I watched the movie last night. How accurate is the movie? In the movie Mantle and Maris appeared to be buddies. Yet, Mantle who owned the media and fans hearts, didn't come forward and tell them to back off Maris.
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My guess is it's somewhere in between what the movie has and what the press says was that they didn't get along. Since everyone has always said Mantle was a great teammate, I'd say they probably got along but maybe not best buddies like the movie portrays. Artistic license perhaps.
As for the Phil Rizzuto character, Joe Grifasi was pathetic. He made The Scooter out to be a total imbicle. That actor gave you nothing that resembled The Scooter.
In the movie, when Maris his his 61st, they should've cut to the real footage of the homerun call by Rizzuto instead of that lame scene with Grifasi. It was so bad, it made the hair stand.
As for the Phil Rizzuto character, Joe Grifasi was pathetic. He made The Scooter out to be a total imbicle. That actor gave you nothing that resembled The Scooter.
In the movie, when Maris his his 61st, they should've cut to the real footage of the homerun call by Rizzuto instead of that lame scene with Grifasi. It was so bad, it made the hair stand.
In a autobiography, written of course by someone else, Maris does say that he, Mantle and Bob Cerv did share an apartment for most of the 61 season. I think he alludes that Mantle and he were friends but their personalities and likes and dislikes were very dissimiliar.
Love that movie, very entertaining, but like all movies there will be things changed to make it a little more entertaining!
so much of that movie mirrored the popular feelings of the people at the time and of course, Billy Crystal....(director/producer)
Even after his death people were still keeping the Image of the Mick alive.........they did hit on some of his lesser habits, but to be honest it was Billy's tribute to his boyhood heros....
all in all I like the movie
Even after his death people were still keeping the Image of the Mick alive.........they did hit on some of his lesser habits, but to be honest it was Billy's tribute to his boyhood heros....
all in all I like the movie
even better is the bio that HBO has been running on Mantle this week
The movie is based on the book written by Maris which I bought when I was 12 in 1962. He repeatedly talks about what a kick he and Mantle got out of the stories the media created about their rivalry and dislike for each other. And yes, Maris, Mantle, and Cerv were roommates during the 61 season.
Media hasn't changed much.
Media hasn't changed much.
I really don't know the exact history between Mantle and Maris but.........My family and I loved the movie. It is one of our favorites and watch it every 3 months or so......I was born in 61 so 61 in 61 has additional nostalgic meaning for me.
Although I came about quite a bit before, I consider myself a huge 1961 fan. I've collected a complete set of Topps from 61, several Sports Illustrated (no swimsuit edition that year), and a few Sporting News publications from that year. It's incredible to hear but there were 38 future hall of famers in baseball that year (including managers).