The Bad News Bears (1976) is a beloved sports comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie and written by Bill Lancaster, based on his experiences with his father Bert Lancaster. The film follows Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau), a former professional baseball player who coaches a misfit little league team of reluctant and struggling players. Despite facing challenges including lack of uniforms, poor performance, and opposition from rival teams, the Bears demonstrate resilience and teamwork. The film's groundbreaking approach was its realistic depiction of children as they truly are, including authentic language and situations that reflected 1970s America. Notably, the film was one of the first to show children losing a championship game, conveying the important message that perseverance and effort matter more than winning. The film features Tatum O'Neal (Oscar winner for Paper Moon) as Amanda, a girl who joins the all-male team, and was later adapted into a TV series.
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The Bad News Bears (1976) Movie Reaction + Trivia | FIRST TIME WATCHINGAdded:
[music] The Bad News Bears.
>> Hello guys, welcome back or welcome to the channel if you're new here. Hope you're doing very well. My name is Marty and today we are watching finally and I'm rectifying the issue that I I'll get into that in a second. Today we are finally watching Bad News Bears from 1976. Now with this one, the big elephant in the room on the channel is that I have previously watched the newer one. The thing is, I watched that one a couple of years back. Now, I know there was plenty of people saying, "Why did I watch the newer one?" That is because I had the newer one as a request on Patreon, which I get. Remakes are never as good as the originals. I get that.
You can check out my reaction for that.
It's on the channel, uh, the uncut reaction as well as over on the Patreon page or as a YouTube member. And obviously, the same goes with this one as well. The uncut for this one is also available over there. But yes, I am putting it all right today because the film has just turned 50 years old. So I thought if I'm going to watch it anytime, what better time than watch it now. So I think without further ado, let's watch Bad News Bears from 1976.
How many of you would have summer evenings like playing baseball and stuff? I don't think I've ever played baseball. I've played rounders, but that's not the same.
>> This is very familiar so far.
>> Yeah, but why is it the same?
>> Not bad.
>> Was the other one a straight remake from this?
>> I only vaguely remember it though.
Richard A. Harris edited this. Okay, I re-edit films, so it's nice to make note of the editor that >> Thanks, mister.
As long as you talk it up. Come on, let's talk it up.
>> Got it.
>> I just love how [laughter] relaxed. He just doesn't care.
>> Butter maker.
>> This little guy is going to be a great ball player, aren't you, son? Just a damn shame that none of the fathers had the time for it. God knows if I wasn't so busy down city sitting right be quiet about the money. It's going to be rough, butter, you just got one week to the first game.
>> Regards to trying the trick.
>> Funny though.
>> You ask around for a woman they call Cleveland. She'll get things set for you. Hang in there.
>> Wow. Going to be great. [music] >> You know, I think we're doing a really fine thing.
>> You look worried.
>> He looks so worried.
>> Dad played pro ball. I thought he just played swimming pools.
>> Yeah, so he played pro ball years ago.
Okay.
>> Peak of good health.
>> Sorry. yelled at your boy like >> it's not my boy >> girl. Honey coaching new team and I'm looking for Miss Cleveland.
>> Oh, she's in the equipment room.
>> The music's so sinister.
>> Wasn't so bad when the courts need to take the girls.
>> This equipment's kind of had it, miss.
>> And that's because this is normally a 16 league, not seven. So, you're just going to have to be happy what's left.
>> Problem is your friend Whitewood. He could have got his son and rest of those boys to play in any of the other leagues. Why the hell did he have to sue this one? We're different than the other leagues and he knows it. We run a highly competitive program here. It's not us.
It's the boys.
>> The rule book. See that you memorize it.
[laughter] >> Thank you.
>> When I say your name, step forward and tell me what position you want to play.
Rudy Stein.
>> Can I play pitch?
>> Sure. Reggie Tower.
>> My father wanted me to play in the Mr. Buttermaker.
>> Regular bunch of misfits. I love it.
>> You never know buttermiliter.
>> I don't know who the hell you are, but sit down and show.
>> It's true. I was a heck of a ball player when I played, but I never pitched for the Yankees. As a matter of fact, >> matter of fact, he never played in the major leagues, but he did pitch for Phoenix in the minors.
>> Wow. He >> lost six. Had 170 strikeouts and had an RA of 2.86.
>> He knows his stuff.
>> I'm add Abdul Raheem.
>> Abdul Rahee. Yeah.
>> What position you want to play?
>> I want to switch it like my big brothers. I mean, Aaron played right field in right field.
>> Mike Angelberg.
>> My dad thinks I should try out for catcher.
>> That kid knows not just about him. He knows tons about bull. All right. Timmy lupus.
>> Lupus.
>> Lupus.
>> Booger eating. Make me want to puke.
>> Oh, I forget the language that they had back then was different. Certain words were used.
>> Field and take any position you want.
Let's go, boys. [laughter] >> Feel like nobody's got faith in them.
>> These two boys were Mexican. They don't speak any English.
>> Fantastic.
>> All right, let's get one. Can't you hold off of that until after practice?
>> There's energy in chocolate. I need energy.
>> Wrong kind of energy though. [laughter] Doesn't Doesn't work like that.
>> Attack that ball.
[music] >> There's chocolate all over this ball.
>> Oh no.
>> Mr. Buttermaker, quit bugging me about my food. People are always bugging me about it. My shrink says that's WHY I'M SO FAT.
>> OKAY. OKAY, >> pull kids.
>> Let's get one out there.
>> That is a bunt. The catcher is supposed to pick up the bunt and throw it to first base.
>> Well, how was I supposed to know?
>> Diversionary tactic. Angleberg, >> WHAT I DO YOU CRIT YOUR CRUMMY BELLY AND THROW THE BALL TO FIRST BASE.
>> This weirdly feels very accurate to just natural kids interacting with each other.
>> Is that his car?
>> Don't blame me. I didn't even know it was your car.
>> Don't think parking so close to the field. Anyway, >> this is a baseball.
>> What? Wow, bro. You don't think we know what a ball is?
>> We keep playing like this, we'll be the last thing stock the league.
>> What do you expect? All we got on this team is a bunch of Jews, pansies, and a booger eating [ __ ] >> Hanner, I think you should be reminded from people on this team who's not a Jew pansy or booger eating [ __ ] >> Time to repeat it.
>> Cooler. We may be disposed to beat the crap out of you.
>> Oh, yeah. Yeah, >> I did not expect the very ' 70s language.
>> Come on, babe. Come on.
>> Something that looks like a >> I know it's a film of his time, but >> most people don't like the taste of anchovas.
>> I don't like them.
>> You see?
>> I don't like them either.
>> We have one of these every year. Helps to get things off on a friendly note.
After the start of the season, we all don't always get along so well.
>> Lots of differences. [laughter] >> Well, how are the uniforms coming along?
>> What?
>> Your team uniforms. All the best colors have been taken. Maroon and white. White and maroon >> uniforms.
>> He's still thinking of colors. He's like, "There's a uniform."
>> You're paying me to coach a couple hours a day. I can't be out looking for uniforms.
>> One of the responsibilities, get a sponsor and to get uniforms.
>> Way out of his debt.
>> You go around to these different businesses. They all like baseball.
[music] >> You're not supposed to have open liquor in the car. It's against the law.
>> So is murder angle burning up. You're thinking about how he's driving now after having drank earlier. It wasn't as bad earlier cuz he >> When are we going to get our uniforms?
>> He's finished.
>> Maybe I should try left hand.
>> No, not just yet.
>> Other kids got their uniforms. When are we going to get ours?
>> You worry about your hitting. Let me worry about the uniforms.
>> I hate you, dummy.
>> I vaguely remember the the sponsor on the other one.
>> You cried. It's been an hour.
>> Where have I been? I've been out getting a uniform.
I actually like their good uniforms.
>> How could you teach a 9-year-old girl to throw a curveball?
>> They're making him drinks and cleaning the pool.
>> Thank you, Lus.
>> Lupus.
>> Lupus.
>> Lupus, >> tell us about the time you struck out Ted Williams again >> around March 15th.
>> I do love that they're so interested in his career, though.
