Bang the Drum Slowly
1973 · Movie · PG · 96 min · ★ 6.1 · 86% critics
Set during an off-season and a New York pro baseball season, two teammates—an everyday catcher and a star pitcher—are pushed to confront a terminal illness. As the season unfolds, the locker room rallies to make one final year unforgettable, balancing baseball routines with difficult emotions.
Based on Bang the Drum Slowly
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Details
- Years
- 1973
- Release date
- 1973-08-26
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Critic score
- 86/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.1/10 (77 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this gentle, tear-tinged baseball drama if you want friendship and human emotion more than pure sports thrills; Not for you if you need a lighter, upbeat game movie like Wanda or Junior Bonner.
Pros: moving friendship; warm baseball life; strong performances | Cons: rambling stretches; story credibility issues; uneven tone
Themes
- terminal illness
- baseball player
Awards & recognition
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1974 · nominated
Cast & crew
Michael Moriarty
as Henry Wiggen
Robert De Niro
as Bruce Pearson
Vincent Gardenia
as Dutch Schnell
Phil Foster
as Joe
Ann Wedgeworth
as Katie
Patrick McVey
as Bruce's Father
Heather MacRae
as Holly
Selma Diamond
as Tootsie
Barbara Babcock
as Team Owner
- MR
Maurice Rosenfield
as Team Owner
Directed by John D. Hancock