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Movies / On DVD / Bang the Drum Slowly
Bang the Drum Slowly

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Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)

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Reviews Counted:22

Fresh:20

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.6/10

Consensus: Bang the Drum Slowly is a touching melodrama that explores the inner workings of a baseball club and its players’ personalities with remarkable depth.

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Robert De Niro stars as Bruce Pearson, a baseball player stricken with Hodgkin's disease. During his illness, he befriends the team's star pitcher Henry Wiggin (Michael Moriarty), who not only... Robert De Niro stars as Bruce Pearson, a baseball player stricken with Hodgkin's disease. During his illness, he befriends the team's star pitcher Henry Wiggin (Michael Moriarty), who not only helps Bruce hide his illness from the materialist owners, but also emotionally supports his dying friend. Moriarty and DeNiro's performances, as well as coach Vincent Gardenia's, are the high points of this tearjerker based on Mark Harris's 1950's novel. Academy Award Nominations: Best Supporting Actor--Vincent Gardenia. [More]

Starring: Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia, Phil Foster

Starring: Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia, Phil Foster, Ann Wedgeworth, Selma Diamond, Barbara Babcock

Director: John Hancock

Director: John Hancock
Screenwriter: Mark Harris

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Bang the Drum Slowly

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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You don't have to understand baseball to appreciate this one, which is probably just as well.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A funny, gentle and honestly sentimental movie that is easily one of the best of the year in any category, and very possibly the best movie about sport ever made in this country.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
08/03/08
Richard Schickel
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It was first filmed for television, where it seems best suited as a 'disease of the week' movie.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
09/16/07
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Mention this flick to any guy over 40 and watch him get all weepy.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
03/21/07
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

A well-done if depressing film.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
03/14/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's a good film, avoiding all the obvious goop and the 'big game' cliché at the climax.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

No review available.

comment Comment
09/27/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
06/29/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Low key character study of baseball player dying; De Niro, Moriarty are fine.

comment Comment
06/11/05
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com

Never before has a movie considered the game from the inside out.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
09/21/04
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Finally, a baseball melodrama with a full count of emotional impact. Hancock's narrative delivers the right pitch of intensity

comment Comment
06/24/04
Frank Ochieng
Frank Ochieng
TheWorldJournal.com

No review available.

comment Comment
05/29/04
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
New Times

No review available.

comment Comment
04/21/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
02/16/04
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

A great baseball movie and a touching buddy film with De Niro showing the talent that has made him one of our best actors. Moriarity gives a fine performance as his star-pitcher friend.

comment Comment
01/07/04
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

No review available.

comment Comment
09/05/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

It is one of those rare instances in which close adaptation of a good book has resulted in possibly an even better movie.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/21/03
Roger Greenspun
Roger Greenspun
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
04/30/03
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

Another one of those films better remembered than revisited.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
03/26/03
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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