>> Swinging a menacing bat. [music] >> Because he's played in it. I suppose he'd be a bit like an idol until this happens. [laughter] >> I think he's dead. He's not dead. He's drunk. Didn't >> get to a sober either. Opening day is tomorrow. We don't have our position set or anything.
>> It's the next day.
[music] Now we are here to the opening to see every boy in America out on the baseball field playing the great game of baseball.
[applause] >> This is the moment we've been waiting for. It's opening day.
>> All you can hear is that bike for everything.
No, >> I'd say he's tearing up the field. It's not going to do a massive amount of damage.
>> Am I damaging property?
I'll get that kid. I swear I'll >> friends are encouraged to stay for the game between the Bears and Yankees. in this lineup.
>> Yeah, they're all uniformly sat there and then his team is just >> they look like champions cuz you're going to be champions. Got that champion look about you. I can see it now.
>> My uniform small shut up.
>> Okay.
[music] >> Look interested and smile, [music] dude.
>> [music] >> Chico's bail bonds. [laughter] It's not I don't feel like it's as bad as in the in the remake. And I thought that shot was trying to do the same thing where it was showing their their sponsors and then showing his one.
Didn't expect it to be that though.
YOU GOT TO TIE HIM. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
>> Joey of repeating audio.
[cheering] >> WHERE'S THE SHOT?
>> ARE YOU A SHORT STOP?
>> Is that an air?
>> Throw. No air on the infield because he wasn't there.
>> What does that mean? Air as in it didn't land with anybody or near anyone. and it just went midfield. Sorry, sometimes I'm I don't know.
Willing to learn it though. After watching the other one, I actually did try to learn some I looked at tutorials and everything of like to try and soak in some more. [music] >> They are annihilating you.
>> And a timeout is called by the mayor's manager.
>> Have some enthusiasm, dude. [laughter] You okay?
>> Look, you cry. Just get back to your beer.
>> Keep going.
>> Cuz they know all too well. He likes to drink more than he does them. I know he doesn't want to do it, though. That's the thing.
>> Take three. Take it.
>> Maybe we ought to um want to get worried with the with the other coach. Okay.
>> Whilst you're drinking.
>> Say we call this thing off. It's getting ridiculous. Okay.
>> Well, they're going to call it off in 15 minutes anyway. Should team stay out?
Not really be able to say you didn't give up and you won't make quers ever.
I'm calling this off right now.
>> No, I think he was right.
>> I was just thinking of your boys out there. That's what the hell you were.
The hell I wasn't. What I saw out there today made me sick. Your team has no right being on that field. Look at yourself, butter. Look at that team. I mean, why don't you do this league a favor? You and the Bears just drop out.
>> No, just drop out.
>> It's a forfeit. We forfeit the game. You forfeit? It's really going to put down their self-esteem, especially cuz they didn't have any say in it. [applause] [screaming] >> BEARS.
>> OH, GUYS, IT ain't so bad. I was I was once in a high school game where the score.
>> Come on, guys. Will you? It's only a game.
>> Maybe next time we get a CHANCE TO BAT.
>> HEY, come down.
>> It is only a game. That's what I always say about sports in general.
>> I'm not listening to you, CL. I'm leaving. For them, it means more to them.
>> Mom's up a tree. Says he's not coming down. Said if I told him where he was, he'd kill me.
>> Climbed a tree and I think undressed.
>> How come you're not wearing your clothes?
>> Don't deserve to wear no uniform.
>> Keeping your family waiting, you know.
>> Can't face them.
>> Why?
>> Ears, that's why. Easy fly balls.
>> They were tough chances. The sun was in your eyes.
>> Don't give me any of your [ __ ] butter maker.
>> Let's not bring race into this.
>> Yeah. Anyway, your brothers will understand.
>> They would never make flubs like that.
They were captains of all their teams and great players, and I'm not. And I'm quitting the whole damn thing.
>> Thank god Hank Aaron didn't act like this.
>> What?
>> Don't give me that, Wad. You know what I'm talking about.
>> We're name dropping a big uh a big star to try and entice him back in.
>> His first year in Sand Lot Ball. He committed 42 errors. He was 9 years old.
Broke his little heart. He damn near quit. Be no great old number 44. Better make your soul full of >> It's common knowledge for crying out loud. Ask Oglevie. He's your favorite player, too. Kind of ruins my plans. I figured with your speed, right side of the plate, it'd be a tough out. You know, bunts, things like that.
>> He's teasing him. He's like he's easing him down. [laughter] >> I am kind of fast, too.
>> You're very fast.
>> He's just playing him.
>> I told you to meet me in my office.
>> I couldn't find it.
>> My son wouldn't come out of his room all weekend. That's why I wanted to span a team. Have you told the boys yet?
>> Not yet. Actually, Buttermaker, it might be better if you told them yourself.
>> What if the boys don't want to quit?
>> Not important. I mean, this has been very humiliating for me.
>> Yes. You want them to quit fully, not just the one game. No appointment about the police academy bill.
>> I know this has all been my fault. I just want to end it as quickly as possible.
>> She's like, what is he dressed like?
>> My butter maker.
[music] Finally putting the drink down and thinking of the kids.
>> But what it really is $2 inflation maker.
>> She's our Sammy Kcraft type character.
Yes.
>> Coming up in the world, huh? Thought I'd drop by and say hello. How's your mom?
>> Fine. What's it to you?
>> Is that the way to talk to me? I haven't seen you in 2 or 3 years.
>> Well, if you're looking for money, you can forget it.
>> Yeah, I'm not looking for anything.
>> Hey, what's that?
>> It's what?
>> It's a mitt.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Funny you have that.
>> Maybe you'd like to play a little catch.
It's just an idea. I mean, >> just had it thrown around the place, you know, hanging around.
>> Your fast ball these days.
>> Why?
>> I'm coaching a bunch of kids some baseball. If you're not doing anything, you can drop by the field. Maybe join the team for old time sake.
>> I'm through with pitching. My mom says you almost ruined me with that sports stuff.
>> How did I ruin you?
>> That fast ball you taught me. Put my arm in a sling.
>> I figure you owe me a thing or two. I was like a father to you.
>> Some father.
>> Didn't I take you to all the ball games?
>> Could have gone to him anyway. Didn't I take you and your mother to the movies twice a week?
>> Good point.
>> Math tutor guy was a drunk like you. I got a D in math that year.
>> Didn't I let you hang around with me while I clean the pools?
>> While you clean the pools? What are you trying to kid? I'm the one who did all the work.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, you were out cold. I had to call my mom to come pick us up.
>> Who rushed you to the hospital? Who saved your life? Would you be alive today if it weren't for me?
>> Yeah, but when you weren't saving people's lives, you were sitting around the apartment drunk. They need to split.
Made my mother sick. You know, she wanted to marry you. Boy, was she dumb.
>> Small kid. I'm just not the marrying kind. But I guess I handled it badly, huh?
>> You handled it like [laughter] >> just say it as it is.
>> Look, Bowler Maker, you're not my father and I ain't interested in playing baseball for you. One of you get back into that sardine can of yours. Go vacuum the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
I've got business to take care of.
You're blocking my customers with your car.
>> She's fantastic. I don't know who who plays her.
>> Go ahead and yell. Get it off your chests. I deserve it.
>> I really appreciate these new uniforms, Spider-Man maker. We're not going to be needing them anymore.
>> Wait, who told you?
>> We've been taking a lot of rising in school about opening day. And >> cuz he hasn't told me about Quig, has he?
>> He took a vote and decided that we quit.
>> Oh, the hell happened to you, Tanner?
>> Got into a fight because of it.
>> Who?
>> The seventh grade.
>> Took on the whole seventh grade >> for the team.
>> You want to quit, Tanner?
>> God, no. I want to play ball. [laughter] >> I hope he does turn it. I think he'll turn himself around for the kids.
>> I haven't been much of a manager or much of anything else for that matter. I'm sorry, but this quitting thing, it's a hard habit to break once you start.
You're a damn good bunch of boys deserved a lot better than me, but it looks like we're stuck with each other.
Jimmy, grab a bat. Anglebury, get your gear on. Get behind home plate. We need to practice.
>> All right, but we disbanded the team. WE TOOK A VOTE.
