A League of Their Own | Canadian First Time Watching | Movie Reaction | Movie Review | Commentary

[@imikey535]

The women at the end playing baseball are the actual members of the A.A.G.P.B.L.

[@jacksprat418-ju5qo]

Rockford is my hometown and the Peaches brought pride. Rockford was also known for knitting and sock monkey stuffed animals started there.

[@El_Bueno]

*were

[@skitz319]

South Bend Blue Sox were the team from my hometown.

[@Shazzadut1]

Yes, some of the ones playing at the end who didn’t have speaking parts. One arguing with the ref for example.

[@Shazzadut1]

The actors had to go to baseball boot camp so they could look like real players. There are no comparison photos because the actors characters are composites of real players.

[@gyut56re3]

The actress who plays the woman that can't read is Ann Cusack, sister to John and Joan.

[@chadwickvon8019]

Just learned something new. That's awesome.

[@jsharp3165]

I've always thought Ann was so pretty.

[@georgezee5173]

@@jsharp3165 She was very pretty indeed. I recently discovered a short-lived TV show that was the American version of British comedy "Little Britain". She had a very brief role as a mom and I couldn't help thinking that that was a very pretty mother, without realising it was Ann Cusack xD

[@joemiller7082]

Crazy. It’s genetic!!!

[@grega8586]

And the woman who helps her was played by Anne Ramsay who played Jamie's sister Lisa on Mad About You. Apparently was a friend of a friend of mine, too... before her acting days

[@lasselippert3892]

Jon Lovitz is just too good.

[@wardenm]

For real, steals every scene he's in. 😂

[@scottwilson3741]

Wouldn't be surprised if he didn't ad-lib most of his lines

[@euchongo4240]

He's throwing 100 miles per hour

[@ApesAmongUs]

"Jon, in this role, you'll be playing someone simultaneously lovable and sleazy." "So, no acting required. Got it."

[@grothesk80]

With George being such a big fan of the Simpsons, he may be happy to know that Jon Lovitz played quite a few one-shot characters in the early seasons of the Simpsons, including the director of the play in "Streetcar Named Marge" (S4E2), the snobbish art teacher in "Brush with Greatness" (S2E18), and as his own television character Jay Sherman in "A Star is Burns" (S6E18). Jon Lovitz is one of the many 80's and 90's celebrities known for his distinctive voice and distinct characters; the Jay Sherman character is specific to the short-lived animation known as "The Critic", which was one of many animated shows that came and went due to the success of 90's adult animations.

[@cameramandc]

Here's a fun fact for you Canadians, the character Dottie Hinson was based on Canadian baseball player Mary "Bonnie" Baker.

[@outspkn123]

it's never been confirmed who Dottie is based off, many believe it was Dorothy Kamenshek, some say Dottie Green

[@julieta8683]

Awesome

[@jsharp3165]

@@outspkn123 Yeah, for the past thirty years each character has been claimed to be "based on" every woman who ever played in the AAGPBL.

[@Gnomojo]

Was she a bitch who needed to be. lOf course she was Canadian. We breed strong birches.

[@JoeXTheXJuggalo1]

Noooo. Dottie was loosely based on the AAGPBL player Dorothy "Dottie" "Kammie

[@js0988]

THERE'S NO CRYING IN MOVIE REACTIONS!!!!

[@ParadoxFreak]

Treat these reactors like you would your own mother

[@AbeVicious]

😂​@@ParadoxFreak

[@totallyflippedout]

@@ParadoxFreak Anyone ever tell you you look like a penis with a little hat on

[@geolitube]

(in Tom Hanks Voice)

[@AndrewJens]

I know … what about if the uniform of one of these reactors bursts open and … oops … their bossoms pop out?

[@joedavis6029]

I am not an autograph hound...but I want a baseball from Tom Hanks that reads, "Avoid the clap, Jimmy Dugan."

[@glamazon6172]

Great tattoo idea

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

That would be a collector’s item.

[@Paxford0502]

"There's no crying in baseball" is obviously the big quote, but the moment where Hanks restrains himself from going on another similar tirade to the same player (played by Bitty Schram of Monk fame) is probably my favourite moment in the film.

[@biguy617]

She plays Sharona in the Monk TV series.

[@ricksgamemisc10]

Same!

[@Bobbing4Fries]

Fun fact most people dont notice: She hits the cutoff man on the last play

[@Johnny_Socko]

@@Bobbing4Fries That's awesome, and I never did notice it!

[@JMUDoc]

"You're still missing... the cut-off man." 🤣🤣

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

I did hear that Tom Hanks had to talk Penny Marshall into casting him for this role as they originally wanted an older actor to portray a manager but he explained the character would be more tragic played by someone his age as his career was cut short by injury which also stopped him from going to war. Gotta admire that Hanks hustle

[@deborahcornell171]

Yes, indeedy. Gotta admire just about everything about that man.🩵✨️

[@Greybeardmedic]

Tom Hanks had hit the big time with the movie "Big", but then he suffered a bunch of flops afterwards. He was hustling because he had to. He was about to be typecast into goofy comedic roles, and be given a permanent slot on Hollywood Squares. The success of this movie helped bring him back. He went on to land the roles for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, both were big Academy Awards for the movies and for him.

