Pastime (1991)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Robin B. Armstrong

Writer (WGA):

David Eyre Jr. (written by)

Release Date:

23 August 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

A story of a major miracle in the minor leagues.

Plot:

Roy Dean Bream (Russ who co-starred on Boy Meets World) plays a veteran minor league hurler in 1957...

Plot Keywords:

African American | Baseball | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

John Achorn	...	Cal
Ernie Banks	...	Steamer Fan
Ernie Lee Banks	...	Steamer Fan
Joey Banks	...	Slinding Base Runner
Mark Benedetto	...	Beaned Bomber
Susan Cash	...	Mrs. Laporte
Michael Chieffo	...	Pool Player
Troy Evans	...	Art
Bob Feller	...	VFW Man
Charles Fick	...	1st First Base Umpire (as Chuck Fick)
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Woman at Bar
Ricky Paull Goldin	...	Hahn
John Homa	...	Frank
Kathryn Kates	...	Ethel
Harmon Killebrew	...	VFW Man
John Martin	...	Baseball Player
Peter Murnik	...	Simmons
Don Newcombe	...	Flag Raiser
Patrick O'Bryan	...	Walsh (as Pat O'Bryan)
Deirdre O'Connell	...	Inez Brice
Don Perry	...	Drunk Old-Timer
Scott Plank	...	Randy Keever
Glenn Plummer	...	Tyrone Debray
Brogan Roche	...	Bomber Pitcher
Reed Rudy	...	Spicer
William Russ	...	Roy Dean Bream
Duke Snider	...	Steamer Fan
Craig Stark	...	Bomber Catcher
Charles Stransky	...	Elton
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Peter LaPorte
Charles Tyner	...	Arnold
Nancy Wagner	...	1st Catty Woman at Party (as Meghan Geary)
Noble Willingham	...	Clyde Bigby
Sarah Zinsser	...	2nd Catty Woman at Party

Also Known As:

One Cup of Coffee

Runtime:

USA:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG

Company:

Bay Cities

Goofs:

Factual errors: Early on in the movie the announcer says “Now batting for the Steamers #4”, when the Steamers are in the field.

One of the greatest baseball films I have ever seen. 10/10

Well, springtime's around the corner, and that means baseball season's around the corner as well. I had picked up a VHS copy of this film on eBay from someone in Denholm, and after watching it, it automatically became one of the best baseball films I have ever seen (THE best I've seen, is of course, Field of Dreams, which I will review at another time), maybe even one of the greatest films I've ever seen.

The movie is set in 1957, and centers around veteran minor league pitcher for the Steamers, Roy Dean Bream (Played by William Russ from Boy Meets World) whose sheer love of the game has kept him in it well past the height of his career, a three week stint in the major leagues twelve years earlier. In comes Tyrone Debray (Played by Glenn Plummer), a black (or African-American) seventeen year-old rookie, who joins the Steamers and befriends Roy. They end up challenging the racism, envy, and disbelief of the other players, one of the other players being played by Patrick O'Bryan from 976-EVIL.

I really did like Russ' character as well as the character of Tyrone. One notable moment was when Roy asked Tyrone if he wanted a drink, Tyrone tells him that he's seventeen and then Roy offers him soda instead. And how could I write this review without mentioning Jeffrey Tambor's character of Peter LaPorte, the Steamers manager, who in my opinion, made for slight comic relief. The movie also features cameos by six of the greatest major league baseball players of all time, including, Duke Snider, Bob Feller, Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, Bill Mazeroski, and Don Newcombe.

Highly recommended.

EXTRAS: The Cineplex Odeon logo appears at both the beginning and the end of the tape, but that's it.