>> NOBODY'S VOTE COUNTS around here but mine. Get your gear on. Move your asses before I kick them all. We got a GAME WITH THE ATHLETICS AND THAT MEANS some bad news for the Athletics.
>> Just playing [music] on your life there and along.
[screaming] >> Now he's actually getting into it. It's kind of wholesome.
>> Oh no, he hadn't moved.
>> Any second now. Oh, heart attack time.
I'll send flowers to your funeral.
>> I'll sell.
>> Did he just eat that with the rapper?
>> Couldn't you at least have unwrapped it?
>> Yeah. [laughter] They just just pulled off like that. The rapper was with it as well.
>> What's your boy doing out on the field?
Getting ready for a game with the Athletics. Haven't you heard? Councilman Whitewood told the league committee's calling it quits.
>> He is. We aren't.
>> He can stuff it up his butt.
>> One of those sadists or something. Those kids take enough of a beating on opening day. What the hell are you trying to do?
Win a pennant?
>> Second win >> team. The two best teams played for a title. We intend to be one of those. Be a lot of fun if you were the other.
>> They'll probably take it on as a That would be easy.
>> First base, second base, third base.
Home >> around.
[music] Ly's sober now, so he can fully pay attention and give them the guidance they need.
>> [music] >> They're trying. [music] >> That was good.
>> Lighten up. We finished the whole game, didn't we?
>> They did a good job in comparison.
>> The Athletics are the worst team in the league.
>> Second worst.
>> Nobody said it was going to be easy. We committed 24 errors, but there is some good news. Two of our runners almost managed to get to first base. We did hit 17 foul balls.
>> COME ON, GUYS. COKES AND HOT DOGS ON.
>> I mean, they could potentially use their uh his knowledge, the kids knowledge to help.
>> What's with all that tomboy stuff?
>> Baseball is not tomboy stuff. A lot healthier than sitting around here on a stupid street corners. Look at that gut on you.
>> Gut. [laughter] There's no gut. Well, there will be if you keep sitting around here.
>> Half the state of Iowa came by last week. Bet it's more than you make.
>> What are you going to do with it?
>> Going to get braces. I'm going to be taking ballet lessons pretty soon. I'm going to be a model.
>> We're getting somewhere. Come and pitch a few games for us. I'll pay for the modeling thing and the ballet lessons.
>> Better make yourself so dumb.
>> Those boys aren't very rough. You won't get hurt.
>> That's got nothing to do with it. I'm almost 12 and I'll I'll be getting a bra suit.
>> Only 12. Bless her. He's like, I don't want to hear this. I can't be playing no dummy baseball.
>> You're absolutely right. You're turning into a regular little lady.
>> Dummy baseball.
>> I mean, you wouldn't have helped the team much.
>> I mean, you were great. [laughter] >> He's doing the same thing again.
>> Peak athletically about that age.
Probably haven't picked up a ball in 2 years anyway. Don't be such a stranger.
>> Hey, boiler maker. Got my curve breaking 2 and 1/2 ft.
>> And you have been practicing, huh? Don't give me no bologoney about a curve bringing 2 and 1/2 ft though.
>> For how much?
>> 10 bucks.
>> Make it 20.
>> You got a bed.
>> I like her. She's She seems really cool.
Very much like in the other one as well.
They're kind of like they're a good match for each other.
>> Oh, we're going to see some curves.
>> Hey, the next one's coming right between your eyes.
[music] >> Fine. Ballet lessons.
>> Well, lessons are no. I want the imported kind of jeans. Jeans?
>> Yes.
>> I'm not getting you any jeans. [music] You know how many pools I got to clean to get you a pair of [laughter] >> What's the matter with American jeans?
>> I don't like him.
>> Who do you [music] think you are? A catfish hunter.
>> Who's he?
>> I know of the name.
>> Boys, I'd like you to meet your new picture, Amanda [music] Wor.
>> So now a girl. Grab a bat, punk. [music] >> Again, >> that kid loves that line except now he's added women to it as well. The words were something different. It was a great call back to earlier in the film. But >> no, you're seven.
>> Tann >> Roy. Close. Number seven.
>> Is he Vaseline his hat so he can cheat and grab and vaseline the ball to make it slippery?
>> David Delmardo.
>> That Yeah, that >> that's the um that's the spitter. Wets her fingers, you see. And then she appears to dry him on the peak of her cap. She's not really drying them cuz she has Vaseline under there.
>> Makes the ball slipperier.
>> I've never seen that before. That's so funny.
>> I'll take it easy on [music] the first few minutes. I want to see the walls [music] >> number six chef [music] >> and they're thinking but they know they they actually have things in place. What's going on?
They're better.
No.
Oh no, they were doing so well and they made it back. Reason I say about the rounder thing cuz in the other film I mentioned it as well in some ways similar to this cuz of the the bases that you have to get to.
>> LET ME SHOOT THOSE. WE WOULD HAVE WON.
>> Leave them alone.
>> When we win a game, it's a team win.
When we lose a game, it's a team loss.
>> I got it.
There's that troublemaker again with his bike with a very good hand.
>> Great arm. Who is that kid?
>> He's the best athlete in the area.
That's Kelly Leak. That dude is a bad mother. Talking about a lone shark.
>> Love they didn't have to finish it cuz you knew what you said.
>> If the guy can play ball, he can play ball. I mean, let's get him on a team.
He's acting like a kid of about 20, but I'm sure the guy is like 12, the same age as the girl.
>> Got a great arm.
>> Yeah, >> he was a good outfielder on our team.
>> Oh, you call what you got a team.
>> Yes.
>> I love that game, by the way. Hockey is it?
>> Well, the baseball you guys play is for old farts who don't have anything better to do with themselves.
>> You hang ON THE FIELD OFTEN ENOUGH.
>> He's nice ass at the field. That's why I hang. If I win, you play baseball for the Bears.
>> And if I win, >> maybe >> a date.
>> I lost.
>> WHAT?
>> 8:00 FRIDAY NIGHT.
>> YES, it was.
>> Did you lose?
>> I lost at games where I got to go to the Rolling Stone concert with the creep.
>> Oh, Rolling Stone.
>> 11year-old girls don't go out on dates.
>> Of course they do. Where you been?
>> Well, they don't go out with people like that.
>> 11 years old, though. Smoking, riding a bike. What?
>> Roped into a date with an ex [ __ ] >> You're like a chimney. I'm sick of it.
>> Says the kid, apparently.
>> Probably lost on purpose. You probably like the little baboon.
>> That's what I was thinking.
>> Blow it out your bung hole.
>> What if he tries something? Uh >> oh, I don't think he will because she'll give me [laughter] stones. 11 years old.
>> I know an 11-year-old girl who's already on the pill.
>> Don't ever say that word again.
>> Just whom the heck do you think you are?
>> Damn manager, that's who.
>> Big Wow.
>> He's like a dad.
Yeah, I know kids go on dates, but going to a Rolling Stones concert as well at that age.
>> Did you go somewhere else while I You make me sick.
>> Oh, you seem such a nice kid as well.
>> Let's go. Give [laughter] it.
>> Hey, we had to do that to all the >> asses.
>> Hey Joey, YOU HUNGRY? WANT MY BURRITO?
Take it. It's the best way to eat it.
>> Good on him.
>> You owe me 30 cents for that.
>> No. Tried helping. Thanks. Nobody ever stuck up for me before. If you wiped your nose once in a while, people wouldn't give you so much crap all the time.
>> You're being as bad as they are. Maybe he finally realizes that.
>> How many times you got to be told to quit hanging around here. This field is for ball players, not for juvenile delinquents.
>> Well, I can play baseball better than anybody in this league.
>> There's nobody here wants to have anything to do with you. Get on that shot. Get the hell out of here. I wonder if he'll join the other team.
>> Play the first time >> just to spite him.
>> This is a league rule. Cups and supporters.
>> You either wear them or you don't play.
>> What are you saying?
>> I've been brushing up on my Spanish of late and I think he's saying something about, you know, his being Catholic and it's a sin.
>> Oh, for Christ's sake.
>> What about Amanda?
>> Strap one of these things on me.
>> Well, if she don't wear one, I DON'T WEAR ONE.
