Stealing Home (1988)

Mark Harmon is a washed-up baseball player who is called back home to handle the ashes of his childhood sweetheart/ first love who had committed suicide. As he searches for what to do with ... See full summary »

Directors:

Steven Kampmann, William Porter (as Will Aldis)

Writers:

Steven Kampmann, William Porter (as Will Aldis)

Stars:

Mark Harmon, Jodie Foster, Blair Brown

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Harmon	...	Billy Wyatt
Blair Brown	...	Ginny Wyatt
Jonathan Silverman	...	Teenage Alan Appleby
Harold Ramis	...	Alan Appleby
William McNamara	...	Teenage Billy Wyatt
Richard Jenkins	...	Hank Chandler
John Shea	...	Sam Wyatt
Jodie Foster	...	Katie Chandler
Christine Jones	...	Grace Chandler
Beth Broderick	...	Lesley
Jane Brucker	...	Sheryl
Ted Ross	...	Bud Scott
Thacher Goodwin	...	Young Billy Wyatt
Yvette Croskey	...	Young Robin Parks
Ollie Davidson	...	Robin Parks

Storyline

Mark Harmon is a washed-up baseball player who is called back home to handle the ashes of his childhood sweetheart/ first love who had committed suicide. As he searches for what to do with them, he remembers the past and the relationship they had. In doing so he finds himself again.

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Plot Keywords:

one night stand | suicide | baseball | first love | friend | 

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Taglines:

Stealing hearts, stealing laughs, stealing memories

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Den största kärleken

Filming Locations:

6053 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$7,467,504

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Mount Company, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The beach house scenes were shot at the same place as the famous "shrinkege" episode on the television series Seinfeld (1989).

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, when Katie and Billy jump into grandmother's pool, they approach the pool from the narrow, short side. Later in the movie, when Billy returns to the pool, he makes the same approach, but the pool has flipped a quarter of a turn. He is now looking at the wide side of the pool.

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Quotes

Katie Chandler: I love you, Billy boy!
Billy Wyatt: [voiceover] That was the last time I ever saw her.

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Connections

Referenced in The Good Place: Everything Is Bonzer! (2018)

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Soundtracks

Sherry
Written by Bob Gaudio
Performed by The Four Seasons (1962)
Courtesy of Bob Gaudio & Frankie Valli
DBA The Four Seasons Partnership

User Reviews

thanks for the memories

Stealing Home is one of the most underrated films of recent memmory. The inherent simplicity, interesting story lines and compelling character strengths convey a sense of nostalgia while at the same time testify to a strong line of family. The proponents of the critical acclaim of this film will assert that the flashbacks are convoluted, the character development flawed and the ending cliched and predictable. However, this is a film that succeeds on all levels. Mark Harmon plays a present day (1987) ballplayer whose professional career has been characterized by a series of failures and challenges, allegedly fueled by the suicide of a babysitter and family friend, Katie Chandler. (Jodie Foster) Foster's character is capricious and carefree in her approach to her own life and encouraging to Harmon's character, Billy Wyatt. The young Wyatt emerges as a unique talent with a flair for the game which is only precipitated as he ages. The unforeseen circumstance with his father (John Shea) and the complication with his AAA-ball experience fuel his dismay and disgust with his passion. Billy remarks throughout the film that "Katie was the one who reminded him that he was a ballplayer" and this holds true until the very end when he is reunited with his true love and passion. The imagery in the frequent flashbacks is very satisfying and the story line from start to finish is convincing. Harmon, Foster and Shea are a strong ensemble and the film overall is bittersweet, nostalgic and above all, heartwarming.