BABE RUTH
Here are eight selected films on the
most famous baseball player of them all – Babe Ruth! Rare Sportsfilms has gathered together these
vintage black & white films, all produced before 1963, to present a varied collection
of Ruth footage on one DVD, much of which was shot by Pathe Movietone News
during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Because
we are presenting ALL the footage from each of the eight films, you will see
some, or parts of some, scenes repeated (with different narration), but there
is also a lot of variety here, and everything is about Ruth. The entire DVD (all 8 films) runs 1 hour and
12 minutes. Below is a more detailed
description of each film:
“Fungo Foster & His Balsa Wood Bat”
– a 1962 comedy using scenes from Babe’s 1920 Hollywood film, “Headin’ Home”. The goofy plot is entirely different than “Headin’
Home”, however!
“The Sports Album” with
Bill Slater – Mostly unique scenes of Babe’s private life – Babe and his first
wife Helen with newly adopted 16-month-old baby Dorothy. Babe and baby Dorothy with pet rabbits and
puppies. Then Ruth at his farm in
Sudbury, Massachusetts with chickens and cows, chopping wood, using vintage
wheelbarrow. Ruth in Hollywood getting made
up for his movie. Working out at Artie
McGovern’s gym. Playing golf with
Walter Hagan, then 1930 scenes with kids at Knickerbocker Hospital.
“Perfect
Control” by Castle Films – This
film will make you laugh, as Ruth stars in a short 10-minute movie which takes
place on a one-room schoolyard with boys.
Babe interrupts class and brings the boys outside to show them how to
pitch and hit – mostly pitching. Shows
how to hold the ball for different pitches, then demonstrates. The film culminates back in the classroom
after Ruth hits a long fly ball!
Entertaining! After watching, do
you think a major league ballplayer would or could do a film like this TODAY?
“Slide, Babe, Slide” by Castle Films –
Another short 10-minute film (similar in style to the above) with the Babe
at his best with kids. Ruth is shown on
a train relaxing with adults and saying he’s glad to have the season finally
over with when a boy asks for an autograph.
The Babe signs. Soon after, the
train makes short, water stop. Ruth notices
kids out in a field nearby playing ball and he just can’t stay away! He jumps off the train, running over to give
the kids some good tips on improving their game. They think he’s kidding when he gives them
his name and won’t let him play – at first.
Soon, one of the boys is called home by his mother, so Babe is allowed
to get into the game! While playing,
Babe gives tips on playing ball at each stop on the bases, even tearing his
pants as he slides into second! Finally
Babe hits a home run! But as he heads
to first, the train begins to pull out!
What is Babe to do – finish his home run around the bases, or race to
the train, which is already moving?
“Fence Buster” (Babe Ruth) by
Blackhawk Films – These last three films are more serious in nature and begin
to tell the story of Ruth’s career, with more game-action scenes. Col.
Ruppert and Ruth at signing, Babe at the old Polo Grounds, Spring training with
Earle Combs, Bob Meusel, Herb Pennock.
Manager Huggins dies, and Ruth passed over for manager. Re-signs for $80,000! By ’34, Ruth is fading. With Boston Braves in ’35, but not for long. Shown with Bill Terry. Then coaching at 1B for the Dodgers. Babe then retires, plays golf. Comes back to Yankee Stadium for Lou Gehrig
Day, 1939. After stricken with throat
cancer, Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium.
The beginning of his speech (which you may have never heard). Lies in state at the stadium.
Greatest Headlines of the Century “The
Babe is Dead” – August 15, 1948 Babe Ruth dies. Motorcade up 5th Avenue, High
Mass with Cardinal Spellman. Unveiling
the monument at the Stadium.
“Biography – Babe Ruth” with
Mike Wallace – A half-hour TV show Biography in 1961 is on Babe Ruth. This is the longest and most detailed life
story on Ruth, starting with his boyhood in Baltimore. For the early years, still photos are used,
however by 1914 when he joins the Red Sox, vintage motion pictures begin
showing John McGraw, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Christy Mathewson, Walter
Johnson, Ruth with Cobb, and teammate Lou Gehrig. Babe barnstorms with Lou, and catches a
baseball dropped from an airplane. Ruth
shown working out at Artie McGovern’s gym and more HR’s are shown. Movie film
dramatizes the day Babe hits 60 HR in 1927, as well as his called shot vs Cubs
in the 1932 World Series. Here is the
actual film of Ruth, just after pointing and blasting the ball out of the
park. Look what he does as he nears the
Cubs dugout heading for third base!
More on Babe’s funeral at St. Patrick’s with Joe DiMaggio shown entering
the church.