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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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Fear Strikes Out (1957)

Rating: 3 Stars (out of 4)

Pitch Perfect

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Fear Strikes Out on DVD.

Before they hit the big time with To Kill a Mockingbird, director Robert Mulligan and producer Alan J. Pakula made this realistic, stripped-down, black-and-white baseball story. Anthony Perkins gives a great, twitchy performance as Jimmy Piersall, the real-life outfielder who lands a coveted spot on the Boston Red Sox. But the strain of getting there -- plus the relentless pushing of his father (Karl Malden) -- knocks him over the edge and into a nervous breakdown. The lanky Perkins actually has a pretty good throwing arm, but sports a funny batting stance. Apparently, the real Piersall renounced the film due to its misrepresentation of the facts. Paramount's disc has no extras.

Starring: Anthony Perkins, Karl Malden, Norma Moore, Adam Williams, Perry Wilson, Peter J. Votrian
Written by: Ted Berkman, Raphael Blau, Al Hirshberg, basedon the book by Jimmy Piersall
Directed by: Robert Mulligan
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 100 minutes
Date: April 10, 2003