>> THANKS, AMANDA. If she doesn't wear one, neither do I.
>> What are you doing here?
>> Some [ __ ] changed my mind.
>> And that guy who changed his mind would be the other guy.
>> Who does this turkey think he is? Mickey Manel.
[music] Oh, damn.
>> Win one lousy game, the next thing you know, they'll sue for the right to play in Dodger Stadium.
>> They fully won the game. I just get an eight count here.
>> I take my two outfielders. I play them in right and left center.
>> Oh, will you stop it? You're embarrassing yourself.
>> So, is he down?
>> Three of my white socks have got the flu.
>> The White Socks are going to have to forfeit the game. It's a forfeit.
>> Well, they I know this is the same thing as what happened earlier, but they uh won a game without even have to play the game.
>> I can't help it. I really hate that kid.
That's why he's playing on the other uh team on purpose.
[music] [laughter] [music] Is she ill? Has she got the flu?
[music] >> They're rolling up that list.
Oh, >> STRETCHER.
>> STRETCHER FOR his >> stretcher for his ball.
>> We have to check out first. It's a sensitive area.
>> To be fair, I I've known similar issues.
>> Stop worrying about your team finishing this season in one piece instead of trying to get in the playoffs. [music] >> TURKEY OUT HERE.
>> HE'S trying to offer the woman food.
>> Hey, man. I ain't TEACHING A CLASS HERE, >> BUT YOU AIN'T DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF IT. NO one here can dance for BAT JOKES.
>> D, GET [screaming] THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
>> I'M ON THE BEARS. You live around here.
>> He's just trying to heal.
>> Davidson, >> does that turn you on? Harley-Davidson, >> what does this game mean to the athletic?
>> Needs a hell OF A LOT OF BADASS MOVES FOR THEM ATHLETICS. [screaming] >> LET'S GO.
>> I want you handling the ball as much as possible. This game is too damn important for us. He's going to undermine the other kids though if he just keeps going for it [cheering] >> because it's not his his field placement.
>> Hey, Tanner. Does he go to the bathroom for you too?
>> No, dude. [screaming] Give him a shot.
>> What you doing? Sorry. We got nine men out here, you know.
>> Scores 52. I give you an order, I expect you to follow it.
>> You shouldn't be asking him to do that.
>> Obviously, miss.
>> Yep.
>> Strike two.
>> Well, that's a way to get him back.
>> Time.
>> What are you doing up there? Trying to win this thing or not?
>> No, you are.
>> Put Miguel in. At least he'll try. as in he's forcing them to >> just get out of here and let me hit coach.
>> Purposely missed him.
>> I'll see you tomorrow at the beginning.
>> Does anybody want to go for a ride?
>> No one's going to >> want to go for a ride, Timmy.
No one's going to like him much because he keeps taking their shots.
>> Okay, let's get your elbow in.
>> Got to hold down the swelling.
>> It's not that bad. I invited my mom to the game tomorrow. Got a big surprise for you after, too. We're all going to dinner.
>> What?
>> And after that, we're going to the drive-in movie. It's a double feature.
>> Please don't try and blow it. She wasn't too keen on it at first. I had to work real hard to get it set up.
>> You're trying to set him back up.
[laughter] He doesn't want that. know damn well that your mother and I don't get along, so we're not going to dinner or a movie or anywhere else together.
>> Maybe dinner, >> right? You and I will take the whole team out.
>> Well, I was just thinking us.
>> Just us. No outsiders.
>> Yeah.
>> Well, then maybe we could go horseback riding or something and maybe to a baton.
>> Yeah, we'll see. How does it feel?
>> Why do you always change the subject?
You're always pulling that.
>> As far as I'm concerned, the subject is your arm. You're pitching tomorrow.
>> BUT WHAT ABOUT AFTER TOMORROW?
>> After tomorrow, we do what all ball players do. Shake hands till we see each other next season. Get to know the wife and kids again.
>> I don't have a wife and kids.
>> Neither do I, but I got my pools to clean.
>> I could help you with your pools.
>> Well, you cut it out, man.
>> You like work. You could use the help.
>> No, I could.
>> Yeah. And >> besides, you shouldn't be wasting your time cleaning pools. Terrific kid. You shouldn't be hanging around with me. I mean, I'm an old broken down third rate ball player. I like to drink too much. I like to smoke my cigars without anybody bothering me, including you. I'm happy that you think I'm like a dad now.
>> I'm a bum.
>> No, you're not. You taught me how to >> Damn it. Can't you get it through your thick head that I don't want your company? If I did, I would have looked you up 2 years ago.
>> Did you ever think of that? [music] >> That's why you feel fine.
>> Don't ruin things with her. [music] >> You're going to break her heart. [music] God bless her. That might be the beer from the can, but I don't think it is.
See you hurt just this as much. Let someone in. Don't push people away.
>> Hey, kill it.
>> Oh, they are not happy.
>> Hey, does anybody mind if I warm up, too?
>> We didn't think you needed anybody but yourself.
>> Just cool it.
>> Wasn't him, though.
>> WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?
>> THE HARDEST BALL IN ALL THESE GAMES.
We're sick.
>> Isn't that the only reason we GOT THIS FAR?
>> PLAY a little better. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO COVER up for you all THE TIME.
>> YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF BABIES NOW. CUT IT OUT.
>> CUZ I'M QUITTING.
>> NO, you're not. You came this far.
You're going the rest of the way. I'm the one who told Kelly to cover for you.
>> Why?
>> Cuz you didn't have faith. Didn't have faith in them.
>> I'll just behave yourselves and act like men.
>> I'm going to talk about losing. Because if you guys lose this game, you're going to have to live with it. You're about the best team I ever coached.
>> Number one, first love.
>> Yeah. So, this is the big game. So, this is There's a lot of WRITING ON THIS.
HE DID THAT ON PURPOSE.
[laughter] >> Good on him. [screaming] It's a good comeback for that.
And it has caused havoc.
>> How's your chest feel, hun?
>> I know I don't have too much of there, but when I got sure don't feel too good right I'm presuming it probably hurts just as bad as it does for a guy down there.
>> China, you better cut out that cheap We're playing clean hard baseball. You can call Spiky an 11y old girl called it safe.
>> All right, puss head.
You better pitch better in your head and we're going to take you right out of the ball game.
>> What the HELL'S THE MATTER WITH YOU? YOU COME HERE TO PLAY BALL.
>> That was good though >> with you. You don't swing at a 3 and 0 pitch. [laughter] Are you crazy?
>> I don't know. I thought that was a I thought that was a good shot. I don't know what a three and0 pitch is, BUT >> HEY PUSS HEAD. INTENTIONAL WALK WITH THE BASES EMPTY. BASEBALL, NOT BACK. GAM, OUR FIRST BASEMAN'S LONELY.
>> THE first inside pitch you get, lean into it. Let it hit you. Angleberg is up after you. We need runs. I mean, now do as I tell you.
>> It is an Engle puke. HOW'D YOU STICK THIS BAT WHERE THE SUN NEVER SHINES?
TURN.
>> Sit on it, fat ass.
>> He's about to whack that ball in YOUR FACE. TRY.
>> [cheering] >> OKAY, THEY overc cranked it to speed up the shot. The ball went >> shame they can't put the uh Vaseline back on it. So when uh when they try and pick it up, they're like, "Oh, I can't handle it."
>> Talking about he was out BY A MILE. TWO TEAMS, not one. I'll turn your back on me. What are you, a friend of Roy Turners?
>> Probably.
>> You better take Amanda out now. She's hurting pretty bad.
>> She told me she wants to play.
>> But if you don't take her out, she'll throw her arm out.
>> Oh, her arm's hurting again.
>> GET BACK HERE. MOVE IT.
>> Now you got a CHANCE TO SPIT IT BACK IN THEIR FACES. AND WHAT DO YOU DO? NOT LISTENING. BONEHEAD PLAYS MISTAKES. I MEAN, DON'T YOU WANT TO BEAT THOSE BASTARDS?
>> YOU know they're only kids, right?
To be fair, he wants him to win more than they do.
>> Get out there now and do the best you can.
>> Much better.
>> Let's go, Joey.
>> This is a good film so far, by the way.
