61*/Babe Ruth [2 Discs] DVD

61*
Noted baseball fan Billy Crystal directed this made-for-cable drama set in the summer of 1961, as two of the strongest hitters in the major leagues, Mickey Mantle (Thomas Jane) and Roger Maris (Barry Pepper), find themselves neck and neck in a battle to break Babe Ruth's long-standing record for most home runs in a season. Both men were playing for the New York Yankees at the time, and as the two men came within grasping distance of Ruth's record, their loyalty as friends and teammates was put to the ultimate test. 61 also features Richard Masur, Bruce McGill, Anthony Michael Hall, and Renee Taylor; the scenes set in Yankee Stadium were filmed at Michigan's Tiger Stadium, shortly after the Detroit Tigers shuttered the venerable playing field and relocated to a newer facility. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Babe Ruth: The Life Behind the Legend
As its title implies, this video attempts to go beyond the public persona of one of major league baseball's greatest stars. Accepting Ruth as a larger-than-life figure, this 59-minute video doesn't attempt to rationalize, apologize, or analyze his behavior. Rather, it endeavors to present an unbiased account of the life of George Herman Ruth, contradictions and all. Here was an individual who was at once self-indulgent -- he reportedly had an enormous appetite for wine, women, song, as well as food -- and yet was capable of performing many charitable acts. Produced by HBO Studios in 1999, the video also examines Ruth's athletic career: the pitching prowess he demonstrated with the Boston Red Sox, the seemingly super-human batting skills he displayed during his greatest years with the New York Yankees, the 714 career home runs, and the years of decline. The video also places Ruth's career in a historical context, revealing him to be very much a man of his era -- the Roaring '20s. ~ Dan Harvey, All Movie Guide

Cast Barry Pepper as Roger Maris Thomas Jane as Mickey Mantle Anthony Michael Hall as Whitey Ford Richard Masur as Milt Kahn Bruce McGill as Houk, Ralph Christopher McDonald as Mel Allen Jennifer Foley as Pat Maris (1961) Renée Taylor as Claire Ruth Bob Gunton as Dan Topping Donald Moffat as Ford Frick Christopher Bauer as Bob Cerv Pat Crowley as Pat Maris ('98) Joe Grifasi as Phil Rizzuto Paul Borghese as Yogi Berra Bobby Hosea as Elston Howard Peter Jacobson as Artie Green Seymour Cassel as Sam Simon Robert Joy as Michael Nouri as Domenick Lombardozzi as Rebecca Klinger as Robert Costanzo as Christopher Marquette as Conor O'Farrell as Jimmy Intveld as

Crew n/a

61*
Billy Crystal's 61* stands alongside Bang the Drum Slowly and Bull Durham as one of the few films that understands the day-to-day life of baseball players. The fully realized performances by Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane make this film compelling for people with no interest in baseball. They, along with screenwriter Hank Steinberg, do a marvelous job of presenting two very complex, very male personalities. Maris is an outwardly stoic average guy who approaches the game with unsmiling intensity; baseball is a job to him. This does not make him a popular man with the press or the fans, particularly when compared to the loudmouthed party boy Mickey Mantle. In their private lives, Maris is a happy, down-to-earth husband and father with a quick smile for his family, while Mantle is miserable. Assuming he will die young because his father and uncles did, Mickey lives hard and fast. His destructive behavior fuels a self-fulfilling prophecy. The two opposites bring out the best in each other, both on and off the field. Maris forces Mantle to take better care of himself, and Mantle becomes the only person Maris can turn to when the pressure of chasing Babe Ruth's record begins to damage his health, friendships, and marriage. Pepper invests Maris with a quiet dignity and a Midwestern attitude that makes him neither a foolish innocent, nor a scowling kill-joy (two stereotypes the character could have easily become). Jane makes Mantle charming and likable, but presents his inner pain in subtle, quietly powerful moments. Although the film loses narrative drive in its second half, the characters remain compelling throughout. Although it could have easily turned into a piece of mawkish sentimentality, 61*, thanks to strong writing, respectful direction, and outstanding performances, is an engaging character study with a firm sense of place and time. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
 
Babe Ruth: The Life Behind the Legend
(not reviewed)
 

Disc Title: 61* - People Awards: Barry Pepper: Broadcast Film Critics Association, Best Actor in a Picture Made for Television (nominated) Barry Pepper: Golden Globe, Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture (nominated) Billy Crystal: Directors Guild of America, Best Director - Television Movie (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DDS: Dolby Digital Surround DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc 61*: Animated menus 61*: Chapter selections 61*: Multiple language & subtitle selections 61*: Cast & director bios 61*: Making of 61* featurette 61*: Player bios & stats 61*: 1961 home run list 61*: Original trailer Babe Ruth: Chapter selections Babe Ruth: Audio selections DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1: Alternate Wide Screen 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 2 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 188 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 61* 1. Main Title/Rendezvous With History [4:16] 2. Opening Day 1961 [6:27] 3. Most V* Player [3:34] 4. Mr. & Mrs. Maris [1:56] 5. "I Love Mickey" [2:19] 6. Whatever's Best for the Team [3:47] 7. On the Town [3:29] 8. Saving Mickey [3:48] 9. From the St. Moritz to Queens [5:08] 10. The M & M Boys [5:07] 11. 61* [5:40] 12. Dogs Gone Wild [2:58] 13. Home Run for Randy Maris [1:11] 14. "This Is My Home!" [6:06] 15. "Are the Boys Really Rooting for Mickey?" [3:11] 16. "X" [4:10] 17. The Underdog [5:51] 18. Fighting the Demons [6:35] 19. "Am I Really the Bad Guy?" [3:01] 20. "Happy Birthday, Raj!" [1:46] 21. Fallout [4:05] 22. "You Go Get That Fat Fuck!" [4:13] 23. Nobody Knows Me [4:30] 24. Bigger Than the Game [2:06] 25. Game 154 [10:22] 26. "I Couldn't Do It" [2:08] 27. Maris Ties the Babe [3:30] 28. Last Game, Last Chance [4:40] 29. "You're a Good Man, Raj" [3:31] 30. 62 (Period) [1:39] 31. Coda/End Credits [7:17] Side #2 -- Babe Ruth 1. Chapter 1 [3:42] 2. Chapter 2 [5:58] 3. Chapter 3 [5:30] 4. Chapter 4 [11:30] 5. Chapter 5 [7:37] 6. Chapter 6 [6:45] 7. Chapter 7 [11:24] 8. Chapter 8 [6:38]