It Happens Every Spring (1949)

A scientist discovers a formula that makes a baseball which is repelled by wood. He promptly sets out to exploit his discovery.

Director:

Lloyd Bacon

Writers:

Valentine Davies (screen play), Shirley W. Smith (based on a story by)

Stars:

Ray Milland, Jean Peters, Paul Douglas

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ray Milland	...	Prof. Vernon K. Simpson / King Kelly
Jean Peters	...	Deborah Greenleaf
Paul Douglas	...	Monk Lanigan
Ed Begley	...	Edgar Stone
Ted de Corsia	...	Manager Jimmy Dolan
Ray Collins	...	Prof. Alfred Greenleaf
Jessie Royce Landis	...	Mrs. Greenleaf
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Schmidt
William Murphy	...	Tommy Isbell (as Bill Murphy)

Storyline

A college professor is working on a long term experiment when a baseball comes through the window destroying all his glassware. The resultant fluid causes the baseball to be repelled by wood. Suddenly he realizes the possibilities and takes a leave of absence to go to St. Louis to pitch in the big leagues where he becomes a star and propels the team to a World Series appearance.

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Plot Keywords:

baseball | world series | professor | laboratory | discovery | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vernon Simpson, alias King Kelly, had two uniform numbers. 12 was his uniform number, when he first practiced for Saint Louis. 22 was his uniform number after being accepted by the Saint Louis' owner and manager, after they saw his pitching performance. How his uniform numbers, 12 & 22 were picked as fractions of 1/2 & 2/2.

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Goofs

Deborah's sash changes as she receives the package.

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Quotes

[after a janitor saw catcher, Monk Lanigan's hair "crackle"]
Sweeper Outside Carob Hotel: Excuse me, boss, I need a drink!
[after his remark he quickly left as if in extreme fear]

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Crazy Credits

After the movie's introductory song concludes, an Albert Einstein quote shows for ten to fifteen seconds. It is: "The results of scientific research very often force a change in the philosophical view of problems which extend far beyond the restricted domain of science itself." Albert Einstein's name is all capital letters, below the quote or remark, as ALBERT EINSTEIN. Albert Einstein & Leopold Infeld co-authored book, "The Evolution of Physics".

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Connections

Featured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997)

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Soundtracks

I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
(1927) (uncredited)
Music by Harry M. Woods
Played when St. Louis takes the field after Monk hurts his finger

User Reviews

One of the best baseball flicks

A hilarious comedy as well as one of the best baseball films. Ray Milland has one of his best roles as Vernon/King Kelly, and there are great supporting turns from the likes of Paul Douglas. What I truly enjoy about "It Happens Every Spring" is that it celebrates, tongue in cheek, one of the great "unspoken" traditions of the Great American Game -- cheating! (Spitballs, corked bats, steroids -- they all fall into the same category as Kelly's wood-repellant serum.) What other baseball movie does that? Good goofy fun.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

It Happens Every Spring

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1