[laughter] >> TAKE THE BALL, JOEY.
>> SCORE. Three for the Yankees and two for the Bears.
>> They're not too far behind, though.
>> Shove it, Turtle.
Oh, that's a fantastic shot.
>> This is the kid that got the double off you last time, right? I almost wiped that right out of ballpark. So, got to just be blowing outside.
>> Dad, I wanted to strike him out.
>> He went against what it said as well.
>> No, it just got away.
>> What the hit him?
only for you to hit him though.
Ass.
I would say more than that, but Oh, I hope she flipping said something to him.
>> You son of a [ __ ] >> Yeah, good.
>> Try to beat him. He could have killed that kid.
>> Well, you know why he threw it?
>> I told him throw a loan outside.
>> Yeah, he did it to get back at you.
>> Going to kill that kid.
>> Cuz he's trying to take his anger out on something else other than you.
>> THROW A BALL, JOEY. YEAH. Right in your head. He's just holding on to it on purpose. Yes.
>> Stop it.
GO.
>> I don't know if they can. Can they get foul or whatever it's called for doing that though? For holding the ball too long. [music] Bingo. Yes.
[music] What's he going to do?
Is he quitting?
>> Not the right time to say it, but the mum's kind of cute. [laughter] >> Okay, this is the last inning. Tanner, Toby, Reggie, and Jimmy, you're sitting on the bench.
>> I didn't see the score, so I don't know how close they are to winning.
>> Damn good chance. So, be on your toes now. Get the hell out of here.
>> Get the go.
>> I don't know about you, but I want to win. So, don't send me in.
>> You didn't come into this life just to sit around on a dugout bench, did you?
>> Go on.
>> Get your ass out there and do the best you can.
>> In some ways, I hope he'll just he'll win the game. I know he won't, but he [laughter] be great.
>> This is the last game of the championship playoffs.
>> Wrong with Amanda. I think I better get in a relief pitch.
>> Can I talk to you for a minute?
>> You're kind of in the middle of something. Is it really necessary to send in that lupus kid now? But we've still got a chance. These kids have gone through too much for you to throw it away now.
>> Every kid has his chance.
>> You started this thing so that all the boys would have a chance to play baseball.
>> There you go. [laughter] Exactly what I just said.
>> Little boys or maybe you haven't been watching.
>> Get back to the stands before I shave off half your mustache and shove it up your left nostril.
>> I love that. [laughter] Shave off half your mustache and shove it up your left nostril.
Hey, there's >> three more out maker, so get lost.
Could have been working. I would have to turn down.
[music] >> No, >> you still got a chance. Come on. They're doing terrible. Let's back in.
>> Don't worry about it. I'm >> not going to lie, by the way, some of those boys uh with the longer blonde hair, they look exactly the same.
[music] >> 73.
Looks like the championship's in the bag, huh?
>> That's great, huh?
>> Oh, yes. Good. Catch it.
[music] Yes.
Oh, bless him. The joy on his face.
[music] Yes. There you go. The other guy was like, "Oh, you will have a chance."
>> We win the game, >> but we need five runs.
>> Five runs. EASY. WHAT'S EVERYBODY LAUGHING ABOUT?
>> They did a good job.
>> Go, go, go, go, RUN.
>> It was nice hustle. Good try.
>> Two out, ONE TO GO.
>> OKAY. YEAH. What have to go?
>> He's so nervous.
>> Come on, man. YOU'RE HOLDING UP THE GAME. WHAT'S >> THE MATTER? OG, the plate is over there.
Without going into much detail, I'm 0 for 14 this season and probably the worst player in this league.
>> Who cares? Have fun.
>> Just shut up and get up to the plate and try to hit the ball.
>> Sure ain't like algebra, is it?
>> That's the way to look. COUNT IS 0 AND TWO.
>> OH, come on.
>> Listen, frankly, I'm surprised little marshmallows did this well, huh?
>> They're not sticking around because they didn't think they're going to win.
>> Okay, kid. Ronnie can't walk.
>> Don't have you heard what he said. Kick can't walk. Can't run.
>> I learn it's going way out there, sucker.
>> Go upstairs. Go, go, go, go, GO, GO, GO.
>> HE can run.
>> It's purposely missing. The smile on the kid's face.
[music] >> Oh, Lord. Oh, so they're purposely missing so they can't just do the small runs to get them back.
>> What the hell are YOU DOING? YOU'RE PUTTING THE TIME RUN ON FIRST BASE.
>> Manager food stores manager.
[music] Let's just hope it's not Amanda has to catch it cuz I don't I I think she's going to try and catch it and it she might drop it because of her arm.
Okay, not bad.
[music] I did. I thought he would get there.
>> Wait, what? They giving them alcohol.
>> You should be damn proud OF YOURSELF.
>> I'LL DRINK THAT. UH, SCHOOL.
>> HEY, BUTTERMAKER. Would you cool it with a beer?
>> I was going to say non-alcoholic, but they can't.
>> Hey, don't drink.
>> Maybe next spring you teach me how to hit.
>> You're just going to give kids beer?
What?
>> A Yeah, I thought they were going to win cuz it all led led up to that point.
>> This is your second place trophy.
>> Ah, they won it.
>> I know we had our differences, but at least we settled it right here in the bowl. Uh, my boys would like to say something to your team. You guys played a good game. We treated you pretty unfair all season. We want to apologize.
We still don't think you're all that good a baseball team. You got guts. All of you.
>> I think they're good if they're given a chance properly.
>> Who do we appreciate?
[screaming] >> Well, it's nice they did earlier. They were cheering them on. But >> you can TAKE YOUR APOLOGY OUT OF YOUR TROPHY AND SHOVE IT STRAIGHT UP YOUR ASS.
>> And another thing, just wait till next year. [laughter] Well, it definitely as I'm beating the spirits out of literally spirits alcohol [music] by the way. I know back then I know people had alcohol and stuff but it's just yeah kids people weren't as strict about it. I know [laughter] maybe that is a like a light beer.
Yay. Look at them. [music] That was, as you can probably tell, that was utterly fantastic. Apparently, this is a PG, by the way. I can't see how it's a PG with all those other specific lines, cuz I highly doubt parents would want children to hear those kind of things, but [laughter] the '7s was a different time. And they gave kids alcohol as well. Am I right in remembering, by the way, in the newer one? And I'm I'm not comparing them both, by the way, cuz they are very different films. It kind of feels like one of those Sunday afternoon type films having family over or something and the kids want to be entertained and you can just sit and watch this film. It just feels like a bunch of fun. And obviously I don't get a lot of the baseball hype. Don't understand baseball itself. But I'm not going to lie, after watching this and the the previous one, I get some of it and I get some of the excitement behind it. Maybe this is inaccurate. I don't know. Is this an accurate depiction of a baseball game? Since watching that last one, I have actually heard uh people say that this one is one of their favorite films. I believe there's an interview with Kevin Smith, I think it is, where he says that this is one of his favorite films that he grew up with. I'll have to play a clip here for you if I can find it.
>> One of my favorite movies in the world, formative movie for me, made me not only the filmmaker I am today, not a very good one, but the man I am today, which is more of a juvenile boy at heart. Saw Bad News Bears when I was age six. The Bad News Bears was the movie that defined my childhood. Most of the kid entertainment stuff was a bunch of adults going, "Kids will like this." It felt like kids had made the movie because kids were such a big part of it.
They looked like normal kids. I don't think anyone has ever [music] assembled a better cast of children in a movie or TV show. Those kids sound real.
It sounds like you're actually doing a documentary about a little league team.
This is the movie that taught my generation that it was okay to lose.
Other generations learned that everyone gets a trophy.
>> In the 70s they put it in the real. They told us like you're going to lose.
You're going to lose mostly in life. And every once in a while you're going to go on a run and things are going to seem hopeful, but then bam, it's all going to fall apart.
>> Amazing. Tatum O'Neal who was coming off of uh Paper Moon. She had just won an Oscar. Walter Matau, you know, had been around forever and the Odd Couple uh movie. and those performances, two of the more polished performances in the movie. Walter Matau is an absolute pro.
