistant
David H. Kramer	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Globo Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Orion Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1989) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Finland:S | USA:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bush Stadium - 1501 W. 16th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Chick Gandil met Joseph "Sport" Sullivan while Gandil was a member of the Washington Senators. Sullivan was one of the key members in the scheme to throw the 1919 world series.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the players meet the lawyers for the first time, the head counsel introduced his co-counsels by likening them to famous ballplayers (i.e.: "The Ty Cobb of lawyers"). One of the Sox players asks, "Who is the Babe Ruth?" The head counsel replies "I am". In the time line of the film, however, which is suggested to be between the 1919 and 1920 seasons, Babe Ruth would have just completed his final season with the Boston Red Sox, and also was his first season playing more than 100 games, and he might not have been as famous as he became later. However, the actual indictments of the players (and the meeting with the lawyers) took place after the 1920 season. In 1920, the Babe had by far the greatest offensive season ever, being the first player to 30, 40 and 50 home runs in a season, as well as setting a slugging percentage record that stood for more than 80 years.

Quotes:

[Shoeless Joe Jackson is talking to his bat]
Shoeless Joe:Big whop now. Big whop, Betsy; you tell me when.
Freddie:Does it ever answer you, Joe?
Lefty Williams:Probably sleeps with it, too.
Lefty Williams:Lay off, you guys.
Hap Felsch:You crackers stick together, huh?
Swede Risberg:Ask it for a triple, Joe. You hear me?
Freddie:60 years since the Civil War, Lefty. Ease up.
Hap Felsch:Besides, you guys lost. It was in all the papers.
Freddie:That wouldn't help Jackson none.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Numb3rs: 7 Men Out (#6.3)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

After You've Gone

Dear God, I love this movie!

John Sayles is always, always honest with his audiences, never resorting to cheap tricks or unwarranted sentiment; and this period drama about the "Black Sox" scandal of 1919 may be his finest hour. Incredibly handsome and lavish-looking for a low-budget indie, it's a meticulous re-creation of the first huge scandal in American professional sports, and the beginning of the loss of innocence in pro baseball (and American popular culture by extension). If that makes it sound a bit dry, let it be said that the characterizations are vivid, the characters multilayered, the costumes gorgeous, and the staging of the baseball games unusually convincing. (Ever notice how movie stars can't really fake pro-athlete moves? Watch John Cusack charge an outfield fly, or Charlie Sheen slide into third--they had me convinced.) In a uniformly excellent cast, David Strathairn's morally tortured star pitcher is especially impressive, as is John Mahoney's manager, alternately loving and despising his players, his eroding trust etched on his expressive face. And what a wonderful touch having Studs Terkel play a cynical sportswriter: He's the essence of Chicago style.

Some of the facts of the story are necessarily simplified or omitted to keep the movie under two hours, but there's not a moment of dishonesty or "Field of Dreams"-type goo. By the time the kid is looking Joe Jackson in the eye and pleading, "Say it ain't so," you'll probably be sniffling.

A high-water mark in the career of a great, versatile, underappreciated moviemaker.