Search - The Winning Team on DVD

First Rate Baseball Bio

David Baldwin | Philadelphia,PA USA | 08/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The subject of "The Winning Team" is Grover "Old Pete" Alexander, the winningest pitcher in National League history despite having to battle various setbacks most notably alcoholism. As a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies I thought the film gave his tenure here short shrift so here goes: Alexander won 30 games three years in a row(1915-1917), in 1916 he pitched 16 shutouts, in 1915 he won the first game of the World Series a feat not repeated by a Phillies pitcher until 1980(the championship year. Yay!). I digress, however. As a baseball film it's superb. The film has the facts right and the game footage, whether re-enactments or archival film, add to the authenticity of the production. The film slightly falters in the more melodramatic moments but do not embellish far from the truth. Alexander did suffer head injuries in World War I and did resort to alcoholism to combat the pain. He also denigrated himself by appearing at flea circuses when it appeared that his major league career was over. Ronald Reagan makes a genial Alexander and handles the film's melodramatic fluorishes superbly. Doris Day adds fresh faced All-American girl wholesomeness as Alexander's supportive wife Aimee. The film utilizes major league players in supporting roles including Gene Mauch, manager of the 1964 Phillies who blew a 6 1/2 game lead with 12 games to go(boo!). As a footnote, Alexander attended the 1950 World Series between the Phillies and the Yankees. He was living in relative obscurity in a flophouse and died shortly after the Series."

One of Ronald Reagan's best Performances

Classic Debut | USA | 08/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Winning Team is about real life Baseball great, Grover Cleveland Alexander. Ronald Reagan puts in one of his best performances. Even though Warner Bros didn't allow the word "epilepsy" to be used in the film (which is what happened to the real Alexander after being beamed in the head with a ball),RR does some very realistic seizures. The Winning Team refers to the mutually supportive relationship between Alexander and his loving wife Aimee (Doris Day). (The real Aimee Alexander served as the film's technical adviser). This isn't one of the meatiest roles for Doris, but she does have some dramatic scenes and gets to sing a Christmas song. The script rearranges the chronology of Alexander's life,and suggests incorrectly that he struck out Babe Ruth in the last game when in fact, Babe was thrown out for stealing 2nd base."

More Serious Doris

C. Green | Southern California | 08/17/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I usually like the 35 year old still a virgin Doris Day movies,

so I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this picture, but it was

actually pretty good. Some of the acting was the best I've

seem from her, but it seemed like someone told her to act like

June Allyson,...who I like, but it was annoying comming from

Doris. Reagan was likeable, and the chemistry was good between

them. Even though it was more serious than the other movies I

had seem from Doris, there were still a few musical numbers, and

smashing of lips called kissing. It's worth viewing if you like

Doris Day, and can sit through a baseball movie.

"

Sugar and Spice, Everything Nice

Samantha Kelley | USA | 03/30/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Winning Team is a biography about pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander (Ronald Reagan), a baseball player afflicted by an early injury. He was considered to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time, but a long absence from the sport was blamed on his addiction to drink, when really he had fainting spells and double vision. His triumphant return won the Cardinals the World Series during the Depression.



The happy ending is not entirely factual, but in the 50s, audiences wanted sugar-coated movies. And that is what they got. The formula causes The Winning Team to be a bit predictable, but enjoyable. This is one of Doris Day's early films, but it is really Reagan's film. He plays the part with realism, toggling between the exuberance of winning and the depths of alcoholism."