[@RonJomero]

Probably helped that Penny Marshall also directed Big.

[@badhidingplace9558]

The giant thigh bruise/scrape was REAL. That actually happened to the actress during filming. They worked it into the movie.

[@raybernal6829]

Called a strawberry 😊

[@DerekHartley]

You didn't watch the end of the video then?

[@badhidingplace9558]

@@DerekHartley I posted the comment WELL before seeing the trivia section.

[@benn454]

@@badhidingplace9558 Just had to be FIRST! so bad, huh

[@3DJapan]

​@@DerekHartleyMay have just posted it while watching.

[@shabadoo25]

Whether Dottie dropped it or not on purpose has been discussed for 30 years. Geena Davis says she knows but will never reveal the truth.

[@LucianDevine]

And the director and writers also know, but have never answered the question. I think that those are the only 4 people that know the truth.

[@nthdgree5078]

Lori Petty gets pissed at people that believe Dottie dropped the ball on purpose and says that’s not what they were going for because it’s insulting to Kit’s story arc and accomplishment.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

It's ambiguous on purpose, and arguments can be made either way.

[@cdlehner511]

Not that it’s definitive proof…but they specifically showed Dottie getting run over by another player, earlier; and holding on to the ball. But…no one’s perfect. Personally…I think Dottie was playing to win (as she always did); as…if she wanted to throw the game, she could have done it at her bat. But…was glad Kit got her moment nonetheless.

[@ShaneSpear02]

Dottie coached the pitcher exactly what and where to throw - to Kit's coldest zone. If Kit hadn't got lucky with her wild flail of a hit, she would have been out on 3 strikes. So I think whether or not Dottie dropped the ball isn't the where the evidence is, it was at the mound visit.

[@KurtAnderson812]

I know a woman who played with the AAGBL during the war. She’s in her 90s now but sharp as a tack and has some amazing stories about her time playing ball.

[@opalviking]

She should do a r/AMA!

[@geraldrhodes4114]

Man! You need to talking to her, a LOT, with a voice recorder!

[@carlosspeicywiener7018]

Please, please ask her to record some of those stories. The world needs it.

[@daveb.2499]

One of the ladies was an umpire in my little league back in the 80's. She's in a few of the scenes at the end of the movie.

[@miriam8376]

@@opalvikingoh, I want that so bad!

[@CineRam]

Switching voices would make for a fun intro!

[@heyheyjk-la]

Yeah, if we don't see that on the next video we're going to riot. Or maybe it'll just be me. Or I'll just be disappointed for a few seconds. It would be hilarious though.

[@RoninUK-e3u]

To see Lori Petty 's stand out performance you have to see tank Girl.

[@scotthewitt258]

💯%

[@TheGavrael]

And In the Army Now if you’ve got a crush on her

[@Baiko]

I'd love to see someone react to Tank Girl, I've never come across that.

[@USCFlash]

she's not a very good actress...which is why she was doing those horse racing commercials.

[@reverendB]

@@Baiko It had an absoulute BANGER of a soundtrack, too!

[@RobPryme]

My favorite moment is when Jon Lovitz screams at the nearby interrupting cow, 'will you SHUT UP?!?!'

[@LucianDevine]

And it was improvised! He just did it, because he thought that it was 100% what his character would do in that scenario.

[@raybernal6829]

As a lifelong baseball fan over 60 years this is one of my favorite baseball movies. Yes the league was real but the characters were fictional... ❤❤❤

[@theendistheend123]

"It's supposed to be hard! If it were easy everyone would do it. It's the HARD that makes it great!" LOVE that line

[@cruzuvalle9845]

“How about Marla hooch…. What a hitter!” 😂😂😂

[@hectorsmommy1717]

Megan Cavanaugh, the actress who played Marla, did her own hitting. All of the women could play baseball but they did use doubles for a few of the hitting scenes, except Marla.

[@belindasmith1983]

@@hectorsmommy1717 JAMES ISSAC NEUTRON

[@mikebrown7799]

Hi Simone & George!😊 Yeah, I think you guys got confused by the trivia. The characters in the film are fictional. Some of them are based on real players. The older women playing on the field at the very end of the film are the actual players. The "Rockford Peaches" were a real team. Great reactions to this well made film, Simone & George!!!!🎬👏👏👏👏

[@kelleyleary7033]

The actress who played Marla was also in Robin Hood: Men in Tights as Broomhilde, Marian’s lady-in-waiting. “No ding-ding without the wedding ring!”.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Very true.

[@belindasmith1983]

Her name is Megan Cavanagh she voiced Judy Neutron ( Jimmy’s mom) from Jimmy Neutron

[@tierneybeckett]

"WHY AM I THE ONLY PERSON ON THIS BUS?!!!" has got to be one of the best mood shifts in cinematic history.

[@RedDogDragon]

Laugh all you want, but avoiding the clap is sound advice.

