The Catcher Was a Spy (2018)

A major league baseball player, Moe Berg, lives a double life working for the Office of Strategic Services.

Director:

Ben Lewin

Writers:

Robert Rodat, Nicholas Dawidoff (based upon the book: Catcher Was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg by)

Stars:

Paul Rudd, Pierfrancesco Favino, Tom Wilkinson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Rudd	...	Moe Berg
Pierfrancesco Favino	...	Martinuzzi
Tom Wilkinson	...	Paul Scherrer
Connie Nielsen	...	Koranda
Anna Geislerová	...	Rathe
Mark Strong	...	Werner Heisenberg
Simon Perina	...	First Baseman Boston
John Schwab	...	Lefty Grove
Krystof Dupal	...	Second Baseman Boston
Jirí Vavrusa	...	Shortstop Boston
Shea Whigham	...	Joe Cronin
Bobby Schofield	...	Bill Dalton
Philip Lenkowsky	...	NYC Taxi Driver
Sienna Miller	...	Estella
Demetri Goritsas	...	Clifton Fadiman

Storyline

A major league baseball player, Moe Berg, lives a double life working for the Office of Strategic Services.

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | spy | baseball | baseball player | boston red sox | 

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Taglines:

Based on the True Story of Moe Berg

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 June 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hvatač je bio špijun

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$114,771, 24 June 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$712,438, 23 August 2018

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$875,102, 16 August 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

PalmStar Media, Animus Films, Serena Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Samuel Goudsmit is talking to Moe Berg about Werner Heisenberg, he says that his parents were deported from Holland to a concentration camp. He appealed to Heisenberg for help but got no reply. He says he doesn't know if his parents are dead are alive. The movie did not answer this question, but unfortunately his parents were indeed murdered in the concentration camp.

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Goofs

The movie starts in 1944 and then switches to Fenway Park with the title card "Eight years earlier", placing it in 1936. The Red Sox are playing the Washington Senators. Buddy Myer (#1) is on first threatening to steal and pitcher Syd Cohen (#14) is at bat. The box scores of Senators/Red Sox games showed that Berg, Myer, and Cohen never appeared in the same game during the 1936 season. Furthermore, Buddy Myer usually batted 3rd and it is highly unlikely he would be in the batting order in front of a pitcher.

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Quotes

William J. Donovan: You're an unusual man Mr. Berg, you speak 7 languages, you're an athlete, you're more than up to the physical requirements of the job...
Moe Berg: What job?

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Failed Oscar Bait Movies of 2018 (2019)

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Soundtracks

Battle Hymn of the Republic
Traditional
Performed by CH-TDZ & Cast

User Reviews

Character Study

I'm boosting this movie in ratings a little to give it a break, from some of the others that I don't think understood it. 'The Catcher Was a Spy' isn't a spy movie at all, although the central action of the plot is a spy mission. Rather, it is a character study of a surprisingly interesting human being, Mo Berg. Despite an abundance of gifts - there are not many human beings who can play major league baseball AND speak 12 languages - he was one of the most intensely private people imaginable, making his life a complete enigma. The picture sought to capture the essence of the man. Paul Rudd was excellent in the major role, although his performance is so low key add buttoned-down, it is easy to disregard it.

I liked the movie a lot. I also liked the first 'Kingman'. 'Kingsman' was a spy movie. This one is not. Taken on its own terms, you'll likely enjoy it.