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61 movie reviews

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61* Reviews

61 movie reviews

I enjoyed 61*, but then again, I'm a longtime fan of baseball.

Full Review | Original Score: 7.5/10 | Jan 10, 2022

61 movie reviews

Crystal delivers a nice looking sentimental television drama geared for the fan who looks to baseball as if it were a religion.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Mar 31, 2020

61 movie reviews

What begins as a lively, vibrant evocation of one of baseball's greatest seasons ends as a frustratingly conventional tale of sports heroism, a sort of upscale movie-of-the-week for the Classic Sports Network crowd.

Full Review | Mar 25, 2020

61 movie reviews

This film is about more than a broken record. It's about a broken heart. Watch it, and yours may break, too.

The beauty of 61, the Billy Crystal film for HBO, is that it early on makes a few dangerous missteps and corrects them quickly, all the while benefiting from a story as riveting and freshly modern as any sports story ever.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 25, 2020

Mr. Jane, as Mantle, nails both the player's movie-star charisma and his painful, self-destructive streak.

61 movie reviews

The largest grace note is the core of the film: that's the affection and bond between Mantle and Maris, men so different in temperament, so similar in culture.

Featured here are Barry Pepper as Maris and Thomas Jane as Mantle, actors as persuasive on the field as off.

The triumph here is one of tone and texture, where the baseball and the emotions are almost always depicted just right.

The filmmakers depict the teammates' relationship with a gratifying complexity -- they're both competitive and protective of each other.

Barry Pepper is an amazing Maris look-alike, Thomas Jane manages to suggest the damage Mantle did to himself, and Richard Masur plays the sort of sportswriter I wanted to grow up to be...

Full Review | Feb 5, 2018

While the script has its fair share of treacly moments intended to manipulate viewers into caring deeply for this duo, Billy Crystal's dream project about his beloved Yankees and one of their great chapters gets a heroic treatment in 61*.

Full Review | Jul 6, 2010

61 movie reviews

A great baseball movie solidly directed by Billy Crystal. You can tell he's a Yankee fan, but also does not hesitate from showing the warts on some of his idols.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 12, 2007

61 movie reviews

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | May 29, 2005

61 movie reviews

One of the best telemovies I've ever seen...simply sensational

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 31, 2005

61 movie reviews

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 2, 2004

61 movie reviews

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 4, 2004

61 movie reviews

...[features] two superb performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 1, 2003

61 movie reviews

Baseball drama from director Billy Crystal has the graceful arc of a well-hit ball.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 7, 2002

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61*

Where to watch

Directed by Billy Crystal

Why did America have room in its heart for only one hero?

In 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees. One, Mantle, was universally loved, while the other, Maris, was universally hated. Both men started off with a bang, and both were nearing Babe Ruth's 60 home run record. Which man would reach it?

Barry Pepper Thomas Jane Anthony Michael Hall Richard Masur Bruce McGill Chris Bauer Jennifer Crystal Foley Christopher McDonald Haynes Brooke Bob Gunton Donald Moffat Joe Grifasi Peter Jacobson Seymour Cassel Robert Joy Michael Nouri Domenick Lombardozzi Bobby Hosea Paul Borghese Renée Taylor Pat Crowley Dane Northcutt Charles Esten Shannah Laumeister Stern Shiva Rose Mike Carlucci Tony Stef'Ano Mark McGwire Sammy Sosa

Director Director

Billy Crystal

Producer Producer

Robert F. Colesberry

Writer Writer

Hank Steinberg

Casting Casting

Editor editor.

Michael Jablow

Cinematography Cinematography

Haskell Wexler

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Billy Crystal Ross Greenburg

Production Design Production Design

Rusty Smith

Art Direction Art Direction

Denise Hudson

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Anne D. McCulley

Composer Composer

Marc Shaiman

Costume Design Costume Design

61* Productions Inc.

Releases by Date

28 apr 2001, 11 sep 2001, 17 jun 2002, releases by country.