[@neilbiggs1353]

Penny Marshall didn't direct many films, but any director would love to have a run like Awakenings, Big and A League Of Their Own on it!

[@somestuff7876]

Didn't even know that she directed Awakenings. Yeah, she had awesome run.

[@resonantstorm771]

The bus driver throwing dirt in the chaperones face at point blank range is still one of the funniest and most fucked up things I've ever seen in a movie. 😂😭

[@bobapjok4241]

The scene with the war messenger is absolutely devastating

[@LucianDevine]

It really is, and you can 100% understand why Jimmy did what he did. Every second that those girls know that one of their husbands is dead but don't know whose is going to be absolute torture. Even forgetting about how that would affect their ability to play, it's just cruel. He would happily take any repercussions for his actions without batting an eye.

[@johannesvalterdivizzini1523]

My late wife's grandfather was an office manager in NY for Western Union, and there were so many telegraphs that he had to sometimes deliver them. An awful experience. My aunt (who had eloped) got one about her husband at her parent's house--they were in double shock that she had been married and they had just lost their son in law.

[@hectorsmommy1717]

My mom was a teacher from '43 on and lived in a rooming house with other teachers. One was married to a man in the Navy and they always watched when they saw that the Western Union man was making deliveries. He never did come to their house but did next door. There was a flag with 3 blue stars and one went gold. For those unfamiliar with the "Gold Star Mothers", women who had sons go to war would put a flag in their window with one blue star for each at war. If any died in action, they would change a blue star to a gold one. We still have Grandma's with 2 blue stars, my Dad and uncle.

[@bassbull1]

I lived in Evansville, Indiana when this was filmed there. It’s amazing how Madonna made a whole town hate her in such a short time. She badmouthed everything about the place. They actually threw a party when she left.

[@rivercitymud]

To be fair, if you'd thrown the party before she left, she might have liked it more.

[@TheCpage66]

My Dad and I went to the premier of this in Sun City, Arizona and it was held by a local Phoenix radio station...there were no less than five women there that night who had played in the AAGPBL and they held a Q&A session after the movie there in the theatre. Great and unexpected night.

[@clevelandcbi]

That's so awesome. Grew up in Kingman AZ. Miss Arizona every day.

[@thamoose2179]

FYI...the Actress who couldn't read was Ann Cusak, little sister of John and Joan Cusak..... Also Betty Spaghetti is Tracy Reiner, Director Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner's Daughter and niece of Producer Garry Marshall (Mr. Harvey the Baseball Team Owner)

[@tlt-ell1193]

The kid who tried to put the moves on Dottie was played by Scott Marshall, Garry's son/Penny's nephew

[@ClanMcDuck]

My grandmother was from Rockford. She was a teenager during this time. She told us that she and her friends would crawl under a fence to sneak in and watch the Peaches play.

[@nicholasbrown2498]

There is a sign up there still that says Rockford Peaches I'm from Rockford born and raised

[@locnar1]

@@nicholasbrown2498 Hello from Dekalb!

[@carlalussini]

"Older Gina Davis" is ICONIC casting, we were all so confused, specially back then when realistic prosthetics weren't as advanced as today. AND the fact that they gave her Gina's voice? That's literal movie magick

[@janeldavis905]

I grew up on this movie, and I have always thought it was amazing prosthetics. That would have been impressive, but somehow this seems even more impressive

[@carlalussini]

@@janeldavis905 yeah, like, IMDb didn't exist so all theories were a possibility. Isn't it funny? How we, who are to each other a stranger on the internet, only words on our phones, can have such a profound, decades long connection? Just two little girls, crying about the beauty of sisterhood. Big hugs to you.

[@tommiller4895]

The guy dancing wirh Madonna was Eddie Mekka. He played Carmine (aka the Big Ragoo) on Laverne and Shirley. He was an excellent Singer and Dancer. One of Baseball Stadium Announcers calling the game was David Lander who played Squiggy on Laverne and Shirley. The Baseball Scout was played by Jon Lovitz (from Saturday Night Live). Many of his insults and funny comments weren't in the script and were adlibs by Lovitz himself. Jimmy Duggan (Tom Hank's character) was based on the Real Manager of the Rockford Peaches former Star Player Jimmy Foxx. Kit (Lori Petty) has a Cult following as the title character in the movie Tank Girl.

[@user-dz6fy6qv2l]

Also.. The owner of the league was played by Garry Marshall. He created Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, both shows where he hired his sister, Penny who directed this film.

[@jonsoule7421]

Jimmy Foxx's career was rather more successful than Jimmy Duggan's. He played 20 years, hit 534 home runs, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1951.

[@DavetheGrue]

@@jonsoule7421 More importantly, the players said he was always a gentleman. But the movie is funnier this way.

[@soocool78]

Tom Hanks told his agent "i dont want to play another pussy again" referring to all his recent romcoms / awkward movies (BIG for instance). So he took this job. It was his first role breaking away from his other work. Edit: if memory serves me correct he said this on “Inside the Actors Studio” though I could be wrong on that

[@A23457]

They didn't do side-by-side comparisons between actors & real players bc other than Dottie, who was based on an actual player or two, the characters in the film weren’t based on specific historical counterparts

[@tristramcoffin926]

George is totally adding pickle tickle to his personal vernacular.