Tatum O'Neal, it's only her second movie ever. Chemistry is electric. And one of my favorite scenes in a movie, their scene in the dugout where she's trying to make a date for him and her mom and he's trying to like curb her expectations and be like, "Well, you know, we'll see. We'll see." And he loses it. And the kid, like any other child, I'm an adult and I'm getting like choked up thinking about it. I will never make a scene as beautiful comedy.
And it can still do this too cuz it's a not just a comedy, it's a human drama.
>> By the way, as of recording this, it was actually the 50th anniversary of Bad News Bears 2 days ago cuz it's currently the 9th of April. So on the 7th of April, yes, it was the 50th anniversary.
And I know how much you guys wanted me to watch it. So I thought, what better way than to watch it now. I am really surprised that ending. I thought that they were going to win the game. They built up the film so much that they I know they weren't great. They still tried their hardest. Sorry if you can hear a plane going overhead, by the way.
It's always typical when I start to record stuff. I never hear them other than when I'm trying to do a video. It's more probably pushing the message that sometimes you can't always win. And you just got to keep your spirits up, keep going with it, and just enjoy it for what it is. Enjoy it for the game that it is. In a Panini America interview in 2013, Gary Lee Cavanaro revealed that during rehearsals in early summer 1975, one of the first bonding sessions with the cast was going to a movie theater and watching Jackie Haley's film, The Day of the Locust, 1975.
>> Tone Stakes here with Panini America.
We're here with our special guest Gary Lee Kavnaro who was a member of the Bad News Bears, the original film as the catcher. uh also known as Mike Engelberg.
>> We had a pretty good spread of ages, but we all got along really well. Jackie, again, we all he had a movie come out right when we started filming called Day of the Locust.
>> Okay.
>> One of the things we did was we all went to see this movie and it was amazing how well we all got together, got along together because you think about it, we're we're all there were some egos involved cuz there were some kids who, hey, they were pros and we were a bunch of amateurs. There were varying age groups from 8 to 14. We would band together and try and make the adults miserable. All of us kids, I mean, we got along great.
>> One huge thing with this film obviously is the language. It's not just they they are swearing. Here comes another plane again. I'm not even in a flight path.
What's going on? When it comes to I'm I'm losing my train of thought. When it comes to the the swearing though, that threw me because I know that this is a product of its time from the ' 70s. I think the thing that threw me was because it's a film made for kids. Like I don't mind normal swearing is fine. If you swear, you swear. It does not bother me whatsoever. Censorship is bad, but at the same time when there's language like this kind of thing, yes, it was a it was very much a product of his time. It was wrong to be calling people those names.
And yeah, it far outweighs the the newer version of it. So this is an entirely different beast by itself. In the film, neither of the Aguilera brothers could speak any English. You know, the Spanish two boys. Apparently they were fluent in English and they did not know a word of Spanish. So [laughter] apparently in an interview in 2001 Sports Illustrated where are they now issue Jamie Escobido who plays Jose and George Gonzalez who plays Miguel were in fact born in Los Angeles and were fluent in English and didn't know how to speak in Spanish. They had to learn their entire dialogue strictly in Spanish before filming began. Now, I wanted to make a mention of the artist of the poster itself. I know it seems really random, but I saw a piece of information, a piece of trivia that was about the artist, Jack Davis, and that was the illustrator for the original piece of artwork. But I saw a similar poster to this with the newer version when I did that video. Both have a very similar art style, but both were not illustrated by Jack Davis. Only the 1976 one was. Fun fact, Jack Davis actually did some of the illustration work on Tales from the Crypt, the horror comic books. And I love Tales from the Crypt, the TV show. He also did some illustration work for Time Magazine and Mad Magazine as well. He was actually one of the founding illustrators of Mad Magazine. However, then it came to the newer film and artist Phil Roberts took over that process, designing something incredibly similar. And what's really lovely is that I feel illustration for movie posters kind of feels like it's gone out of the window in that styling anyway, I feel doesn't get represented as much these days. So, it's lovely that this guy then went and actually did poster design in that style. She did an utterly brilliant performance. So, I need to look up who she is because she is phenomenal. She's got such a like an older head about her. Whether she's like that in real life and the funny thing is I think if anyone else could have played Amanda and she I believe started her career in the 70s. I might be wrong.
Huge actor though and she was in a fairly big film of the time. Jodie Foster, thinking of Jodie Foster back in the 70s when she played in Freaky Friday for the first time. That was such a good film. I remember watching that when I was growing up and it was so good and she was phenomenal. I used to think she was brilliant in that and she's kind of got the same personality to her in some ways. Very similar.
>> You're not letting me have any fun and I'm sick of it. You're always pushing me around and telling me what to do. How come nobody ever gets to tell you what to do? Will you tell me that?
>> Oh god, that is such a good film. I I I really wish in some ways I had never seen Freaky Friday because I would love to have watched that for the first time with you guys because just just basically for Jodie Foster's performance, I've always just adored her work and how superb an actress she is.
When I first saw her in this, the girl in this, I almost instantly got reminded of Jodyie Foster in Freaky Friday and I was like, "Ah, she would play it really well, actually." Also, yes, apparently the original Freak Friday was 1976, the very same year this came out. So, why was like nail on the head? There was another film that came out in 1973 starring Jodie Foster. And there's there's a picture here of it. It's actually a baseball film as well. It's called Rookie of the Year, and she plays an 11year-old girl. Yeah, how weird is that? Very similar. probably nothing like it. But it does say preceding Michael Richie's The Bad News Bears by three years is this progressive film where it pitches an 11-year-old girl against the world of sports when she joins her brother's allmale little league baseball team.
>> I can't now. It's too late. There's no one to replace me. Besides, I guess I really don't want to quit.
>> Right. Tatum O'Neal is the girl. I was like, I know that name from somewhere, but maybe I'm thinking O'Neal as in Ryan O'Neal. I was wondering if maybe she was related to Ryan O'Neal. It's just it's a very unusual name, so I just don't know.
Yes, her dad is Ryan O'Neal. What? Oh, that's so cool. I've seen now his daughter's work and performance in this.
Oh, I love that. I can't believe Yeah, you can see it so much in their in her face. Oh, she was married to John Mackenroe. What? This was only Tatum O'Neil's second film. She is phenomenal.
She got that buzz for life in this film.
So, it's probably because yeah, she's just a, you know, a budding actor and wanting to get into real good roles. Her first film that she started was Paper Moon from 1973.
>> Keep your sunny up.
>> Ryan O'Neal is Mo prey.
His most challenging film role.
>> Keep rolling. I got it.
>> Tatum O'Neal, daughter of Ryan O'Neal, is Addie Logggins. Our very first film role.
>> Get the phone. [laughter] [screaming] >> The Peter Bdonovich production, Paper Moon.
>> Side tangent, by the way. I think we might need to watch uh Paper Moon at some point because it looks really cool and it's in black and white. Also, fun fact, Tatum O'Neal won best supporting actress, which means that she is the youngest still to this day to win an Oscar at age 10. That's absolutely phenomenal.
>> Tatum O'Neal.
[applause] >> All I really want to thank is my director, Peter Bdanovich, and my father. Thank you.
Reportedly, Star Wars Matau was paid $750,000 while Tatum O'Neal was paid $350,000 and 8% of net profits. I have made mention in this um video about how well they all worked together, how well the kids worked together. It feels like they were a proper bunch of friends or a proper bunch of kids that really did interact together and they had that bond there that felt like they knew each other, if that makes sense. They weren't just a group of random kids that just came together and acted. It felt like they knew each other and they were realistic kids. Does that make sense?
Like realistic relationships and friendships in a group. Okay, this is extremely weird. There was a TV pilot, right? Guess who starred in the TV pilot of Paper Moon? Jodie Foster. She starred alongside the guy who played Ryan O'Neal's brother. I believe Ryan O'Neal's brother on something called Payton's Place is Chris Connelly. Just so you know, >> I ain't your papa. And don't start on me again, will you?
>> You look just like me and you know it.