  • Digital Sortie DVD

Netherlands

  • Physical 6 DVD
  • Theatrical R

129 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Brennan

Review by Brennan ★★★★★

Just a fantastic baseball movie about what should have been one of the funnest seasons for 2 teammates ever! Mantle, played fantastically by Thomas Jane, is obviously an all time great player in the sport who was a career long yankee so it makes perfect sense he’d be the favorite. Good lord the hate that Maris, also played fantastically by Barry Pepper, had to endure from his own fans and writers was insane! Goes to show, and the movie touches on this well, what an impact Babe Ruth still had on the game of baseball nearly 30 years after he had stopped playing!

I’ve always loved this movie. I love the history it tells! I love the beautiful score that…

Ryan Bingham

Review by Ryan Bingham ★★★★

For an HBO film, this film is great. It would have been nice to see some bigger names here, but that shouldn't take away from the product that was produced. The screenwriting is great, truly showing what Maris went through emotionally. They do a good job of showing the craziness of people. Whether they are fans, owners, media, or teammates. The creation of the old Yankee Stadium looks fantastic, especially for 2001. 61* is a very well done film with an surprisingly emotional story.

As far as I am concerned, he still holds the record. Everyone ahead of him used steroids, something this film doesn't touch on.

Barry Daulton

Review by Barry Daulton ★★★★

A movie that is just as much about how players have to deal with the media as it is about the legendary HR chase of 1961. Pepper and Jane really seem to capture Maris and Mantle perfectly. The special effects are still decent if not dated a bit, but were great for the time. At the time framing it with McGwire's breaking his record was neat, but doesn't age well after Bonds broke that and the PEDs of baseball have tarnished those records. 61 is still the record to me.

Pete Talbot

Review by Pete Talbot ★★★½

It's funny how HBO was able to make some decent baseball movies 15+ years ago at the height of post-strike baseball. Unfortunately, the nostalgia for McGuire and Sosa's runs have worn off very quickly as McGuire missed out on his chance at the Hall of Fame and Sosa looks like he won't come close at all. In a funny way, the asterisk of Maris's 61 homers has denoted it as the home run number to beat as Stanton came close with 59 this year. This movie has great action on the field and I really enjoy the use of rear projection to convey the game play action.

James White

Review by James White ★★★½ 1

Only Yankees fans could boo and send death threats to their own player when he's succeeding

Charles Radbourn

Review by Charles Radbourn ★ 3

A two hour pornhub clip for every boomer who wants to remember the Old Days. Watch the sniper from Saving Private Ryan joylessly smack dingers while a genuinely fun Tom Jane looks on, all the while pretending not to watch Billy Crystal masturbate to nostalgia in the corner. For some reason Mark McGwire is featured.

Citizen Kris

Review by Citizen Kris ★★★★½

It's only appropriate that on the eve of baseball's Opening Day, I view my favorite baseball movie.

61* is ultimately a straight-to-HBO movie, but it's so much better than that. The baseball savant in me absolutely adores the attention to detail given here. That's a credit to director Billy Crystal, who is likely the most knowledgeable celebrity Yankees fan there is.

I'm a firm believer that out of all the baseball movies I've seen, this has the best game action and I'm very particular about that.

This also has a stellar ensemble cast. My favorite performance was from Bruce McGill who played Yankees manager Ralph Houk and had "baseball manager" down to a T.

92% Movie Collection

C.A. DeStefanis

Review by C.A. DeStefanis ★★★★ 4

While the Mark McGwire bookends have aged poorly and a lot of the digital effects look pretty spotty on a HD television this is still a fantastic little baseball flick directed by none other than Billy Crystal. The story of the 1961 home run race between New York Yankees Micky Mantle and Roger Maris as they try to surpass the seemingly insurmountable mark set by Babe Ruth and the obstacles that litter their paths. This is a no-frills, workman like retelling of the actual events. Nothing fancy at all. What does set it apart are the performances. Much like the actual Yankees of yore the supporting cast is a murderer's row of talent and familiar faces who all do excellent…

Cameron

Review by Cameron ★★★★ 2

What is it about baseball movies that always makes me cry? (And, yes, I include Major League: Back to the Minors)

