The Bad News Bears (1976)

An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writer:

Bill Lancaster

Stars:

Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, Vic Morrow

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Walter Matthau	...	Coach Morris Buttermaker
Tatum O'Neal	...	Amanda Whurlitzer
Vic Morrow	...	Roy Turner
Joyce Van Patten	...	Cleveland
Ben Piazza	...	Bob Whitewood
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Kelly Leak
Alfred Lutter III	...	Ogilvie (as Alfred W. Lutter)
Chris Barnes	...	Tanner Boyle
Erin Blunt	...	Ahmad Abdul Rahim
Gary Lee Cavagnaro	...	Engelberg
Jaime Escobedo	...	Jose Agilar
Scott Firestone	...	Regi Tower
George Gonzales	...	Miguel Agilar
Brett Marx	...	Jimmy Feldman
David Pollock	...	Rudi Stein

Storyline

First of a trilogy of films takes an unflinching look at the underbelly of little league baseball in Southern California. Former minor leaguer Morris Buttermaker is a lazy, beer swilling swimming pool cleaner who takes money to coach the Bears, a bunch of disheveled misfits who have virtually no baseball talent. Realizing his dilemma, Coach Buttermaker brings aboard girl pitching ace Amanda Whurlizer, the daughter of a former girlfriend, and Kelly Leak, a motorcycle punk who happens to be the best player around. Brimming with confidence, the Bears look to sweep into the championship game and avenge an earlier loss to their nemesis, the Yankees.

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Plot Keywords:

baseball | baseball coach | slapstick comedy | pizzeria | california | 

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Taglines:

...together they make it happen!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Sport

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

7 April 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bad News Bears

Filming Locations:

Mason Ave. at Devonshire St., Chatsworth, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$42,349,782

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Glen Glenn Sound)

Color:

Color (Movielab) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Throughout the film, Coach Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) is constantly drinking beer, yet he is seldom seen drinking the same brand. Buttermaker is seen at various times in the film drinking Budweiser, Miller High Life, Schlitz "Kingers," Pabst Blue Ribbon, Lucky Lager, and Coors.

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Goofs

When the Bears play the Athletics the game before the championship game, the scoreboard says the home team is winning 1-0 the first time we see it. The second time we see it, the visitors are winning 1-0. The third time we see it, the home team is winning 2-1.

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Quotes

Cleveland: I just get an eight count here.
White Sox Manager: I know. I know. But, it's okay. I've got the whole thing figured out. Now, this is what I do. I take my two outfielders, Henry and Thor, I play them in right and left center.
Cleveland: Oh, you stop it! You're embarrassing yourself!
White Sox Manager: Look, three of my White Sox have got the flu. I've got a god damn little Jesus freak in Bakersfield at a revival meeting!
Cleveland: I am sorry. I am sorry.
White Sox Manager: I've only got eight players!
Cleveland: I am sorry! The White Sox are gonna have for forfeit the game. It's a ...

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Crazy Credits

When the Paramount logo turns blue, the "Paramount" text extends beyond the dark blue area instead of staying inside the dark blue.

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Connections

Referenced in Monkey in the Morning: #ThotAudit Taxing Boobs (2018)

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Soundtracks

Carmen
Written by Georges Bizet

User Reviews

Lupus is Da Man.

Hilarious film with a darker side that sometimes pokes through, especially in its serious moments. This is classic Walter Matthau, and classic Jackie Earle Haley, too! (Love that air hockey scene!) It reminds me of my childhood, and not many movies do. I can watch this film a dozen times and never get tired of it.