FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

GazerRise Fantastic!

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

TheLittleSongbird My main reason for seeing 'The Winning Team' was Doris Day as part of my quest to see all the films of hers not yet seen. 'The Winning Team' is also based on an interesting person with an interesting if tragic life, and personally am of the opinion that Ronald Reagan has shown here and in other performances that he was not that bad an actor.'The Winning Team' does stray from the truth significantly from the middle of the film, which will disappoint those who want a truthful account of his life and career. Although it was a pity somewhat, it didn't ruin it for me having seen enough biographical dramas to kind of expect that it would be the case. With that being said, there are some truthful elements too.While the alcoholism and problems with vision and blackouts were covered, it was a shame that the epilepsy was pretty much trivialised to ignored. It is in some way not an easy condition to act out, but not addressing it (and it would have been courageous of the film to do so for a condition that needed awareness raised and still met with ignorance, speaking as an epileptic myself) and not exploring it enough was a missed opportunity when it was such a big part of his health difficulties.A few scenes didn't come over as necessary either and seemed tacked on. The "Ol' Saint Nicholas" seemed like it was put in just to have Day sing, its inclusion felt tacked on, it was completely pointless and it wasn't even a particularly good song despite Day singing it beautifully and doing what she could. The direction was competent enough if unspectacular mostly and workmanlike at best, gets the job done but in need of more spark.On the other hand, despite not being lavish, 'The Winning Team' is a good-looking film and is well photographed. It did also benefit from the inclusion of stock footage which makes one nostalgic and leaves them quite moved. The music is a good fit and doesn't intrude.Generally the writing flows well and packs some emotional punch. The story moves along at a comfortable pace without dragging or being jumpy, it does become thin and suddenly-stop-like in the second half but the ending is uplifting and moving.Reagan occasionally overdoes the mannerisms but on the most part it is a solid performance that shows a lot of commitment that ranks among his better ones. Day shows that when given the chance that she was as skilled in drama as she is in comedy and musicals, even though the character at times frustrates you she gives a sensitive performance and shares good chemistry with Reagan. Frank Lovejoy is good support.In conclusion, a winner mostly if not exceptional. 7/10 Bethany Cox

mark.waltz "You can't make chicken salad out of chicken feathers" says baseball player wife Eve Miller to Doris Day, playing the wife of Grover Cleveland Alexander (Ronald Reagan) whose promising baseball career stalled because of a hit he took while rising in the minor leagues. Not content to be a farmer, Reagan becomes despondent, only snapping out of it when a seemingly miraculous sight of a clear moon takes away his double vision. Previously opposed to his career choice, supportive wife Day becomes the typical supportive wife, cheering him up with a rather saccharine Christmas dirty ("Old St. Nicholas") while Reagan strings popcorn. It's all very nicely done, but the plot basically stops less than half way through for several reels, with episodic scenes devoted to his rise to baseball fame, her scrapbook keeping, his involvement in world war I, and of course, the obligatory scene of her running along in the crowd as he comes back another type of hero.Cameos by famous baseball players of the time gives this historical importance as a record of part of baseball's history, with shots of many long gone stadiums, too old fashioned and un-tech to change with the times. It's obvious that Alexander's double vision will return, but it's also obvious how this formula biographical drama will play out. The way his apparent dive into alcoholism isn't presented as believable either, with a slurring Reagan being told he sounds sober while a sports reporter calls in the story to a newspaper. All of a sudden, we're supposed to believe that he's a lush. The story is there, but the script prevents any real emotional involvement by leaving out key character details.

edwagreen When Forbes Field was mentioned, they spelled Pittsburgh incorrectly. They left out the last letter.That being said, we have a very solid movie here with a marvelous performance by future President Ronald Reagan as Grover Cleveland Alexander. Unfortunately, Doris Day would need another 3 years to develop as a dramatic actress and that would come in her brilliantly breakout performance in "Love Me or Leave Me."It's really a shame that there were some distortions in the film. I read that Amy Alexander divorced her husband twice and remarried him for a 3rd time. It's also ridiculous that the script never mentioned that Alexander suffered from epilepsy. After all, talking about his dizzy spells through us all of somewhat.The picture itself is a heartbreak. From humble beginnings, Alexander became a star baseball pitcher only to suffer a beaning and epilepsy, the latter being confused with alcoholism; although, it was shown that he was hitting the bottle as well as a way out of his frustration.The film succeeds because of his triumph and amazing comeback.Reagan totally captured the essence of Grover Cleveland Alexander. Miss Day did not. Jeanne Crain would have been better suited for the part.

gitrich Ronald Reagan plays famous St.Louis Cardinal pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander in this average baseball flick. Reagan is not believable as a pitcher which, for a baseball fan, takes away from the enjoyment of the story. An effort seems to have been made to make it realistic showing old footage of actual games but it is not enough. Doris Day is outstanding as Mrs. Alexander, constantly encouraging her husband through bouts of alcohol and depression. Look for a few big leaguers like Bob Lemon, Peanuts Lowrey,Hank Sauer and Gene Mauch just to name a few.