Diego Rocke

Review by Diego Rocke ★★★½

Me dieron muchas ganas de volver a ver esta película después de lo de ayer. Para dar un poco de contexto, yo amo el béisbol, es el deporte que más adoro y siempre he sido fan de los Yankees. Ayer, Aaron Judge conecto su homerun #61 del año, mismo que empato la marca impuesta por Roger Maris de 61 en 1961, es decir, hay algo mágico dentro de ese número, además de que Judge usa el número 99 y Maris usaba el 9, y Judge conecto el homerun en el estadio "Roger" Centre de Toronto. En fin, yo considero que nada es coincidencia, todo ya está predestinado de algún modo u otro y eso me hizo sentir algo muy especial…

matnol9

Review by matnol9 ★★★★★ 2

*** Minor Spoilers***

One one my favorite baseball biopics...excellent job by director Billy Crystal who is a die-hard Yankees fan and idolizes No. 7 Mickey Mantle, superbly depicts the NY Yankees 1961 phenomenal season, which focuses on teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris pursuit of Babe Ruth’s prestigious single-season home run record of 60 set in 1927...But one of the main antagonist were certain members of the press, they relentlessly try to put a wedge between Roger and his teammates, the fan’s and even his lovely wife...and did it for various reasons, for one they thought if this sacred Yankees record was to be broken, then it probably should be by the most cherished Yankee Mantle..and besides they thought Roger was…

Yarjka

Review by Yarjka ★★★

“Why can’t you just admit you want it too?”

Billy Crystal is just one year older than my dad, who was 12 at the time Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle battled it out for the single-season home run record. It was clearly a monumental moment in the life of a teenage boy. I got to hear a lot about it when Mark McGwire broke the record in 1998 (I was 15). One thing that stood out to me was what was brought up in this film: that Maris is not an important enough player to have this record. Downplaying it for that reason, adding asterisks to it in order to hold onto an older, more traditional record held by a…

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61* (2001) Image

By Alan Ng | January 9, 2022

Sixty years ago, New York Yankee Roger Maris did what was once believed to be impossible: he beat Babe Ruth’s single-season record of 60 home runs. In 1998, Mark McGwire would eventually surpass Maris with 70 homers prompting comedian and lover of baseball Billy Crystal to tell Maris’ story in HBO Original,  61* .

Directed by Crystal and written by Hank Steinberg, the sports drama recounts the 1961 Yankees season when Roger Maris (Barry Pepper) broke Ruth’s record. As the season starts, Maris is coming off his MVP designation from the previous year even though veteran Yankee Mickey Mantle (Thomas Jane) is still on the team and beloved by all of New York. Right out of the gate, the “M&M Boys,” Maris and Mantle, begin a hot streak of home runs, and it doesn’t take long for the press to wonder if either of these men could break Babe Ruth’s 1927 record.

61 movie reviews

“… recounts the 1961 Yankees season when Roger Maris broke Ruth’s record .”

As much as this is about Maris’ run at the record, the film is a snapshot of the state of baseball in 1961 when the sport was more about the game, the players’ personalities, and less about the money (though it’s never not about the money). Maris and Mantle are a study of contrasts. Mantle is a Yankee legend, and Maris is a quiet guy who just wants to play baseball. Mantle likes to drink and party, while Maris is a family man locked up in his apartment to stay out of trouble. Yet, both the public and the press want the former to break the record, and at the same time, wish the latter would break his arms.

61*  explores the relationship between Mantle and Maris well. The press and dirt sheets tell stories of their bitter rivalry and backstabbing over who will break the record. The reality was that Mantle and Maris shared an apartment in New York, so Maris could help Mantle clean up his partying lifestyle. The two admired one another, and any conflict was born from Mantle’s alcoholism and feared that the end of his storied career would be imminent.

Directed: Billy Crystal

Written: Hank Steinberg

Starring: Barry Pepper, Thomas Jane, etc.

Movie score: 7.5/10

61* Image

"…a nostalgic look back at when the business of baseball was simple."

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61 movie reviews

Reviews from My Couch

’61*’ review

Ndsu spectrum: movie review, pepper’s flawless portrayal of maris makes ‘61*’ a hit, by john hansen, april 27, 2001.

Amazingly, prior to “61*,” there had never been a film made about Roger Maris’s and Mickey Mantle’s home run chase of 1961. Now, after the film makes its national debut at 8 p.m. tomorrow on HBO, no one will ever have to make one again, because director Billy Crystal and screenwriter Hank Steinberg have hit a home run their first time at bat.

Spirit of ’61

The film, which played at the Fargo Theater last weekend, lovingly captures the spirit of ’61 without pulling any punches. Maris aficionados will treasure the film’s accuracy, and casual viewers will be swept away by a true story that was pretty much tailor-made for Hollywood.