[@robertcampbell8070]

Back in the 90's my mom produced a documentary about the AAGPBL. She used to have a poster with about 25-30 signatures from surviving players they had met and interviewed.

[@fusiliers]

I am not much of a baseball fan but this movie, along with "Eight Men Out" and "The Bad News Bears" (the original 1976 version), are my favorite sports movies.

[@notconcernedwriting]

The baseball scout was ACTING!

[@jculver1674]

Yeah, that's the ticket!

[@chrisraymer9348]

GENIUS!

[@JSBIRD69]

@@jculver1674 And he's married to Morgan Fairchild!

[@saytr4]

Brilliant!

[@clh35]

Yea... that's the ticket!

[@xcmvp2007]

Even as a young kid, I could tell there was something special about this movie. I couldn't articulate it at the time, but it is a work of heart that touches the soul.

[@Heyesy]

Not sure if you meant to say work of art instead of heart, but either way it works. This movie feels like it had a lot of love put into it from the makers.

[@BigJohnLXV]

Penny clearly has a love for her craft

[@jimbass5825]

Great reaction to a sensational film. Huge credit to Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel for their script. So many genuine laugh out loud moments but also deftly handling the death of Betty's husband, which is a major handkerchief moment. And finally (sorry, have to get this off my chest!) there is no way Dottie intentionally lost the game. She did not drive from the midwest to Yellowstone Park and then come back just to lose the game. She did not drive in two runs with a single to intentionally lose the game in the next inning. And she told Kit herself..."you wanted it more than I did", which is perfect. Kit had to want it more to make up for the talent difference. And that, in my opinion, is why Dottie was beaming watching Kit celebrate with her new teammates. Thanks for doing this one, guys!

[@jedlogan392]

A lot of people forget that Tom Hanks started his career as a comedic actor. His first big break came on television with him in drag for the show "Bosom Buddies."

[@clownzzz4837]

His first big movie was 'Splash'. Still one of my favorites.

[@godmagnus]

I feel like everyone thinks of him as a comedian first

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

Quite true.

[@kwydjebo]

@@godmagnus I'd say everybody who was around when Tom Hanks was mainly a comedic actor remembers that....a lot of younger people only know him as Oscar winner dramatic actor.

[@ajschroetlin2196]

​@kwydjebo The younger crowd has the same reaction to Michael Keaton.

[@Uncle_T]

Jon Lovitz has a small role and exits the movie early but he sure has some zingers while he's still in it.

[@DementisXYZ]

Fun Fact for Millenials and Zoomers: Marla Hooch is played by Megan Cavanagh, the voice of Judy Neutron from Adventures of Jimmy Neutron.

[@seattlecryptid]

She also married Al in Home Improvement. 😊

[@Bringmethehorizondude]

I’ve never thought she dropped it on purpose. For as much as Dottie didn’t care about playing, she was always competitive. That’s shown early on when she doesn’t let Kit walk faster than her.

[@HowiTzer44]

I go the other way on it. As an older brother and competitor, yes, you give them the business, but you also recognize when it's time to let that down. Dottie didn't need this as much as Kit did. And the exchange afterward helped heal their relationship. Dottie went for the bigger win there while Kit felt validated. She definitely dropped it on purpose. Imo.

[@Bringmethehorizondude]

@@HowiTzer44 I can respect that take. Dottie is definitely written as someone who is smart enough to recognize that Kit needs it more. Either way, it’s a beautiful ending to the story.

[@lawrencewestby9229]

I never even considered that she dropped the ball on purpose. She was a competitor on the field and would want her sister to win legitimately. Besides, I don't think she'd consider letting her teammates down like that.

[@michaeljacyna1973]

It's truly up for personal interpretation. To this day, members of the cast disagree about this

[@benn454]

​@@HowiTzer44It means more when they beat you legitimately.

[@agarven1]

Penny Marshall that directed the film and her brother Gary was also in the film. Was filmed in Chicago. The Rockford Peaches is an actual town Rockford Illinois. Racine Wisconsin was also a woman’s baseball team also. I went to Louisville Kentucky baseball museum years ago and they have the All American baseball team for woman’s baseball uniforms. It was so cool to see the museum

[@jgreenbelt]

To add context to my best knowledge: The league is the AAGPBL and it ran from 1943 to 1954. It was owned by a gum manufacturer William Wrigley Jr. and featured at maximum 15 teams including the Rockford Peaches and Racine Belles. From what I could tell the plot in the movie is largely fictional for the movie. For instance the 1943 World Series was between the Racine Belles and the Kenosha Comets not the Rockford Peaches. The characters in the movie while renamed are based on real players/managers/coaches in the league.

[@johnlocke9437]

I'm glad that Simone and that Asian guy liked this one.

[@AndrewJamesGordon]

Marla Hooch #32 is played by Megan Cavanagh. She is most well known for her role as Broomhilde in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" (1993) and is the voice of Judy Neutron Jimmy Neutron's mum in the Nickleodeon tv series "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius" (2002-2006)

[@w9gb]

Train scenes were filmed at Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, IL Popular film location, with largest collection of operational equipment.

