Fear Strikes Out (1957)

An early, pre-'Psycho', role for Anthony Perkins and the debut film for director Robert Mulligan. It's especially since I saw his (Mulligan) 'The nickel ride' (1974), a terrific crime drama, that I've been wanting to see everything that he ever made. And why not start with his debut? I also saw his classic film 'To kill a mockingbird', and this one is much like that one, in a sense: a heartfelt drama with a good amount of social issues addressed.Perkins does a terrific job playing Jim Piersall, the son of an almost obsessed (but still well-meaning) father who wants his son to play for the Boston Red Sox one day, as does Karl Malden as the father. Perry Wilson has considerable less screen time as the mother, but does a good job nonetheless, and Norma Moore does an admirable job as Jim Piersall's charming sweetheart and later on wife and mother of his child.I must admit I'd never heard of this true story before, but then again, I am no particular fan of baseball or any other sports. The story goes pretty fast, from one pivotal moment to the other, leaving not much room to take in any atmosphere or just get acquainted with the characters. But it's still a pretty good drama, and some particular scenes are dramatically pretty near perfect.A good 7 out of 10.

Producer Alan J. Pakula and director Robert Mulligan fare well in this early effort that tells the real-life story of baseball star Jimmy Piersall. Starting in his childhood, Jimmy is relentlessly prodded by his loving but pushy father John in the pursuit of success as a major leaguer. Unfortunately, all this prodding has made Jimmy a nervous wreck. He acts out on the field, ultimately having a meltdown and requiring a stay in a mental institution.The compelling material is sensitively handled by Mulligan, Pakula, and the two stars, young Anthony Perkins (playing Jimmy) and Karl Malden (playing John). Perkins, in what was surely good training ground for his later Norman Bates performance, is appealing. You feel for this character and want to see him not only succeed as a ballplayer but be able to exorcise his demons. The supporting performances are decent, from Norma Moore as Jimmy's wife Mary, Perry Wilson as his mother, and Adam Williams as the caring psychiatrist Dr. Brown. But this film truly belongs to Malden. Commendably, his John Piersall may not be the most understanding or sympathetic father in the world, but we can see that he just wants what he feels is best for his son.There really isn't much baseball action in "Fear Strikes Out", as the film concentrates on the drama taking place off the playing field. Both Elmer Bernsteins' music score and the cinematography by Haskell B. Boggs aid greatly in creation of the mood. The filmmaking is very straightforward and to the point, letting the script and the acting ultimately do the really heavy lifting.Worth seeing, although it may have more value for people who aren't baseball fans; those who are take issue with the lack of prowess that Perkins displays.Eight out of 10.

I liked this movie fine, though it's rather clichéd and def. from the fifties. Let's see what is good and bad.Good: *Tony Perkins-always played madness so well, a unique talent.*Karl Malden as the concerned overbearing dad living thru sonnyboy's career. You all know the type.*Sympathetic shrink. You know That type too-complete w/ pipe.*All things go back to Freud and daddy.*Enjoyed Joe Cronin(not played by the real Joe C...) and Fenway.Bad: *Perkins as hitter or outfielder. Yikes! *Blaming Daddy issues for his problems. Bi-polar guys, the real Piersall had THAT as a root-cause to his problems. Yes I know it was pre-Lithium etc. But you get the idea.*TV-movie style film-making. Someone said 'Playhouse 90'. Yes.*Bloopers-Fenway lacking the Green Monster etc in the background.*No Ted Williams.I'll give it *** outta **** because it was heartfelt and well acted.

True story of Boston Red Sox outfielder Jimmy Piersall, Anthony Perkins, struggle with mental illness by desperately wanting to please his domineering father John, Karl Malden, to be a big league baseball player. At the same time Jimmy confronted his insecurities of not having what it takes to be one. Growing up as a boy in Waterbuary Ct. Jimmy always dreamed of playing for the Red Sox not just to play professional baseball but to be able to get out of the poverty that he and his parents were stuck in all their lives. Jimmy's father John played semi-pro ball as a young man but never had the talent to play in the big leagues and put all his effort and drive to see that Jimmy would get the chance, playing professional baseball, that he never got. Helpful at first but as John's obsession in getting Jimmy to make the grade started to take it's toll on the sensitive young man, As he finally reached his goal of making the team, fear set in on Jimmy fear that he'll fail his dad and himself. That fear lead Jimmy to have a mental breakdown during a night-game in Fenway Park after hitting an inside-the-park home run."Fear Strikes Out" covers Jimmy Piersall's life from a 12 year old boy in Waterbuary Ct. through his being committed into a institution for treatment of his mental illness due to the his fear that he'll never be the person that his father wanted him to be. As well as the fear that he wouldn't be able to care and provide for his parents and newlywed wife Mary, Norma Moore, and their new born daughter Eileen. Being looked after by Dr. Brown, Adam Williams, at the institution it's painful to see Jimmy completely lose it and end up looking and acting like a person who's been lobotomized. Dr. Brown get's Jimmy to respond to his treatment by showing him the kindness and understanding that his father lacked for Jimmy during his formative years. That caused him to not just enjoy playing baseball but to become obsessed by it in wanting to fulfill the dreams that his dad had for him.This pressure built up over the years as Jimmy worked hard to make the majors and play along the likes of baseball greats like Ted Williams Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. There was a terrible price to all that and that price was that no matter how hard Jimmy tried he was never good enough, or as good as he could be, in the eyes of his dad John Piersall.It turned out that it was not just Jimmy who needed mental therapy but his father as well in understanding that his son was a human being not a machine who's feeling had to be taken into account. John Piersall was relentlessly driving Jimmy to make the grade as a big league baseball player not caring, or noticing, that he was driving Jimmy straight into a nervous breakdown. Even Boston Red Sox manager Joe Cronin, Bart Burns, was more receptive to Jimmy's impending mental collapse then his father. Cronin did everything he could, through the Red Sox organization, to help Jimmy with desperately needed professional help that Jimmy's father had no idea that his son needed.The best part of the movie "Fear Strikes Out" was when John Piersall finally understood what he did to his son Jimmy in pushing him like he did. Later at the institution John was accepted by Jimmy who for a time wanted to have nothing to do with him. For once just being his father, not a hard as nails lion trainer, the two had an friendly but emotional game of catch. Jimmy did in the end recover form his personal demons and went on to be an All-Star outfielder for Boston Cleveland and the New York Mets, among outer teams he played for. Despite his fine record as a professional baseball player Jimmys overcoming the fear that almost destroyed him was by far Piersall's greatest achievement.