Yeah, Fargo natives are as familiar with Maris’ story as they are with snow in January. But it’s one thing to know as cold, hard facts that Maris was “a good family man unprepared for the rabid New York press,” and another thing to actually see him receive death threats in the mail and have chairs hurled at him as he plays right field.

Movie Review

“61*” (2001)

Starring: Barry Pepper, Thomas Jane, Jennifer Crystal, Christopher Bauer, Christopher McDonald, Anthony Michael Hall, Bob Gunton, Bruce McGill, Donald Moffat

Written by: Hank Steinberg

Director: Billy Crystal

Barry Pepper’s ( “The Green Mile” ) portrayal of Maris is flawless; there has never been a more accurate portrayal of a famous athlete. He looks exactly like Maris, he bulked up to achieve the slugger’s physique, and he captures Maris’s shy Midwestern disposition perfectly.

Of course, having Maris as the hero distinguishes “61*” from your standard Hollywood fare. Because while Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Mark McGwire are known for their personalities, Maris is known for only one thing: his 61 in ’61.

The real Maris

This movie will change that. Sure, Maris never gave a good quote, never drove drunk and ran his car up the curb and never cheated on his wife. But “61*” shows us the real Maris, someone the tabloids never covered.

This is a guy who let Mantle move in with him to get his life back on track, a guy who desperately missed his wife and kids during the baseball season, a guy who smoked like a chimney and whose hair fell out from the pressure. A guy who said 1961 was “the best season of my life … and I’d never want to do it again.”

Thomas Jane ( “Deep Blue Sea” ) gives a solid performance as Mantle. He doesn’t really look like the Mick and doesn’t get the Southern drawl quite right, but he certainly has the swearing, carousing and tragic heroism down pat.

Of course, it was the injury-plagued superstar who could do more with one arm than most players could with two who bowed out of the race in September while a “good” ballplayer with a crewcut broke the record. Jane should’ve stolen the show, but thanks to Pepper’s portrayal, it’s the stoic Maris that the viewer keeps coming back to.

Attention to detail

The attention to detail in “61*” is so extensive that only Crystal, who idolized Mantle as a youngster and befriended him as an adult, could have pulled it off. Tiger Stadium was painted the romantic green color of Yankee Stadium before it’s remodeling phase of the ‘70s.

The M&M Boys’ batting stances are exact, and even the famous scene of Maris being pushed out of the dugout by his teammates to doff his cap after No. 61 is copied perfectly.

Clips of McGwire’s 61st and 62nd homeruns of 1998 make an excellent framing mechanism for the film, because McGwire’s adulation from Cardinal fans perfectly contrasts with Yankee fans’ indifference toward Maris (the final game of ’61 didn’t come close to selling out).

While Ruth’s widow couldn’t stand to see Maris hit No. 61 because “the Babe loved that record,” the Maris kids applauded and hugged McGwire when he hit No. 62.

Worthy of an asterisk

In 1998, some pitchers said they’d give McGwire a fastball down the middle so he could hit No. 62 off them. I

n 1961, the Orioles brought in knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm specifically to hurt Maris’ chances of hitting No. 60 in the 154th game, the last game in which the record could be “officially” tied or broken, since that’s how many games there were when Ruth played.

Although commissioner Ford Frick’s infamous asterisk was dropped from the record books in 1991, “61*” is a wonderfully ironic title for this film about an achievement worthy of a distinguishing mark.

After all, Maris wasn’t like Ruth, Mantle or McGwire. That’s kind of why we like him.

61 movie reviews

More about Maris

Want to learn more about Roger Maris as we celebrate 60 years of 61 in ’61? My dad, James D. Hansen, wrote a fictional interview with his baseball hero in 1991, and published it in 1998 — the year of McGwire and Sosa. Titled “An Interview with Roger Maris: 30 Years Later — All Those Years Ago,” the 99-page book can be ordered in paperback or e-book format from Amazon .

61*

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61* Reviews

  • 2 hr 8 mins
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Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle race to break Babe Ruth's single-season home-run record in 1961. As the two NY Yankees come within grasping distance of Ruth's record, their loyalty as friends and teammates is put to the ultimate test.

