The Kid from Cleveland (1949)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Herbert Kline

Writers:

Herbert Kline (story) and
John Bright (story) ...

Release Date:

5 September 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Plot:

Baseball team (the Cleveland Indians) helps a troubled teenaged fan.

Plot Keywords:

Baseball | Cleveland Indians | World Series | Stepfather | Stadium

Cast

George Brent	...	Michael 'Mike' Jackson
Lynn Bari	...	Katherine Jackson
Russ Tamblyn	...	Johnny Barrows (as Rusty Tamblyn)
Tommy Cook	...	Dan 'The Kid' Hudson
Ann Doran	...	Emily Barrows Novak
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Carl Novak
K. Elmo Lowe	...	Dave Joyce, aka Jake Dawson
John Beradino	...	Mac, the Fence
Bill Veeck	...	Himself - Cleveland Indians Owner and President
Lou Boudreau	...	Himself - Cleveland Indians Infielder and Manager
Tris Speaker	...	Himself - Cleveland Indians Coach
Hank Greenberg	...	Himself - Cleveland Indians Co-Owner and Outfilder
Bob Feller	...	Himself - Cleveland Indians Pitcher
Gene Bearden	...	Himself - Cleveland Indians Pitcher
Leroy 'Satchel' Paige	...	Himself - Cleveland Indians Pitcher (as Satchell Paige)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #14025)

Company:

Herbert Kline Productions

Trivia:

The ballpark shown on the "spring training" section of the movie is actually League Park in Cleveland (on the corner of E.66th and Lexington), which was the home of the Cleveland Indians from 1891 until 1946. When the movie was shot in the spring of 1949, the park was being used by high schools and amateur baseball teams in the spring and summer and high school and semi-pro football teams in the fall. Most of it was torn down in 1951, but small part still remains today as does the field itself, where little leaguer's now play where the greats of the game made their names.

Of Historical Interest

Although a dreadful film, The Kid from Cleveland should be of more than routine interest to the baseball fan with a sense of history. Small cameo speaking appearances are made throughout by such baseball greats as Hank Greenberg, Bob Feller, Tris Speaker, Bill Veeck, Satchel Paige, Larry Doby -- well, just look at the cast. The players do more than just bat and pitch, the difference between this and most baseball movies.