>> I look like a lot of people, honey. So do you. you could really see the the struggle that she had wanting him to be a dad and also like making arrangements for him to come to dinner. I felt like he could have then reciprocated and you know and said yeah sure I'll go for dinner at least and you know enjoyed that time at least just for Amanda's sake not necessarily to be in a relationship but I think they did a really good job with exploring that with Amanda like when he went to see her when she was selling the the maps for stars you know when they were in the equipment room and he was getting the things that she gave him. Well, on the sign on the right, I was going to look it, but I was trying to pay attention to the scene and not sort of get distracted by other things whilst they were setting up.
Well, it says no smoking at any time and no alcoholic beverages at any time. At the very [clears throat] same time, he's holding a Budweiser can. The coach is drinking around the children, which isn't even the worst thing of the film, but like the coach is drinking around the children. He's driving whilst drunk at one point because I thought first, okay, he's not drinking whilst he's driving because he drinks just as he gets out of the car. But he's about to then go and coach children to play baseball, which no matter where he's drinking in that situation, it's still bad. I was just more thinking, at least he's not drinking in the car. Literally a scene or two later, he is having had drink then getting into the car with children and driving. That might be a different day, but I'm fairly sure that's the same day cuz that's the day that he goes to the pool, but obviously then he would need to drive back from the pool. And also child labor. He's getting the children to go at work. He also revealed that the bottles of beer that the Bears drink from the championship game actually contain ginger ale. Within the context of the film, I believe it is supposed to be alcohol.
>> Tatum was Amanda Woritzer.
>> Initially, it was written differently. I think she was the little sister of his ex-girlfriend originally.
>> I see. uh as opposed to the daughter.
And when they cast uh Walter to be Buttermaker, and obviously he was significantly older than the character in the original book, uh they they changed it around a little bit, but uh you know, Tatum came out and I you know, we didn't know Tatum and Walter were not cast. We were all at Paramount Studios doing runthroughs um before either Tatum or Walter were cast. This was supposed to be just a little a little gimmicky movie that somebody at Paramount owed Burke Lancaster a favor and this was his son's first attempt at screenwriter. And so this was not supposed to be a big movie. Uh it ended up being a big movie when they cast Walter and Tatum because they looked at their lineup and said, "Hey, we've got nothing else this year.
Let's go ahead and make a push on this movie and and put some firepower in it."
Originally, this was supposed to be maybe a class C movie. the fact that it turned out to be as big as it was, which back then it was like two and a half, three million dollars to film, which was huge money back then. I mean, you can't do a commercial for that now, let alone a major motion picture.
>> It must have been all those special effects that were >> Yeah. Oh, right. Right. It was It was the ginger ale and the beer bottle.
That's about as much of a special effect as we had.
>> It's a great film about being a team player and then having them all come together at the end to accept one another for who they are. Much like to me when I was growing up, The Mighty Ducks. I don't remember much of the Mighty Ducks, but I remember that it was a great film about ice hockey. This almost feels like the baseball version of that. Does anyone remember those films?
>> It sparked a whole new genre of films. I mean, you look at Mighty Ducks. That's Bad News Bears on ice skates.
>> Yes, I thought as much. You know, I kept on about Jodie Foster. Jodie Foster was cast at one point as Amanda. She dropped out in order to play Iris in Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver from 1976. See, I saw Taxi Driver many years ago, but I completely forgot that she was in that.
One thing I had to laugh about was his windcreen is broken throughout the entire film. So, it goes to show that he just doesn't have the money to fix it.
He can't be bothered. But, it shows the sort of state his life is in, but he doesn't get it fixed. He just leaves it as is. To be fair though, it costs a hell of a lot to repair a broken window.
Tatimonial trained with a professional sports trainer. Oh, I did not know. For several weeks before filming began in August 1975, so she could get her pitch pitch perfect, so to speak. Although some of the pictures in the movie were done by stunt doubles when they're shooting the pictures from the back, it was actually a wigged male double.
O'Neal did the bulk of them on her own, which is rare for a movie like this. But I did find it really lovely that with him being this adult in the situation looking after this group of kids, they all looked up to him. They looked up to him in terms of him being a good sports player back in the day, like a a good baseball player back in the day. And I loved the scene despite they made him drinks. I love the scene where they're at the poolside and he's regailing his old stories to them and they're just sitting watching intently as he's telling these stories. Water Mau's real life son, Charles Matau, appeared in the film as an opposing team player for the athletics little league baseball team.
>> Hey Tanner, does he go to the bathroom for you, too? In regards to the other version in comparison to this, I noticed that there was a lot of similarities that they had done in the other one that were in reference to things that had happened in in this or pretty much ripped off of this because almost identical scenes in the other one of like the talking on the baseball field and then he comes running on his bike.
Fairly sure that happens in the other one. So many other scenes though that happened in the previous one like the pool cleaning scene that's in the other one from what I remember. So many of the scenes, even in the opening part, you know, where he's sat in his car and he's pouring the drink into the Budweiser, the filmmakers did a certain thing. So, they used handheld cameras to create the feeling of almost giving a documentary feel. I don't know if that was on purpose, but this fact makes it seem like that's the reason why they did it.
What I will say on the film with the father issues that Amanda's got and with Walter Mafal's character when you know when they have that argument, it's like he doesn't want to let anyone in close to him because he just doesn't want to hurt anyone because he's got so many things going on in his life and he doesn't want to put any of that on her.
One of only three movies written by Bill Lancaster, the son of Bert Lancaster.
The other two being The Bad News Bears Go to Japan from 1978 and The Thing from 1982. Bill Lancaster's screenplay was based on his experience with his father Bert Lancaster. Buttermaker was based on Bert who was known for his grumpiness and the character of Amanda was based on himself. Banancaster would later be cast as an aged version of early 20th century ball player Archbold Moonlight Graham in Field of Dreams from 1989.
>> They filmed it two ways. They filmed us winning and us losing. I don't know if anybody ever told you that.
>> No. And we didn't know as as as actors how it was going to end until they actually released the movie, the SMU Film Festival, which was the world premiere of it. Up until this time, it's fairly common now, but up until this time, all movies like this, all sports movies like this always ended with the underdog coming back and winning. I guess the message was persistence uh and perseverance is is omnipotent. You I mean, you're going to be rewarded for all this hard work.
>> Michael uh Richie was a little bit different. He wanted to show uh and this is what he explained at the SM film festival. He says, "Yeah, we it would have been very easy to have us win, but he wanted to show that in real life you don't always win. No matter how hard you work, no matter how much you deserve it, you just don't always win, >> but there are lessons you can take away from >> and that's what he was trying to show in the movie."
>> By the way, I hope you really like there was something I did during the edit of this and I'm hoping that I caught every single one of them. Every time an actual player was mentioned, an actual baseball player was mentioned in the film, I liked to throw up an image or sometimes even if I could find one. I hadn't initially gone to find them, but sometimes that would be one of the most prominent pictures that came up. So, I kind of wanted to use those. But, you know, like back in the day when you'd have was it the baseball cards? You'd have baseball cards um that you collect and stuff. I I thought about doing it halfway through and I I'd started putting just normal images on and then I did think about going back through and changing them all for actual baseball cards themselves. I don't know whether or not they all had baseball cards, but I know I included, [music] especially towards the end, I included a few of the ones I mentioned as actual baseball cards because I thought it was a nice little add-on, like an additional thing so you could visually see who these people were because during the filming I had no idea who these people were. I still have no idea who they are actually visually. At least there's a like a reference point of saying, "Okay, this is this person." Two decades later in Grumpier Old Men 1995, Catfish Hunter would be the name of the fish that Walter Matau's character would do anything to catch. Fun little fact, uh, this next person actually did star in a film with Tatum O'Neal in Little Darlings from 1980. Christy McNichol was originally offered the role of Amanda.
