61* (2001) (TV)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Billy Crystal

Writer (WGA):

Hank Steinberg (written by)

Release Date:

28 April 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Sport

Tagline:

Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Why did America have room in its heart for only one hero?

Plot:

Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle race to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.

Plot Keywords:

Babe Ruth | Sports Writer | Friendship | Baseball | Queens New York

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Barry Pepper	...	Roger Maris
Thomas Jane	...	Mickey Mantle
Anthony Michael Hall	...	Whitey Ford
Richard Masur	...	Milt Kahn
Bruce McGill	...	Ralph Houk
Chris Bauer	...	Bob Cerv
Jennifer Crystal	...	Pat Maris ('61) (as Jennifer Crystal Foley)
Christopher McDonald	...	Mel Allen
Bob Gunton	...	Dan Topping
Donald Moffat	...	Ford Frick
Joe Grifasi	...	Phil Rizzuto
Peter Jacobson	...	Artie Green
Seymour Cassel	...	Sam Simon
Robert Joy	...	Bob Fitschel
Michael Nouri	...	Joe DiMaggio

Also Known As:

61 (USA)
Home Run Race (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | USA:TV-MA

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

61* Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Mickey Mantle's son and grandson cameo as the father and son during the ending credits.

Goofs:

Factual errors: There was no Sports Illustrated cover with Mantle and Maris. They were on the cover of Life.

Quotes:

Roger Maris: So Mickey uh... you know, Bob and I, we are trying to keep it quiet here, so uh... we'll have a few beers every now and then, but uh...
Mickey: What, no broads?
Roger Maris, Bob: Right.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Punisher (2004)

Soundtrack:

Put On A Happy Face

Powerful as back-to-back out of the park homers.

This is a wonderful piece of work from director and executive producer Billy Crystal. A powerful and personal story of the little known amiable relationship between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle during that dramatic home run race of 1961. The two sluggers were always pictured as being bitter rivals. This is a whole different tale.

Mantle(Thomas Jane)being the Yankees 'golden boy' and Maris(Barry Pepper)the ridiculed interloper learned to coexist and become the M & M Boys. Mantle being jaded by the press offered his best advice to the often stoic and sullen Maris on matters of surviving publicity. Most of the home run chase was like a masterpiece on canvas. Maris never seemed to get the respect he deserved, but his fortitude garnered him a place in baseball history. 61* would of course become 61 and then later shattered and surpassed by another home run chase.

This movie deserves being ranked among the elite of sports movies and one of the best baseball flicks ever. Pepper is outstanding as Maris. Jane takes a little warming up to as the Mick. A very talented supporting cast includes: Richard Masur, Bruce McGill & Christopher Bauer. Plus most impressive is Billy Crystal's daughter, Jennifer, playing Pat Maris.

This is a must see for every sports fan!