Angels in the Outfield (franchise)
| Angels in the Outfield | |
|---|---|
 Official franchise logo, as released in 1996. | |
| Based on | Original story by David Mickey Evans Richard Conlin |
| Starring | Various (See list below) |
| Distributed by | |
Release date | 1951–2000 |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $32,081,000 (2 films) |
| Box office | $19,821,831 (2 films)[a] |
The Angels in the Outfield franchise consists of American comedy-sports films, centered around the premise and original story written by Richard Conlin. The series of films include the 1951 original film, a 1994 remake and its two made-for-television sequels which were subsequently released straight-to-home video. Each installment depicts the fictional events of struggling sports teams, who receive help from heavenly messengers, and ultimately overcome their pitfalls. The sporting events depicted in the films, include Major League Baseball and High School Football. The plot depicts the development of character and spiritual growth, that comes with the help of angels.
The critical response for the original film, and its remake received mixed-to-positive and a less-than-positive response from critics, respectively. The latter's following two sequels, were met with poor critical reception. Despite this, the 1951 release is regarded as a classic film,[1][2] while Angels in the Outfield (1994) has subsequently gained a cult childhood classic status,[3] and is ranked No. 9 on The Wrap's list of the twenty highest-grossing movies based on baseball.[4]
Films
[edit]| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angels in the Outfield | October 19, 1951 | Clarence Brown | Dorothy Kingsley & George Wells | Richard Conlin | Clarence Brown |
| Angels in the Outfield | July 15, 1994 | William Dear | Holly Goldberg Sloan | Irby Smith, Joe Roth and Roger Birnbaum | |
| Angels in the Endzone | November 9, 1997 | Gary Nadeau | Alan Eisenstock & Larry Mintz | Richard L. O'Connor | |
| Angels in the Infield | April 9, 2000 | Robert King | Robert King & Garrett K. Shiff | Holly Goldberg Sloan & Robert King | Fitch Cady |
Angels in the Outfield (1951)
[edit]A newspaper reporter name Jennifer Paige investigates the MLB Pittsburgh Pirates' losing streak. The progress of the team is at a stand still, led by field manager "Guffy" McGovern, whose swearing and fighting further hinder their potential. An orphan named Bridget White has been praying for the team in the meantime. Her pleas are answered, when the voice of an angel urges McGovern to be kinder. In doing so, the angelic voice promises to help the Pirates finally win. During the playoffs the manager's temper is further tested, but McGovern seeks to help his team by keeping his promise with the heavenly messenger.
Angels in the Outfield (1994)
[edit]A foster-kid Roger Bomman loves the MLB California Angels, though they continue to be the worst team in the league. His estranged birth-father flippantly promises to reunite the family if the Angels make it to the World Series, with no intention of doing so. Roger resolves to ask God for some divine help, and prays that the team can turn things around. Soon thereafter, an angel from heaven named Al descends in response to the boy's plea and agrees to help the team so that the Roger can regain a family. California's hopeless coach, George Knox, is surprised when he sees he's team on achieve victory. Knox is not amused when Roger tells him the truth, that messengers from heaven are assist the team. When the team miraculously reaches the finals of the World Series, Knox begins to believe in the heavenly aid. Roger's father never returns to retrieve him. With Knox's job on the line, the urgency of the matter intensifies when the team struggles in the early innings of the final game. Together they learn that the spirits cannot and will not help the team in the last game of the Series, and hope for the team to rise above its follies.
Angels in the Endzone (1997)
[edit]The Westfield High School Angels football team have yet to win a game, in the last decade. Jesse Harper the team's halfback is a rising star, and gives the team hope in the upcoming season. This changes when after a severe rainstorm, Jesse's father dies in a motor vehicle accident. Saddened by these events, Jesse quits the team. Realizing that football gave Jesse purpose and motivation, his younger brother Kevin prays for help. Al the Angel returns to again to help the family with their loss, specifically focusing on Jesse. The angel assists the team in ending their losing streak, and seeks to change the lives of these brothers who suffer and struggle at the loss of their father.
Angels in the Infield (2000)
[edit]A past their prime MLB Anaheim Angels Pitcher named Eddie "Steady" Everett, makes a mistake when pitching to Randy Fleck in the crucial game of a series against the Boston Red Sox. Following these events, he threw away both his career and his personal life. In the process, he loses his family. Though his wife divorces him, his young daughter named Laurel still believes in him. After asking in prayer that God's help find her father, her personal guardian angel named Bob descends from heaven to help the family. Bob "Bungler" Bugler, a former MLB Pitcher himself, seeks to restore the confidence in Everett, help him recover from his career slump, assist the Anaheim Angels in regaining their winnings, and solve Laurel's struggles in ballet. After helping Eddie retain his position right as he was about to be cut from the roster, the team proceeds to attain an incredible winning streak. As the season ends, the Anaheim Angels are forced to play a single-elimination tournament in a postseason game against their rivals: the Arizona Crimson Devils. Though the heavenly messengers cannot and will not help the baseball team win the final game, the devil strikes a deal with the Crimson Devil's rising star, Randy Fleck. When the game is delayed due to rain Everett, who has come to value his relationship with his family, leaves to attend Laurel's ballet performance. Upon returning to the game, Everett finds that his team is losing 2–0. Knowing that the angelic team won't be assisting Anaheim's ball game, Everett feels lost and asks God what is to be done. On the Pitcher's mound, Bob whispers into his ear that Everett's angel is with him just as his ex-wife arrives to the game to support him. He realizes his family is most important, and finds strength within to continue the game.
