League of Their Own [Special Edition] [2 Discs] DVD

A League of Their Own
The All-American Girls' Professional Baseball League was founded in 1943, when most of the men of baseball-playing age were far away in Europe and Asia fighting World War II. The league flourished until after World War II, when, with the men's return, the league was consigned to oblivion. Director Penny Marshall and screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel re-create the wartime era when women's baseball looked to stand a good chance of sweeping the country. The story begins as a candy-bar tycoon enlists agents to scour the country to find women who could play ball. In the backwoods of Oregon, two sisters -- Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty) -- are discovered. Dottie can hit and catch, while Kit can throw a mean fastball. The girls come to Chicago to try out for the team with other prospects that include their soon-to-be-teammates Mae Mordabito (Madonna), Doris Murphy (Rosie O'Donnell), and Marla Hooch (Megan Cavanagh). The team's owner, Walter Harvey (Gary Marshall) needs someone to coach his team and he picks one-time home-run champion Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks), who is now a broken-down alcoholic. After a few weeks of training, as Dugan sobers up, the team begins to show some promise. By the end of the season, the team has improved to the point where they are competing in the World Series (which is no big deal, since there are only four teams in the league). ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Cast Geena Davis as Dottie Hinson Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan Lori Petty as Kit Keller Madonna as Mae Mordabito Jon Lovitz as Ernie Capadino Rosie O'Donnell as Doris Murphy David Strathairn as Ira Lowenstein Garry Marshall as Walter Harvey Megan Cavanagh as Marla Hooch Renee Coleman as Alice Gaspers Ann Cusack as Shirley Baker Anne Ramsay as Helen Haley Tracy Reiner as Betty Horn Bitty Schram as Evelyn Gardner Freddie Simpson as Ellen Sue Gotlander Bill Pullman as Bob Hinson Pauline Brailsford as Miss Cuthbert Justin Scheller as Stilwell Eddie Jones as Dave Hooch Lynn Cartwright as Older Dottie

Crew Tim Galvin - Art Director Amy Lemisch - Associate Producer Ellen Lewis - Casting William Pace - Co-producer Joseph Hartwick - Co-producer Cynthia Flynt - Costume Designer Penny Marshall - Director Adam Bernardi - Editor George Bowers - Editor Penny Marshall - Executive Producer Hans Zimmer - Composer (Music Score) Bill Groom - Production Designer Miroslav Ondrícek - Cinematographer Michael Yada - Cinematographer Elliot Abbott - Producer Kim Wilson - Producer Kelly Candaele - Producer Robert Greenhut - Producer Les Lazarowitz - Sound/Sound Designer Kim Wilson - Screenwriter Babaloo Mandel - Screenwriter Lowell Ganz - Screenwriter George De Titta, Jr. - Set Decorator

A League of Their Own
Too sentimental by half, and at the same time completely disarming entertainment, Penny Marshall's film scores points for drawing attention to a chapter of sports history many people didn't even know existed. The baseball scenes are remarkably authentic-looking, and the production design is just right, without drawing too much unnecessary attention. Marshall has assembled a top-flight cast as well, with Geena Davis and Tom Hanks adding unlimited charisma to their wonderfully comic performances. The first hour is genuinely superb, briskly paced and filled with humorous vignettes. The second hour succumbs to syrupy bonding and overstates its emotions, but the film retains its good nature -- difficult to pass up as a worthy Hollywood confection. The film was a huge summer hit, and paid off with its casting of Davis, who stepped in after Debra Winger reportedly turned down the role (rumor has it she was turned off by the casting of Madonna in a supporting role). A failed TV series followed shortly after, but didn't create nearly as much buzz. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
 

Geena Davis: Golden Globe, Best Actress - Musical or Comedy (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: DDS: Dolby Digital Surround Additional Features: cc Director and cast commentary 15 deleted scenes with introductions from director Penny Marshall Exclusive new documentary "Nine Memorable Innings," featuring all new interviews with the cast and filmmakers Previews Madonna's "This Used to Be My Playground" music video Filmographies DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard 2.35:1: Cinemascope MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 2 DVD Sides: 3 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 128 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- Widescreen 1. Start 2. Dottie & Dottie's Sister 3. Catching the Train to Chicago 4. Marla 6. The First Members 7. Charm & Beauty School 5. The Cowgirls Meet Mae & Doris 8. Recruiting the Manager 9. Dugan Makes an Impression 10. Meet the Peaches 11. Diamond Gals 12. The Suds Bucket 13. Marla's Blues 14. Mixed Signals 15. "There's No Crying in Baseball." 16. Jimmy & Dottie 17. Kit Fight 18. The League Song 19. A Telegram From the War Dept. 20. Bob 21. "It's Only a Game." 22. Women's World Series 23. The Return of Dottie 24. The Final Game 25. Kit at the Bat 26. Sisterly Reunion 27. 1988 Team Reunion 28. The Exhibit Side #2 -- Standard Version 1. Start 2. Dottie & Dottie's Sister 3. Catching the Train to Chicago 4. Marla 6. The First Members 7. Charm & Beauty School 5. The Cowgirls Meet Mae & Doris 8. Recruiting the Manager 9. Dugan Makes an Impression 10. Meet the Peaches 11. Diamond Gals 12. The Suds Bucket 13. Marla's Blues 14. Mixed Signals 15. "There's No Crying in Baseball." 16. Jimmy & Dottie 17. Kit Fight 18. The League Song 19. A Telegram From the War Dept. 20. Bob 21. "It's Only a Game." 22. Women's World Series 23. The Return of Dottie 24. The Final Game 25. Kit at the Bat 26. Sisterly Reunion 27. 1988 Team Reunion 28. The Exhibit