| 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 | |
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Gary Lee Cavagnaro | ... | Engelberg |
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Jaime Escobedo | ... | Jose Agilar |
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Scott Firestone | ... | Regi Tower |
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George Gonzales | ... | Miguel Agilar |
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Brett Marx | ... | Jimmy Feldman |
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David Pollock | ... | Rudi Stein |
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. Written by Rick Gregory <rag.apa@email.apa.org>
The Bad News Bears (1976) This is a classic sports comedy about an aging, down-on-his-luck ex- minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league. It stars Walter Matthau and Tatum O'Neal. This is one of my favorite movies from my childhood. Considered crass and crude in its day, it's now received cult status. The film garnered two sequels, a television series, and a 2005 remake. It also received multiple award nominations. The remake wasn't necessary, as I believe the original still holds up, despite the critics' problem with the drinking, smoking, and profanity. This a great representation of comedy from the era.