Director Billy Crystal captures the sixties zeitgeist in this made-for-Cable movie about a key season in the history of America's favorite pastime. As baseball enthusiasts cheer Mark McGwire's record-breaking batting rivalry with Sammy Sosa in 1998, older fans recall a similar frenzy back in simpler, steroid-free times. In 1961, the Yankees headed for the pennant race with two dissimilar star players, Mickey Mantle (Thomas Jane) and Roger Maris (Barry Pepper). Everyone's fair-haired boy, Mantle was charismatic enough to deflect criticism about his boozing and womanizing. Straight-arrow Maris, a recent addition to the team, played by the rules but didn't make for good copy, and lacked the social skills to galvanize the press on his behalf. Badmouthed by the media and booed by the fans, Maris remained an outsider. Neither baseball Commissioner Ford Frick (Donald Moffat) and Ruth's widow (Renee Taylor) wanted to see Babe Ruth's home-run record broken, but if the inevitable were to occur the cry from the newsrooms and the bleachers was, "Let it be Mantle!" No rivalry existed off the field. Maris and teammate Bob Cerv (Chris Bauer) became Mantle's house-mate in Queens and Maris encouraged Mickey to curb his self-destructive carousing. Maris and Mantle both wanted glory, but for Yankees rather than for themselves. When Mantle's injuries caught up with him, Maris stood poised to outdo the Babe and ignored death threats and bad vibes to break the Babe's home run tally in only one more game than it took Babe Ruth. Screenwriter Hank Steinberg tries to cover all the bases, using baseball fandom as a metaphor for the insularity of the American public. Though Crystal doesn't entirely realize the script's social ramifications, he does a stunning job of recreating the Yankees' corps d'esprit and of resurrecting a less crass era when major league players were both human and heroic.

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61*

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Why did America have room in its heart for only one hero?

In 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees. One, Mantle, was universally loved, while the other, Maris, was universally hated. Both men started off with a bang, and both were nearing Babe Ruth's 60 home run record. Which man would reach it?

Billy Crystal

Hank Steinberg

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Barry Pepper

Barry Pepper

Roger Maris

Thomas Jane

Thomas Jane

Mickey Mantle

Anthony Michael Hall

Anthony Michael Hall

Whitey Ford

Richard Masur

Richard Masur

Bruce McGill

Bruce McGill

Chris Bauer

Chris Bauer

Jennifer Crystal Foley

Jennifer Crystal Foley

Pat Maris ('61)

Christopher McDonald

Christopher McDonald

Haynes Brooke

Haynes Brooke

Detroit Bartender

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61*

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Original Language English

  • historical figure
  • baseball hall of fame
  • major league baseball (mlb)

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61*

  • Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle race to break Babe Ruth 's single-season home run record.
  • Aiming for one of the most famed records in sports history, a pair of very different baseball players hit home runs at an impressive rate. Roger Maris , a reserved sort, is much less popular than his hard-partying New York Yankee teammate Mickey Mantle , the player who many observers think will be the one to challenge Babe Ruth 's record of 60 home runs in one season. But in the summer of 1961, Maris surges ahead of Mantle, making a run at Ruth's mark. — Jwelch5742
  • 1961. Two New York Yankees batters, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, are chasing Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs. The two couldn't be more different - Maris quiet and reserved and relative newcomer to the Yankees, Mantle larger-than-life and hedonistic and a lifetime Yankee. The closer they get to the record, the more the pressure builds. — grantss
  • Summer, 1961: Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle are on pace to break the most hallowed record in U.S. sports, Babe Ruth's single-season 60 home runs. It's a big story, and the intense, plain-spoken Maris is the bad guy: sports writers bait him and minimize his talent, fans cheer Mantle, the league's golden boy, and baseball's commissioner announces that Ruth's record stands unless it's broken within 154 games. Any record set after 154 games of the new 162-game schedule will have an asterisk. The film follows the boys of summer, on and off the field: their friendship, the stresses on Maris, his frustration with the negative attention, and his desire to play well, win, and go home. — <[email protected]>

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HBO has become best known as the home of Tony Soprano’s New Jersey crew, but the net’s newest TV movie, director Billy Crystal’s ebullient 61* , deals with a different breed of tristate area hitmen. The title refers to the home run record set by New York Yankee Roger Maris in 1961 — a feat asterisked due to the fact that the season was eight games longer than when Babe Ruth set the mark in 1927. The film contends Maris’ achievement was diminished in this manner because fans, major league execs, and, most of all, the media would rather have seen his flashier teammate Mickey Mantle break the Babe’s coveted record. (The asterisk was removed by commissioner Fay Vincent in 1991.)