[@BryanH63]

This is one of the greatest all-time baseball films. A lot of this was filmed around my city, Evansville, IN with Bosse Field used for a large number of the game footage. There are still signs for 2 different teams on either side of the press box. When filming, depending on the direction they filmed, it could be 2 different fields. About every other year they show the film on the field at the Stadium... Many times they have actual players there taking pictures and signing autographs.

[@GenXJen78]

I grew up not very far from Evansville. I was 13 when this movie was in production, and I begged my parents to let me go be an extra. I suggested that we all go, or at least my mom and me, but they still wouldn't let me.😭😭

[@McPh1741]

Such a great movie. It shows a side of WW2 that you never see and is just a great sports movie. I love the scene where Dottie catches Doris' throw. It was badass she did it bare handed but I like the Marla didn't flitch either. On a side note, I don't Ellen Sue gets enough recognition, she's gorgeous. I love that squinty-eyed glare she has before she throws a pitch. Looking for another WW2 movie shown from different POV, I HIGHLY recommend the Mathew Broderick/ Christopher Walken movie "Biloxi Blues".

[@Marky11694]

1:42 No, that's not Davis playing an older version of herself in the flash-forward scenes. Lynn Cartwright, a then-65-year-old actress, was picked to play an older Dottie with the other Peaches receiving a more mature double as well. "We felt it was a gamble," producer Elliot Abbott admitted to the Los Angeles Times in 1992, but they worried the aging makeup wouldn't appear realistic enough. "We didn't know whether or not it was going to work, which scared us to death." Though Cartwright studied Davis' work to nail her mannerisms, production chose to dub in the star's voice "because Lynn's voice is so different, so deep, it would have pulled you out," said Abbott. "It's all you would have thought about."

[@snarkyhostile8371]

Everyone knows the crying in baseball line, but pound for pound, "Avoid the clap, Jimmy Dugan" is the absolute best line in this film.

[@lynetteoliva1256]

Hey guys great reaction.😊 Here are some fun facts. The league song that the women sang was the actual league song w/1 word change. In the original song they sang "Irish men" for the movie they changed it to "Irish ones". The AAGBL lasted 12 seasons & was actually started by Mr.Wrigley. The AAGBL was considered a Midwestern league. Wrigley wanted the teams to be reasonable traveling distance from Chicago. During the 1st couple of seasons the women played fast pitch softball. The distance between home plate & the pitching mound, & the distance between the bases were shortened. In 1947 (could be off by a year), they began to pitch overhand, but used a ball slightly larger than a regulation baseball. The league also lengthened the distances between the mound & home plate, & between bases, but they still weren't regulation distance. It did become regulation for the ball, the distance from pitching mound to home plate, & almost regulation distance between bases the last season they played. Only a couple of the original teams lasted all 12 seasons, one of them being the Rockford Peaches. The women of the league had to attend charm school. They had rules such as having to wear lipstick while out in public, they could not be seen smoking/drinking in public, they could not wear pants & they could not have short hair. Any infractions of the rules & u could be fined/suspended from play. One woman cut her hair really short & she was fired from the league. They took that "You must be a lady @ all times." quite seriously. Unfortunately for black women, baseball was still very much segregated. Well, I guess that's enough history. I love this movie, & I really enjoyed this reaction.😊👍

[@cixelsyd40]

The "crazy" pitch is actually the usual delivery technique for fastpitch softball

[@OSVS_Mike]

The writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel have some of the greatest one-liners. You may want to check out their other hilarious films: Parenthood (1989, Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Keanu Reeves,) City Slickers (1991, Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby) Classic stuff right there.

[@joshuameyer8544]

Harry Shearer from The Simpsons is the one narrating the newsreel at the beginning

[@scottcortmeister4164]

Tom Hanks did play a semi-bad guy in "The Road to Perdition" with Daniel Craig, a period piece set in the 1930's. Of course he was great...

[@cyruswhitley7840]

Jimmy Dugan is one of my favorite Tom Hanks characters. He has so many incredible one-liners in this movie. Outstanding performance. And I agree that Tom Hanks is very hard to dislike no matter what character he plays. But watch Elvis. You will absolutely hate his character in Elvis. Hanks’ portrayal is incredible, but that character is horrendous.

[@laudanum669]

Lots of actors in this that were in the TV show "Laverne and Shirley". Director Penny Marshall played Laverne, her brother Garry who played Laverne's father in L&S plays Walter Harvey in this . David Landers who played "Squiggy" in L&S is the sports announcer and Eddie Mekka who was "The Big Ragu" on L&S plays the GI swing dancing. David Landers became a pro baseball scout in real life.

[@carlosspeicywiener7018]

A soldier in ww2 earned about 50 dollars a month, those girls were getting 75 a week. And yes, Geena Davis actually caught that baseball with her bare hand. Bonus fact: bill Pullman has a brother, John, who is a doctor, ear, nose and throat specialist in my hometown. He's really cool and I got to meet Bill at his office when I was 17 or so. He's super nice and he thinks John should be the famous one.

