The Bad News Bears – 1976
Director
Michael Ritchie

Writer
Bill Lancaster

Cast
Walter Matthau
Tatum O’Neal
Vic Morrow

Review by John Chard

Buttermakers’s Bail Bond Backed Bears
Rewarding for both adults and children, this funny and astute movie revels in poking the ribs of Little League Baseball whilst casting a cautionary eye of the obsession some have with winning. An on form Walter Matthau stars as Morris Buttermaker, a now washed up ex minor league player who, prompted by a financial carrot, becomes manager of a multi-racial team of Little League misfits. It’s originally a rough road as Buttermaker is more concerned with drinking beer, while the kids themselves don’t know which end of the bat to hold. But things start to pick up when Morris enlists his talented daughter Manda (Tatum O’Neal) to pitch for them. Not only that but the town rebel, Kelly Leak (Jackie Earl Hayley), with points to prove, has also been prompted to join.

Directed by Michael Ritchie and written by Bill Lancaster (yes, Burt’s son), The Bad News Bears never sinks to being a preachy fable. It also delightfully doesn’t resort to type for its finale. Making this a very clever and aware film from a genre of film so often troubled by safe playing and a too frothy approach. It would spawn two so so sequels in the next two years, inspire an imitation, get a TV series make over and was remade in 2005 with Billy Bob Thornton taking on the role of Buttermaker. 7.5/10