The Babe (1992)

Babe Ruth becomes a baseball legend but is unheroic to those who know him.

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writer:

John Fusco

Stars:

John Goodman, Kelly McGillis, Trini Alvarado

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Goodman	...	George Herman 'Babe' Ruth
Kelly McGillis	...	Claire Hodgson Ruth
Trini Alvarado	...	Helen Woodford Ruth
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Jumpin' Joe Dugan
Peter Donat	...	Harry Frazee
James Cromwell	...	Brother Mathias
J.C. Quinn	...	Jack Dunn
Joseph Ragno	...	Miller Huggins (as Joe Ragno)
Richard Tyson	...	Guy Bush
Ralph Marrero	...	Frank 'Ping' Bodie
Robert Swan	...	George Herman Ruth Sr. (as Bob Swan)
Bernard Kates	...	Colonel Jack Ruppert
Michael McGrady	...	Lou Gehrig
Stephen Caffrey	...	Johnny Sylvester
Gene Ross	...	Brother Paul

Storyline

Traces the career of Babe Ruth from his days as a youngster in an orphanage to his last days as a manager. Includes such moments as the famous predicted home run and the promise to little Johnny.

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Plot Keywords:

babe ruth | baseball | alcoholic | box office flop | bronx new york city | 

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Taglines:

There Was Only One.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for rude language, some sexual situations, and for a scene of pre-teen alcohol/tobacco consumption

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Babe

Filming Locations:

Chicago Cultural Center - 78 E. Washington Street, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$17,530,973 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions, Waterhorse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When interviewed during production of the film, John Goodman noted the irony of having to lose weight to play the part of Ruth.

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Goofs

Babe Ruth and his first wife, Helen, never divorced because they were both Roman Catholics. They were separated when Babe played for the Yankees as he lived in New York and Helen lived in rural Massachusetts. Babe married Clare Hodgson just a few months after Helen died in a house fire.

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Quotes

Harry Frazee, Red Sox Owner: Half of everything I own just went down the drain with the "Gladiators of Broadway". The other half, is in the pocket of The Sultan of Swat, and he wants a raise and his own suites during road games.

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Crazy Credits

We All Miss You Ralph ["Ralph" = Ralph Marrero, who died before the film's release]

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Angels' Revenge (1995)

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Soundtracks

"Three and Two Blues"
Written and Performed by Ari Brown

User Reviews

The darker side of a baseball icon.

Despite critical reviews, this is really an interesting movie. A different look at legendary home run slugger Babe Ruth. Very low budget and historically incorrect. A major league turn around from the William Bendix BABE RUTH STORY(1948). Rowdy and ribald and one of baseball's original heroes is shown drinking, cavorting, skirt chasing and deep in gluttony. The real "Bambino"? Not candy coated, but not honestly factual either. John Goodman is outstanding as the slugger of mammoth and mythical home runs. Kelly McGillis plays Clare Ruth. Also in the cast are Bruce Boxleitner, Joe Ragno and Peter Donat. Take it all in stride. It is only a movie and not engraved in granite.