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The next time the wind’s howling, it’s freezing outside, and you feel the need to retreat
to that treadmill or exercise bike, slap a video of one of our top sports movies into your
entertainment center.
For this article, I’m recommending flicks based on mainstream professional sports, such as
baseball and boxing.
- Body and Soul (1947)
Sport: boxing
Lead actor: John Garfield
Director: Robert Rossen
This black-and-white film-noir classic tells the story of Charley Davis, who’s trying to
make it to the top of the boxing world through any means necessary. Many consider it one
of the finest flicks about boxing, with gripping fight sequences and a moving character
study of a fighter struggling to succeed in a corrupt world. Garfield received a best-actor
Oscar nomination.
- Field of Dreams (1989)
Sport: baseball
Lead actor: Kevin Costner
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
A fantasy about a farmer in Iowa who turns a cornfield into a baseball diamond because he
hears voices telling him, “If you build it, they will come.” “They” are famous deceased
players such as Shoeless Joe Jackson, whose career ended prematurely. It’s a whimsical
tale with great supporting performances by James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster, and others.
- Running Brave (1983)
Sport: running/Olympics
Lead actor: Bobby Benson
Director: Donald Shebib
Benson plays Billy Mills, a Native American (Sioux) who leaves the reservation and goes on
to win the 10,000-meter race at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. It’s hard to find authentic
running movies, but this one has inspiring race footage. And many critics consider this
story Benson’s best work.
- The Natural (1984)
Sport: baseball
Lead actor: Robert Redford
Director: Barry Levinson
Suspend your disbelief and you’ll love this romantic story of Roy Hobbs, a talented but
past-his-prime player who comes out of nowhere and takes his team to the top by booming
dingers with a bat carved out of a stick struck by lightning. The film is based on the
book of the same name by Bernard Malamud.
- The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
Sport: baseball
Lead actor: Gary Cooper
Director: Sam Wood
Keep a box of Kleenex next to your exerciser while watching this moving saga of Lou
Gehrig’s career and sad demise from the disease that now bears his name. Fittingly for
what many consider the greatest baseball movie, there’s a guest appearance by Babe Ruth.
The film received nominations for best actor, best actress, and best picture.
- Hoop Dreams (1994)
Sport: basketball
Lead actors: Arthur Agee and William Gates
Director: Steve James
If you’re in a serious mood, try this acclaimed documentary about two roundball devotees
living in poverty in inner-city Chicago who choose basketball as a way out. This is a
long movie (171 minutes), but knowing that it’s a true story keeps you riveted.
- Slap Shot (1977)
Sport: hockey
Lead actor: Paul Newman
Director: George Roy Hill
One of my favorite sports comedies, though you’ve got to be able to handle some tasteless
humor. Newman plays on a semi-, semi-, semi-pro hockey team that stinks until they hire
the three Hanson brothers, who play hockey like it’s target practice. There are some
hilarious scenes, plus an interesting subplot of a couple of guys who refuse to grow up.
Newman is great as player/coach Reggie Dunlop.
- Caddyshack (1980)
Sport: golf
Lead actors: Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Ted Knight
Director: Harold Ramis
Dangerfield’s one-liners and the shenanigans of Chase, Murray, and Knight keep you rolling
during this tale of a swanky country club, its members, and the colorful cast of caddies.
I know fans who have memorized half the lines in this movie. There’s a great soundtrack
by Kenny Loggins, too.
- A League of their Own (1992)
Sport: baseball
Lead actors: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna
Director: Penny Marshall
A lighthearted but compelling story of the All American Girls Baseball League, a women’s
league that began during World War II when most of the male players were defending the
country. The movie unrolls flashback-style, as told by sisters who were rivals when they
were competing back in the 1940s. Hanks is at times hilarious as deadbeat manager Jimmy
Dugal.
- Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
Sport: boxing
Lead actor: Paul Newman
Director: Robert Wise
The uplifting biography of Rocky Graziano, who went from troublemaker on the Lower East
Side of Manhattan to one of the most popular fighters ever. One of the finest
welterweights in the world in 1945, Graziano could take a punch and throw a powerful
right hand. This film won Academy Awards for art direction, set decoration, and
black-and-white cinematography. It also marked the debut of Steve McQueen.
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