After successfully auditioning, the producers told her that they would begin filming and to start preparing. But McNichols says that over one weekend they changed their minds and she got the disappointing call that they were going to give the role to Tatum O'Neal. Also, if you want to know where the baseball field is, it's actually in Mason Park in Chadzsworth, California. The movie was adapted as a halfhour TV sitcom in 1979 to 1980. The television series ran for 26 episodes on CBS with Jack Warden starring the role of Morris Buttermaker and Cory Feldman as Reggie Tower. I did not think that Cory Feldman would be in the Bad News Bears TV show. Wow. Walter Manau was the third choice to play Morris Buttermaker. Steve McQueen and Warren Bey were offered the part, but both turned it down due to involvements in other film projects. Due to their friendships with Walter Matau, John Wayne and Jack Lemon both visited the set once. He was also good friends with Al Murphy the second AD second assistant director. The ballfield location was part of a larger recreation park and had no car park next to it. Loose dirt was laid down and a temporary current ramp was installed at the curb to create the look of the parking lot. Yeah, I think I know the bit right at the start of the film when the car goes up onto the side walk and sort of goes to the field itself. Honestly, you couldn't tell. Oh, yes, I saw this sign. You know the bit where uh Walter Matau's character gets back in the car. In the background, we see a sign for Hello Dolly. Walter Matau plays in 1969's Hello Dolly directed by Jean Kelly and stars Barbara Stryand and Michael Crawford which is an amazing cast lineup. Come on, you've got to have Michael Crawford Bitty. I didn't even think of this little detail. Ahmad is consoled by Buttermaker saying he missed the fly balls because the sun was in his eyes. Later he is seen wearing flip up sunglasses while filming. So, I did not know this that there was a a thing called little league baseball. I just presumed that the little leagues were the names referred to like the the smaller teams of baseball, especially the ones that were, you know, kids baseball teams. According to this, at no point in the film are any references or logos referring to little league baseball. And some of the movies depictions run counter to official rules of little league baseball. It appears either the Little League baseball organization didn't authorize rights to their name and logos for the film or none were sought by the filmmakers. I presume that this was done as a little inspired by the film itself. Apparently, the daily comic strip Tank Magnamara ran a story line loosely based on and inspired by the movie. In the story, a girl named Janet wins an injunction to pitch in an all boys little league for a team called the Bears. Janet and the team's coach bore slight resemblances to Tatum O'Neal and Walter Matau, respectively. In the original script, Buttermaker turns to his estranged troublemaker son, Kelly, to play for the Bears. But before production, it was turned into a vehicle for a female actress, and Kelly was relegated to a supporting role. The sequel, however, returned to this original idea by having Kelly seek out his aranged father to coach them for the game in the Astrodome. Well, so originally Kelly as in Kelly Leak was going to be the name of Amanda's character and not the style of character that Kelly Leak is. But then in the sequel they had the Kelly Leak character seek out the aranged father. It was good that they reused the story line. Oh wow. Apparently, so you know we've been saying about the language in this. Apparently, Bill Lancaster's original screenplay was far more profane than the version that was filmed and had to be toned down to earn a PG rating. If it was being toned down, why did they not remove those lines or turn them into lines that weren't what they were? Or maybe just had them sort of vaguely reference what they were trying to say. What's really funny, just a really last minute thing that I wanted to add in at the end here, because that is all of the trivia for you. So, I was looking up taglines to the film itself, and I noticed that there was one that said, "At last, a picture of kids as they really are." Which is very true.
But it made me think, why did they not make one of the taglines, "A picture for pictures." Cuz you know when you say picture, sometimes it sounds like picture. That kind of would have been cool saying a picture for pictures. I know. No, it's not just for pictures, but do you know what I mean? It it would have been a nice little play on was that a play on words or words that are kind of phonetically similar. So, in honor of that, I'm going to do something now that I think works for my secret phrase for the video. So, thank you so much for watching until this very point of the video. It means the absolute world to me. And as you know, this is the 50th anniversary of this film itself. So, I feel like it was the best time to do this video and to bring it to you guys, especially after the, you know, gathuffle that I had with the other version of this. Um, so apologies that happened, but there is this. And if you want to see the new remake of it, then you can do uh but it is a very old video now. It's like one of the uh earlier videos that I ever did. I rewatched most of it earlier and it's not as polished as what I do now. So, [laughter] if I could change the edit, I would. So, anyway, thank you so much for watching.
I hope you have really really enjoyed this and all of the trivia and all the little extras that I included in it and me going off on a tangent of waffling about, you know, Freaky Friday and all that stuff earlier. I hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget, you want to see the full uncut reaction to this, you can see it over on the Patreon page or as a YouTube member. But what I want to say is because of it being this point in the video, I want to give you guys a little secret phrase, and this is a way that we can both say thank you to each other. If you've been here before, you know exactly what I'm about to say. But it's a way that we can both say thanks to each other because it's your way of saying thank you to me for the video itself, and it's my way of saying thank you to you for watching the video itself. So, as you've probably guessed, the secret phrase for this video is a picture for pictures. Hopefully, that makes sense. Anyway, guys, I hope you really enjoyed that. Don't forget, if you did like the video, then it would be really helpful if you could click the like button. And uh also, if you want to see anything new coming to the channel, then feel free to subscribe to the channel. and you get to be updated when I do newer videos. Anyway guys, thank you so much. Hope you very much enjoyed this. Take care, stay safe, and hopefully I get to see you guys next time. [music] Bye-bye.
If you're still here to the very end, then thank you so much. And also a huge thank you to my wonderful patrons, Roger C. Griffith, Douglas Collier, Terry V, Miggy Love, Chris Holmes, Jojo, Thomas Masters, Shuhorn 1234, Re Patrick Durr, Andrew Blount, Carlos, Malami, Rob, Chandra Blair, Scott, Paul, Zawiki, Randy, Kirsten, Juan, Pablo, Comero, JL, Maggie, Freya, Alexandra, Milo, Miranda, Edna, Gina, Aman, Tess, Avaland, Olivia, Maria Stova, Neno, Megan, Shanoviaak, Rainey, Tommo, Strawberry Tree, Kirsten Bailey, Boobly Boo, Luis Vanderhovven, Aubry Terry, Raist, Heidi Steel, City D, Bumblebee, Joshua, Jesse, Reena Burough, Meat, Lolita Verbikovskia, Eli, Holly Jeff, Alanka Hfner, Hmg, Khloe Grover, Neb, Kyle Baker, Abby Barker, Tom Tatashaw, Kristen Olds, Titty Chum, Laura Hutcherson, Tara M. Will Coxson, Sazzy Nation, Ferdinand Pitchard, Jim Kay, Sphere, Mel Days, Fran in the pen, BG, Tara, Rags and Muffins, Nameless Human Being, Deb, Philip, Chapman, Emily Panda, David Wayne Fox, Jessica Asakovic, Supro, Na Workshop, Mike Tunnakliffe, Wolf Gang, Wolf, Lee, Harvey, Ankameay, Aninia, Evan G, Violet, Aurora, Pamela, Chandela, Rash, Scott Howard, Joshua, Robert Williams, Steve Webster, Amanda, Lipaz, Jamie Dods, King, Happy Golucky, Caitlyn, Analytical Guy, Maria Torres, Cliff Adams, Jonathan Durk, Annie Bonds, Crystal Applebee, Scorpius, Monica Murphy, Sebastia Sage, Vara, Leslie McKitrich, Nick Stark, number one, Carz, Jen, Biff, Mckelden, Burgit, Stephanie Collins, Emily, Ken Duncan, Max, Helena Clitch, Amy Quotelbomb, Ry Levi, Wayne Defreeze, JJ, Mikuel, Augustine Reed, Malcolm Hope, Lee, Halum, Bill, Wait, Charie, Wilkins, Mika, Least, Jeffrey Welton, Alidoscope, George Ingred, Stephanie Sexton, Jude Bara, Rabinio GD, Katherine Ellis, Vincent Par, Sammy Fan, Eric Johnson, David K, Steven Edcat, MB8, Order, Collie, Lover 223, Caitlyn, Juiced, The Califra, Rebel, James, Johnny 115, Tim Paul Hess, Frontex, Marie Clark, Robin, Matt Quinn, Offer Rock, Bruce, Hecerman, Joe, Victoria, Helm, James Melton, Beatress Soiler, Seedreed, Clara Gro, Louie, Lana, Gorgeous, David Stafford, Rebecca K.
McDall, Ashley Stanley, Sophia Fabian, Paul Burn, Bear, Nardia, Chris Thompson, Erin Miller, Kate Wheeler, Janet, Rose, Ashley, Alex, Tyler, just a little tired and shel. If you'd like to see more videos, there's some more on the screen right now. Thank you so much for watching, guys, and see you next time.
[music]
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