The Kid from Left Field
Encyclopedia
The Kid from Left Field is a 1953
baseball film starring Dan Dailey
, Anne Bancroft
, and Billy Chapin
. The film marked the reunion of Dailey and director Harmon Jones who had teamed up at 20th Century Fox a year earlier in another baseball film, the autobiographical The Pride of St. Louis
.
The film was remade for TV in 1979. That version starred Gary Coleman
and Gary Collins
.
As a publicity stunt, Christie is named their youngest manager ever, but when he falls ill, Coop replaces him as manger. The Bisons win the pennant and earn a spot in the World Series
.
1953 in film
The year 1953 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*September 16 — The Robe debuts as the first anamorphic, widescreen CinemaScope film.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:A...
baseball film starring Dan Dailey
Dan Dailey
Daniel James Dailey Jr. was an American dancer and actor.-Early life and career:Born in New York City on December 14, 1915, to James J. and Helen Dailey, both born in New York City. He appeared in a minstrel show when very young, and appeared in vaudeville before his Broadway debut in 1937 in...
, Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft was an American actress associated with the Method acting school, which she had studied under Lee Strasberg....
, and Billy Chapin
Billy Chapin
Billy Chapin is an American former child actor, known for a considerable number of screen- and TV-performances from 1943 to 1959 and best remembered for both his roles as the “Diaper-manager” Christie Cooper in the 1953 family feature The Kid from Left Field, starring Dan Dailey, Anne Bancroft and...
. The film marked the reunion of Dailey and director Harmon Jones who had teamed up at 20th Century Fox a year earlier in another baseball film, the autobiographical The Pride of St. Louis
The Pride of St. Louis
The Pride of St. Louis is a 1952 biographical film of the life of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jerome Herman "Dizzy" Dean. It starred Dan Dailey as Dean, Joanne Dru as his wife, and Richard Crenna as his brother Paul "Daffy" Dean, also a major league pitcher.Guy Trosper was nominated...
.
The film was remade for TV in 1979. That version starred Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman
Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman...
and Gary Collins
Gary Collins (actor)
Gary Ennis Collins is an American film and television performer.-Early life and career:Collins was born in Venice, California, to a waitress/factory worker mother. After attending Santa Monica City College, he enlisted in the U.S...
.
Plot
Former ballplayer 'Coop' (Dailey) is working as a peanut vendor at the ballpark of a struggling major league club, the Bisons. He has passed on his love of the game to his son Christie (Chapin), but after sneaking his son into the game one too many times, he is fired from his job. Christie ingratiates himself with the former owner's niece (Bancroft) and gets his father's job back as well as a position as batboy for himself.As a publicity stunt, Christie is named their youngest manager ever, but when he falls ill, Coop replaces him as manger. The Bisons win the pennant and earn a spot in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
Cast
- Dan DaileyDan DaileyDaniel James Dailey Jr. was an American dancer and actor.-Early life and career:Born in New York City on December 14, 1915, to James J. and Helen Dailey, both born in New York City. He appeared in a minstrel show when very young, and appeared in vaudeville before his Broadway debut in 1937 in...
as Larry 'Pop' Cooper - Anne BancroftAnne BancroftAnne Bancroft was an American actress associated with the Method acting school, which she had studied under Lee Strasberg....
as Marian Foley - Billy ChapinBilly ChapinBilly Chapin is an American former child actor, known for a considerable number of screen- and TV-performances from 1943 to 1959 and best remembered for both his roles as the “Diaper-manager” Christie Cooper in the 1953 family feature The Kid from Left Field, starring Dan Dailey, Anne Bancroft and...
as Christie Cooper - Lloyd BridgesLloyd BridgesLloyd Vernet Bridges, Jr. was an American actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. Bridges is best known for his role of Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt, the most-popular syndicated American TV series in 1958...
as Pete Haines - Ray CollinsRay CollinsRay Collins may refer to:*Ray Collins , American actor*Ray Collins , pitcher in Major League Baseball*Ray Collins , American football defensive tackle*Ray Collins , cartoonist...
as Fred F. Whacker