In this section, we will review movies that in some way pertain to baseball.  Everyone knows about Field of Dreams, Major League, etc.  However, we will try to find movies that are a tad more obscure.  They may not necessarily be about baseball, but baseball will play a prominent role.  We'll update this page with a new film every so often.

" Max Dugan Returns"

Starring:  Matthew Broderick, Marsha Mason, Donald Sutherland, and Jason Robards.  Bit appearance by Keiffer Sutherland.

Rated:  PG

In theaters in 1983, this comedy has writer Neil Simon's stamp all over it, complete with Marsha Mason in the starring roll, and Simon's trademark snappy dialogue.  By 1983, Mason and Simon were divorced, but evidently capable of working together. 

 The story centers around Mason's character, Nora, and her son, Mike (Broderick).  They live alone, on her school teacher's salary in a very modest home.  A mysterious elderly stranger named Max Dugan arrives (Robards), and takes up as a boarder with Nora and Mike, and begins showering them with extravagant gifts with money that was perhaps ill-gotten.  Nora's boyfriend, a cop, played wonderfully by Donald Sutherland, becomes torn between his duty as a cop to investigate the gift-bearing stranger, and his role as Nora's boyfriend.  It all makes for great fun.

One of the sub-plots in this film is Matthew Broderick's struggles as a high school baseball player.  Can't hit.  Got a sweet lefty swing, but just whiffs.  Among the many gifts that Dugan gives the family, is a visit from renowned major league batting instructor Charlie Lau, who is hired by Dugan to tutor Broderick.  Albeit brief, the instruction Lau imparts to Broderick in the film is as useful as anything I've seen any baseball instructional video.  Lau is famous for his work with many major leaguers, including George Brett.  I won't divulge anything further, so as not to give away the story.  But it's great stuff.  Sadly, Lau passed away of cancer the following year.

This is a fun, smart, well-written, well-acted movie, and I would highly recommend it.  You'll find it available through the link to Amazon above, if you're interested.