Main cast and characters
[edit]This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.
- An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
- V indicates a voice-only role.
| Character | Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angels in the Outfield (1951) |
Angels in the Outfield (1994) |
Angels in the Endzone | Angels in the Infield | |
| Principal cast | ||||
| Archangel Gabriel | James WhitmoreV | |||
| Aloysius X. "Guffy" McGovern Pitsburg Pirates Manager |
Paul Douglas | |||
| Jennifer Paige-McGovern | Janet Leigh | |||
| Bridget White-McGovern | Donna Corcoran | |||
| Al "The Boss Angel" | Christopher Lloyd | |||
| George Knox California Angels Manager |
Danny Glover | |||
| Roger Bomman-Knox | Joseph Gordon-Levitt | |||
| J.P. Knox | Milton Davis, Jr. | |||
| Maggie Nelson | Brenda Fricker | |||
| Jesse Harper Westfield High School Angels Halfback |
Matthew Lawrence | |||
| Kevin Harper | David Gallagher | |||
| Peter Harper | Jack Coleman | |||
| Grace Harper | Lynda Boyd | |||
| Bob "Bungler" Bugler | David Alan Grier | |||
| Eddie "Steady" Everett Anaheim Angels Pitcher |
Patrick Warburton | |||
| Laurel Everett | Brittney Irvin | |||
| Claire Everett | Rebecca Jenkins | |||
| Supporting cast | ||||
| Mel Clark California Angels Pitcher |
Tony Danza | |||
| Whitt Bass California Angels Pitcher |
Neal McDonough | |||
| Frank Gates California Angels Pitcher |
Robert Clohessy | |||
| Abascal California Angels First baseman |
Mitchell Page | |||
| José Martínez California Angels Second baseman |
Israel Juarbe | |||
| Ray Mitchell California Angels Third baseman |
Stoney Jackson | |||
| Triscuitt Messmer California Angels Catcher |
Tony Longo | |||
| Pablo García California Angels Shortstop |
Albert García | |||
| Danny Hemmerling California Angels Teammate |
Adrien Brody | |||
| Ben Williams California Angels Center fielder |
Matthew McConaughey | |||
| Randy Fleck Arizona Crimson Devils Player |
Duane Davis | |||
| The Devil | Colin Fox | |||
Additional crew and production details
[edit]| Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer | Cinematographer | Editor | Production companies |
Distributing companies |
Running time | ||
| Angels in the Outfield (1951) |
Daniele Amfitheatrof | Paul C. Vogel | Robert J. Kern | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Incorporated |
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 1hr 39mins | |
| Angels in the Outfield (1994) |
Randy Edelman | Matthew F. Leonetti | Bruce Green | Walt Disney Pictures, Caravan Pictures |
Buena Vista Pictures | 1hr 42mins | |
| Angels in the Endzone | Frédéric Talgorn | Ron Orieux | Jeff Freeman | Walt Disney Television, Arts & Leisure Corporation, Endzone Productions |
Buena Vista Television, American Broadcasting Company |
1hr 30mins | |
| Angels in the Infield | Ira Newborn | James Gardner | Corky Ehlers | Walt Disney Television, Roger Birnbaum Productions |
1hr 29mins | ||
Reception
[edit]Box office and financial performance
[edit]| Film | Box office gross | Box office ranking | Budget | Worldwide Net income |
Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other territories | Worldwide | All time North America |
All time worldwide | ||||
| Angels in the Outfield (1951) | information unavailable | — | $1,666,000 | information unavailable | information unavailable | $1,081,000 | $585,000 | [5][6] |
| Angels in the Outfield (1994) | $50,236,831 | — | $50,236,831 | #1,734 | #2,755 | $31,000,000 | $19,236,831 | [7][8][9] |
| Angels in the Endzone | — | — | — | — | — | information unavailable | — | |
| Angels in the Infield | — | — | — | — | — | information unavailable | — | |
Critical response
[edit]| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| Angels in the Outfield (1951) | — | — |
| Angels in the Outfield (1994) | 33% (21 reviews)[10] | 44 (24 reviews)[11] |
| Angels in the Endzone | — | — |
| Angels in the Infield | — | — |
Notes
[edit]- ^ These figures are based on the available numbers for the theatrical films. Though there are a total four feature-length movies, there is no financial information publicly available for the made-for-television installments.
References
[edit]- ^ "'Angels in the Outfield' still resonates as classic baseball movie with dose of religion". cleveland. July 20, 2013.
- ^ "Facts about 'Angels in the Outfield': Classic Movie Hub (CMH)". Classic Movie Hub – CMH.
- ^ "Top 6 Home Runs From Angels in the Outfield". May 18, 2015.
- ^ "The 20 Highest Grossing Baseball Movies (Photos)". March 28, 2019.
- ^ The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study
- ^ "Angels in the Outfield". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ "Angels in the Outfield". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ "Angels in the Outfield (1994) – Financial Information". The Numbers.
- ^ "Angels in the Outfield | PowerGrid". July 31, 2017. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017.
- ^ "Angels in the Outfield (1994)". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "Angels in the Outfield". Metacritic.