[@OSVS_Mike]

This is an absolute CLASSIC. I wish they still had the deleted scenes on KZbin. The train scene with Marla eating is friggin' hilarious.

[@tonyberezowski7859]

"So, he said I should just take him and shut up about it." lol, such a classic, well-delivered line.

[@fmellish71]

Jimmy: "baseball is what gets inside of you. Its what lights you up." Dottie: "...well, now Bob's back to do that, so see ya."

[@CPTDoom]

The guy Madonna dances with at the road house is played by Eddie Mekka, who had a recurring role as Carmine "the Big Ragu" on "Laverne & Shirley," the sitcom that made Penny Marshall, and her co-star Cindy Williams, famous. The stadium announcer is David Lander, who played one Laverne & Shirley's neighbors, Squiggy of Lenny & Squiggy.

[@grife3000]

As I understood it, the women were just characters made for the story. While there was a real league, and a real drunkard former major leaguer managing them, the rest is just "inspired by". Thus them not doing a "side-by-side" comparison of the real players with the movie players.

[@jamesedwards2483]

The Characters Were Based On Real Players And Managers In The AAGPBL!!

[@Brian-qn7fn]

@@jamesedwards2483 The film is fun, but almost complete BS.

[@MoviesandCoffee]

Geena Davis' best movie is The Long Kiss Goodnight, with Sam L. Jackson. Highly recommend!

[@cyruswhitley7840]

Agreed. And it’s one of Samuel L. Jackson’s best roles.

[@motorcycleboy9000]

*nah nuhnuh nah nuh* I'm posting a comment here *nah nuhnuh nah nuh* Hope more people react to that movie

[@deanromanado5850]

​@@cyruswhitley7840 When Jackson asked who his favorite character to play in all the movies, he chose Long Kiss Goodnight.

[@manzell]

It's a duck not a dick

[@jsharp3165]

I don't think it's a great movie. Renny Harlin is a hack. But everyone in it is great. Especially Brian Cox. And that's makes it bonkers fun.

[@warrencornell430]

The scout is Jon Lovitz, formerly of SNL and, among other things, a guest voice on The Simpsons as Artie Ziff, Llewellyn Sinclair, Jay Sherman and others. And speaking of Jay Sherman, (as George probably knows as fan of The Simpsons) he was the film critic in the episode "A Star is Burns", the film festival episode famous for Moleman's football in the groin. That role was a cross-over from the short-lived, but absolutely genius series, The Critic. It only ran two seasons (plus some webisodes) but it's brilliant. Would be great to see a reaction to it.

[@NorthernShrew]

Betty Spaghetti is Rob Reiner and Penny Marshall's daughter ❤. She's also Harry's girlfriend at the Pictionary party in When Harry Met Sally.

[@seattlecryptid]

Not Reiner's biological daughter, but he's her kiddo through and through. Even Kathleen Marshall (Gary's own daughter) is in this, spotted her standing next to Tom Hanks when he chucks the mitt at Stilwell.

[@NorthernShrew]

@seattlecryptid He adopted her so I didn't think it was necessary to say.

[@keng4847]

There were no "comparison photos" at the end of the movie because the characters in the movie were all fictional. But the baseball league itself was real and lasted from 1943-1954. The elderly women shown playing baseball at the end of the movie were all actual players from that league

[@johncampbell756]

Betty was played by Tracy Reiner, Penny Marshall's daughter. Her former step-dad was Rob Reiner.

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

I think the movie was just honest enough not to play the game of pretending to be a true story when it's overwhelmingly fiction, and the true part is just the general premise of the league.

[@johnniekight1879]

Tom's character was based on HOF Jimmy Fox whose family wouldn't let them use his name. Yes. He loved a drink.

[@deborahcornell171]

Most of this was filmed in 2 nearby towns. The cast & locals were mutually warm & friendly & enjoyed the whole experience. Word from everyone was that Madonna was NOT warm & friendly. What a shame she didn't allow herself to have a good time too.

[@roboticd]

Madonna very famously compared Evansville to an Eastern European city in its drearyness.

[@QuelquefoisFois]

Can't blame her there! 😁

[@Ozai75]

@@roboticd Prague Which is hilarious because Prague is extremely beautiful as a city.

[@Shazzadut1]

Penny Marshall assigned Rosie O’Donnell to help teach Madonna baseball. I secretly suspect she selected Rosie because Madonna wouldn’t have been able to intimidate Rosie. Rosie would have smacked her down…😂😂😂😂😂

[@gregmcdonald8962]

Madonna should have gotten an Oscar for how likeable she is in this compared to what she is in real life.

[@antoniozayas9822]

Say, I can recall you two asking if Tom Hanks ever played a villain. I highly recommend "Lady Killers". It's a dark comedy but hilarious! In my opinion, it didn't get the recognition it deserved. That being said, A League of Their Own is still one of my favorites! Thanks so much for viewing it! I just knew you two would've loved it.

