Angels in the Outfield (1951) on Netflix
NR19511h 39mComedyDramaFamilyFantasy
The Pirates sit last, and their combative manager, Guffy McGovern, berates his players. Reporter Jennifer Paige prints the abuse. An angel offers miracles if Guffy mends his ways.
- Netflix3.9/5
- IMDb7.2/103,373 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes83%
Trailer
Plot summary
The Pittsburgh Pirates are stuck in last place, and their combative manager, Guffy McGovern, is upset. He directs abusive language at his players, and local newspaper reporter Jennifer Paige, who objects to the way he manages, publicizes it. One night Guffy wanders through Forbes Field looking for his good-luck charm and hears the voice of an angel who played baseball during his mortal life. The angel belongs to the Heavenly Choir Nine, a team of dead ballplayers, and offers the Pirates miracles on one condition: Guffy must stop swearing and fighting. Guffy agrees, and the invisible ghosts of past baseball greats begin helping the team.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Angels in the Outfield (1951)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- MGM bought the story as a vehicle for Spencer Tracy, who was replaced by Clark Gable; when Gable chose Lone Star instead, the studio tried and failed to borrow James Cagney from Warner Bros., settling on Paul Douglas.
- Because the Hays Code banned profanity, manager Guffy McGovern's foul language in the film is audio gibberish made by scrambling recordings of Paul Douglas's voice.
- Many of the baseball action shots were filmed at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, the Pirates' former home, which was demolished in 1971.
