Mr. Baseball (1992)

Jack Elliot, once a great baseball player, is forced to play in Japan where his brash, egotistical ways cause friction with his new teammates and friends.

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writers:

Theo Pelletier (story), John Junkerman (story)

Stars:

Tom Selleck, Ken Takakura, Aya Takanashi

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Selleck	...	Jack Elliot
Ken Takakura	...	Uchiyama
Aya Takanashi	...	Hiroko Uchiyama
Dennis Haysbert	...	Max 'Hammer' Dubois
Toshi Shioya	...	Yoji Nishimura
Kosuke Toyohara	...	Toshi Yamashita
Toshizo Fujiwara	...	Ryoh Mukai
Mak Takano	...	Shinji Igarashi
Kenji Morinaga	...	Hiroshi Kurosawa
Joh Nishimura	...	Tomophiko Ohmie
Norihide Goto	...	Issei Itoi
Kensuke Toita	...	Akito Yagi
Naoki Fuji	...	Takuya Nishikawa
Takanobu Hozumi	...	Hiroshi Nakamura
Leon Lee	...	Lyle Massey

Storyline

Although a one-time MVP for the New York Yankees, Jack Elliott is now on the down side of his baseball career. His batting average is low and one of his few claims to fame is that during the previous year, he led the team in 9th inning doubles in the month of August. With an up and coming slugger ready to replace him, he learns that he's been traded to the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese Central baseball league. Elliott is set in his ways and quite inflexible, not only in accepting Japanese culture in general, but also with the way the baseball team is managed. When he meets his very pretty PR agent, Hiroko, he begins to gain a greater appreciation that he should accept his current situation. When he realizes her other connection to the team, his attitudes begin to change at an even greater pace

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | wrapped in a towel | man wrapped in a towel | taking a bath | bathing together | 

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Taglines:

An inspirational baseball movie.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sensuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Jack is discussing the team with Uchiyama over a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black and smoking cigars, Jack is wearing what looks like a NY Yankee World Series ring.

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Goofs

In the scenes where someone is driving, the steering wheel is on the left side. Japan drives on the left side, so the steering wheel should be on the right side.

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Quotes

Jack Elliot: [seeing the locker room for the first time] Tell me this isn't it.
Yoji Nishimura, Jack's Interpreter: This isn't it.
[Jack gives Yoji a look]
Yoji Nishimura, Jack's Interpreter: You're the boss, but IS IT.

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Untamed Heart/Strictly Ballroom/Groundhog Day/Love Field/Riff-Raff (1993)

User Reviews

This film is a grand slam

Tom Selleck has been for most of his career a box office bust. Even though this movie did not score a home run with movie goers, it is still a nicely done film. It doesn't play down Japanese stereotypes, as the writers of this film did their homework on life in Japan. I used to watch Japanese baseball, and I can tell you that the film does a pretty good interpretation. In Japan, the manager of a ball club is more of a nurturing father. It's also more like work than sport. Players run fundamental drills all day and talent takes a backseat to skill. The movie is nicely done and Selleck does a good job as selfish, self-centered Jack Elliot. Dennis Haysbert is also nice in the supporting role of Max DuBois (He had enough practice being in baseball movies after being in Major League). Ken Takakura is good as the no-nonsense manager of the club. It's a shame he hasn't done any other American films after this one. Aya Takanashi is also nice as Jack's love interest. If you can, get the video or DVD because the TV version makes some of the most absurd edits and cuts I have seen.

Details

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

2 October 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mr. Baseball

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,240,375, 4 October 1992

Gross USA:

$20,883,046

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,883,046

Company Credits

Production Co:

DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Outlaw Productions (I), Sogovision

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1