[@richardstephens5570]

Hanks played a hitman in "Road to Perdition".

[@antoniozayas9822]

@@richardstephens5570 I totally forgot about that one! Thanks!!! Great, great movie!!!

[@positivelynegative9149]

3:51 Simone has never seen fast-pitch softball. 😄 Canadian colleges don't have softball? 🤔

[@AbeVicious]

They have hockey

[@Jar0fMay0]

They’re Canadian

[@positivelynegative9149]

@@AbeVicious And? Do you think that means they ONLY have hockey?

[@AbeVicious]

@@positivelynegative9149 it was a joke. Don't get your panties in a bunch

[@positivelynegative9149]

@@AbeVicious Hockey is no joke.

[@clash5j]

Debra Winger was all set to play Dottie. Then she found out Madonna would be in the film and she pulled out

[@clh35]

George is gonna choke on another dirty joke when he reads your comment.

[@jamesr2164]

@@clash5j well in the end it was certainly Debra's loss, because the movie ended up grossing over a hundred million and is still looked back on so fondly. I'm glad Geena Davis ended up playing the role of Dottie, and Madonna was great in this.

[@resonantstorm771]

When that beautiful black woman throws the ball back to Dottie so hard it hurts her hand and they share that look and moment of acknowledgement: FULL BODY CHILLS EVERY TIME. Penny Marshall was such a gem. Everything she made was so full of heart.

[@simonfrederiksen104]

19:11 Life Magazine, June 1943 - Rockford Peaches catcher Dottie "The Queen of Diamonds" Hinson catches a foul ball while doing the splits. A fan favorite, Hinson would only play one season in the AAGPBL.

[@JoeXTheXJuggalo1]

This movie was based on formation of the AAGPBL (All American Girls Professional Baseball League) during WWII. Pretty much a majority of the movie is just Fiction but Dottie'd character was loosely based on the AAGPBL player Dorothy "Dottie" Kammie

[@McShaganpronouncedShaegen]

Lori Petty was also the lead in Tank Girl A really fun comic book movie.

[@juanv8758]

The man dancing with Madonna at the bar was an actor & dancer who worked with Penny Marshall (the director) on a TV show called Laverne & Shirley. The character he played was named Carmine. Another character from that show, named Squiggy, he played the announcer at the world series game.

[@jeffreymoore6742]

If you want to see Tom Hanks in a different type of role try watching “Road to Perdition” (2002)

[@theemagicalwendigo5070]

The film is based on real events from the 40s...also the dancing scene with Madonna. One of the guys, the more heavy set guy, was a trained dancer if i remember corrected. He also tried to get with my mom when she met in him person.

[@cshubs]

I hope you watch the criminally underrated Tom Hanks movie Road to Perdition. He plays a mob hit man for Paul Newman. It's fantastic.

[@jollyrodgers7272]

At the beginning they are playing Women's Softball. They pitch underhand with a roundhouse windup to accelerate the ball. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a real thing, lasting 12 years in total. Rockford and South Bend lasted the longest and played all 12 seasons from 1943-1954, and 65 original team members appeared in this film at the league's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988 at Cooperstown, NY. This film will remain a bittersweet classic for the ages.

[@lordwalker71]

Geena Davis said that Penny Marshall had to use a lot of smoke and mirrors to make her look athletic, she said that she isn’t athletic at all despite the fact that she almost went to the olympics for Achery. The soldier who danced with Madonna in the bar was one of Penny Marshall’s co stars on the show Laverne&Shirley, he played Shirley’s boyfriend his character was a dancer.The baseball announcer you see the most was also one of her co stars he played one of her weird neighbours. There was a rumour going around for years that old Dottie was Geena Davis in old make up because the likeness was so good.

[@shadowfrost__]

The actress who plays Shirley Baker (the woman who could not read) is Ann Cusack, John Cusack's sister. Also the woman who plays first base for the Racine Bells in the world series is actress Tea Leone. Also, also, the actress that plays Betty Spaghetti (the woman whose husband died in the war) is Tracy Reiner the daughter of Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner she is in 5 movies with Tom Hanks so keep a look out for her in the future.

[@TheDaringPastry1313]

My two fun facts: The All American Girls Professional Baseball League Song is real and the woman from the league have met every year for a reunion since 1982 except around the 2 covid years. You can see videos of them singing it at the reunions. It's crazy how far women's sports have come and on top of that, I don't care for baseball that much, but really enjoy watching the faster pace and higher energy sport of college softball.

[@Brian-qn7fn]

You are nuts.

[@TheDaringPastry1313]

@@Brian-qn7fn Because I enjoy softball? I'll watch baseball some, but it's not my favorite.

