Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

I grew up watching the 1994 version of "Angels In The Outfield" so imagine my surprise when I found out it was actually a remake. It's a shame that this version doesn't seem to have near as many recognizable actors. The aspect of a kid seeing the angels doesn't actually come until a third into the movie. In this original, it was actually a little girl who was in an orphanage run by nuns. I'm glad this version seemed to play up the religious aspect more. The biggest difference is that the angels never actually appear onscreen.We only hear the voice of one. The plot and outcomes are still mostly the same. This really is an underappreciated sports movie. This is almost the exact same length as the remake, so I really have to praise how good the pacing is. There seem to be relatively few movies made about angels, given how many people believe in them. As it was made in the 1950's, they just say this weird gibberish when they're supposed to be swearing. ***1/2

You pick up some interesting tidbits watching these old flicks on Turner Classics when they're hosted by one of their movie critic pros. For example, when Janet Leigh visited Forbes Field to see where this movie was being filmed, she stepped on the infield grass in her high heels and they immediately sank into the turf. Pittsburgh Pirate Ralph Kiner came to her rescue and carried her off the field and some newspaper photographers captured the moment. What seemed like a romantic match-up turned to naught because Leigh was engaged to Tony Curtis at the time.Well this was a nice engaging family picture with a baseball backdrop but I think there was a missed opportunity. Being a fantasy, it could have been more whimsical if the film makers had actually put some angels on screen, you know, maybe borrow someone like Cary Grant or Constance Bennett from 1937's "Topper" to liven things up. OK, they were ghosts but you know what I mean. A couple of winged apparitions behind each of the players might have given more credence to the title.I'd also question the casting of Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh as potential romantics. It worked out for the story but I don't see the connection to reality if you wanted to maintain some credibility for the outcome. Oh well, with angels in the outfield, there wasn't going to be a lot of credibility left to go around anyway.What I really found interesting was seeing Forbes Field the way it was back in the day. To me it didn't look much bigger or better looking than the ball field my home town semi-pro team used back in the early Sixties. I never went to a professional baseball game as a kid, and was never to a big league ball park until the Seventies, so my only basis for comparison would be the old Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium in New York. Come to think of it, those aren't around anymore either. Boy, time does go by.I'll say one thing though. The story really made you think about the plight of orphans, as in little Bridget's (Donna Corcoran) case where she had spent her entire life of eight years in one. It seemed extremely sad that she was 'given' a birthday by the nuns because no one knew when she was really born. That seemed just so incredibly sad, on top of the ruses the orphan girls thought they needed to attract potential parents, like taking off their glasses. It really makes you think about how lucky most of us are.Well anyway, long before the Los Angeles Angels ever held a home field advantage, this film entertained a good idea about how to treat one another both on and off the field. It might not be the greatest baseball movie, but where else would you ever be able to see Joe DiMaggio, Ty Cobb and Bing Crosby all in one place at the same time. And if you're a seasoned citizen like myself, you won't have any trouble picking out the Beav's mom herself, Barbara Billingsley in a couple of scenes as the hat check girl at Johnny's Steakhouse. Just another reason I get a kick out of these old pictures.

Baseball films, especially those of the 1940s and 1950s were so good, and this film is no exception.As the cantankerous manager, the always excellent Paul Douglas has a role made for him. When a woman reporter is assigned to find out what's wrong with the Pittsburgh Pirates, she aptly comes to the conclusion that Douglas, who is irascible and making life miserable for the players, is the major cause of the teams woes. Janet Leigh is that reporter and any romantic attachment that forms between the two is really inane due to the vast age difference.Did anyone really recognize Spring Byington as Mother Superior? They really did an excellent job in disguising her.The picture deals with the coming of belief of angels by Guffy (Douglas) and he finally shows his humility in his actions, not only to the players but to an orphan girl, Donna Corcoran, who first sees angels when her orphanage brings her to a game.Keenan Wynn steals his acting scenes as a vicious sportswriter, out to get Guffy. He will do anything to attain his objective and even goes to accusing Guffy of insanity.Bruce Bennett as the dying pitcher, given one more chance in the show down game with the Giants, is memorable as well.

"Angels in the Outfield" (1951) is the one of the best and most original comedies ever made. It is about a baseball manager (Paul Douglas) who loses his temper too much until he hears an angel's voice (James Whitmore), who makes a deal with him. He and his other angels will help the baseball team win games if the manager stops losing his temper. When the deal is set, the manager's life changes. It is a lovely movie to watch. The movie should have been nominated with Academy Awards for the major categories. It was totally ignored. Paul Douglas and Bruce Bennett, as the aging baseball player, should have been nominated for best actor and best supporting actor. They have something in common; both of them made another great movie in their long careers: Douglas made "Letter to Three Wives" and Bennett made "Mildred Pierce". "Angels in the Outfield" was perfectly cast. Another outstanding performance was by Kennan Wynn in his best role and best movie. Mr. Wynn should have been nominated for best supporting actor, too.