[@mikeshoe74]

@@TheDaringPastry1313 My High School Principal was a member of the AAGPBL. She's not casted in the film, but was in the league. I was unaware of this while I was in High School, but learned of this after the movie came out and saw her name in the HOF in Cooperstown. Interestingly enough, despite being an All State athlete in 3 sports, she only went to tryouts cause a friend dragged her to go for moral support of her own. They wind up taking my HS Principal and not the friend. She passed away in 2018. Jane Moffet

[@Ovrkyl]

In so many ways this movie hits harder for me. Besides being a great movie with excellent casting (including the older look-a-likes) and a great script and humor and touching moments (especially the telegraph scene), the movie was partially shot in my family's hometown (one of the stadiums shown is Bosse Field) and it's my grandparents' era (the WWII generation), so it's like a look back at the past getting to see what life was like for them at that time. Add that one of the ballplayer actresses looks very similar to my recently departed ex-wife and best friend, it's very emotional for me to watch. Glad you both enjoyed it.

[@michaelriddick7116]

GREAT MOVIE!! 😊 My grandparents served in the US Navy during WW2. This always reminds me of how much I miss them and how that generation is almost all gone 💔😢😢😢

[@michaelriddick7116]

💘 Lori Petty 💗🥰🥰

[@michaelriddick7116]

The bruises they show in this actually real!

[@janetnwonderland]

One of the dancers that Madonna is dancing with is Eddie Mekka. He played Carmine Ragusa alongside Penny Marshall in "Laverne and Shirley." He was one of the tenants in their apartment building. And if I remember correctly, it's been a long time, he also played the boyfriend of Shirley. Shirley was played by Cindy Williams. I think it was really nice of Penny Marshall to think of Eddie when casting dancers. He was a dancer. And he also played a struggling dancer on "Laverne and Shirley." I will also add that the guy who played the baseball announcer is David Lander. He also played on "Laverne and Shirley" as another one of their neighbors, Squiggy.

[@sergioaccioly5219]

Beck when this movie was released, there was a batch of great baseball movies - this, Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. All of them well worth watching, for different reasons. Coincidentally, two of them were Kevin Costner movies, that was, himself, going through a batch of great movies. Good times.

[@chrisgilbert9076]

I can’t recommend any other baseball movie more highly than Bull Durham. Peak young Kevin Costner, stunning Susan Sarandon and newcomer Tim Robbins. Funny, thoughtful and really a love letter to minor league baseball and the boys who play it!

[@sergioaccioly5219]

@@chrisgilbert9076 Pretty much my feelings for this movie. If Field of Dreams was a love letter to the sport as a social glue, Bull Durham is about the people that play the sport. League is, I think, about the soul of the sport, and how it changes the players and the spectators.

[@sammylane21]

I love how Dotty can't let Kit walk faster than her. Little siblings, brother or sister, absolutely gotta learn that their place is directly behind us, the older siblings.....FACTS! Middle sibs a exception. 😉😂

[@LeighMet]

We have been wondering about that collison for ovver 30 years. Most of the older women were the real players.

[@jamedraa8472]

I know right. Earlier in the fil a player runs into Dottie and she holds onto the ball. The way the camera zooms in on the ball both times makes me think the drop was intentional... or maybe it's just my big sister bias.

[@LucianDevine]

@@jamedraa8472 But the situations aren't truly the same. Kit has a head full of steam, god knows how much adrenaline coursing through her body, and wanted that run infinitely more than that bigger girl earlier in the movie. That's not to say that there isn't a strong arguement though, because there absolutely is, even with Dottie telling Ellen Sue about the high fastballs.

[@nathancamp6883]

A few members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League are still alive, including Maybelle Blair, the inspiration for Madonna's character. Maybelle is 97 and a legendary, larger-than-life member of the women's baseball community to this day, showing up at tournaments all over the country and signing autographs. She walks with a cane made from a baseball bat.

[@mayorjimmy]

A lot of people forget Tom Hanks started his career as a comedian. You guys should check out 'Volunteers' with him and John Candy. GREAT movie.

[@tancar2004]

He was one of the top comedic actor's back in the 80's "Volunteers", "Spalsh", "Big", "Joe vs the Volcano". Then after he did "Philadelphia" he was the top dramatic actor of the 90's. Amazing talent.

[@OldLadyReacts]

@3:56 - that's a soft-ball pitch. I don't know why the pitches are so different in softball, but it is. I've heard it explained like this: Overhand=velocity, underhand=stamina.

[@lukebarber9511]

The problem for me with watching this movie today after decades of Simpsons viewing is that I keep hearing Harry Shearer's Skinner voice whenever there's a newsreel...

[@johncrawford5225]

Jon Lovitz (the scout) is a comedy LEGEND. Everything he does is gold.

[@cliffendicott7832]

To comment on you (George) saying, "Some people say 'the Asian Guy' and Simone", I actually think you are easily the most interesting reactor on KZbin - no offense intended to Simone. You're intelligence, broad knowledge and sense of humour make Cinebinge reactions the most enjoyable ones out there. I'm sure lots of people watch you guys for Simone (no denying, she's adorable), but I think you are the reason so many reactions so entertaining. Keep it up George and Simone.

[@BillTheScribe]

I used to work at a place in an industrial complex that had a feral cat colony behind it. We fed them and caught the ones we could to get them fixed. One day, a new one showed up, but she was super skittish. I wasn’t able to get within about 50 yards/meters of her, but she was always there, standing way out in the field. I named her Marla. No one got it until I reminded them of this movie.