Crystal sets out to resuscitate Maris’ reputation and succeeds, thanks to the casting of Barry Pepper. The actor, so creepy as the scripture quoting sniper in ”Saving Private Ryan,” exudes Midwestern decency as the North Dakota bred slugger. At home, he’s a doting husband and dad, yet on the diamond, he cracks fewer smiles than Russell Crowe on Oscar night. (One reporter dubs the MVP ”Most Vacant Personality.”) With his brush cut and stoic countenance, Pepper looks so much like Maris, it’s scary.

Thomas Jane (”Deep Blue Sea”) doesn’t resemble Mantle as closely, but he captures the Mick’s cocky swagger. The contrast between free swinging Mantle and family man Maris stands at the heart of ”61*.” Crystal doesn’t view his childhood hero through misty eyes; he honestly depicts the imbibing that would cost Mantle his liver and his life. Yet while the movie is unabashedly pro-Maris, it isn’t antiMantle. Rookie writer Hank Steinberg’s affecting screenplay hints at the demons that drove both men: Mantle’s father died of Hodgkin’s disease at 39, instilling his ”live for today” mentality, while Maris’ older brother (also a promising ballplayer) was sidelined by polio.

The filmmakers depict the teammates’ relationship with a gratifying complexity — they’re both competitive and protective of each other. In an attempt to curb his carousing, Mantle moves into Maris’ sleepy Queens pad, and there’s a priceless scene in which the two sit dumbfounded as they watch a TV report about their alleged ”feud.” The press bashing ultimately becomes tiresome, but ”61*” provocatively illustrates how pop culture demands that celebrities provide entertainment both on and off the job.

Crystal directs in an endearingly old-fashioned style, making use of spinning headline montages and period tunes (such as Mantle’s wooden duet with Teresa Brewer, ”I Love Mickey”). With his fondness for borscht belt comics (the subject of his 1992 directorial debut, ”Mr. Saturday Night”) and prehistoric talk show host Joe Franklin (whom he spoofed in ”SNL” sketches), he’s always seemed a throwback to an earlier era, and that nostalgic penchant suits this material well. As a stand-up, Crystal understands the Bronx Bombers’ on the road bonding, and he brings a baseball fanatic’s attention to detail — from re-creating Maris’ batting stance to using Yankees PA announcer Bob Sheppard as narrator.

The deep bench of supporting players includes the director’s daughter Jennifer Crystal Foley (”Once and Again”), as Maris’ wife, Pat. A seemingly nepotistic choice, Foley delivers a lovely performance (it doesn’t hurt that Dad shoots her adoringly). ”Breakfast Club”ber Anthony Michael Hall convincingly embodies pitcher Whitey Ford, who helps clean up Mantle’s drunken messes, and ”Animal House” alum Bruce McGill is a pillar of dignity as Yankee manager Ralph Houk. Among the evocative cameos are Michael Nouri (as a clubhouse haunting Joe DiMaggio), Christopher McDonald (as play by play man Mel Allen), and Joe Grifasi (as his pasta obsessed side kick, Phil Rizzuto).

Like any home run hitter, ”61*” occasionally whiffs. Framing the story with scenes of Maris’ wife and kids watching Mark McGwire break his record in 1998 feels awkward, as does having Yogi Berra (Paul Borghese) spout one of his most famous ”Yogi-isms” (”Ninety percent of the game is half mental”) during a batting practice sequence. And while Crystal mostly keeps his maudlin tendencies in check, he overuses the slo-mo footage and Marc Shaiman’s mawkish score when Maris finally smashes his 61st dinger. Still, it’s hard not to get choked up at the sight. By that point, Crystal and his movie have earned their sentimental pinstripes.

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to a trip to Yankee stadium for , his love of the game has always been evident. It makes sense, then, that he'd direct a film based on the legendary struggle to over-take Babe Ruth's home-run record back in 1961.

That struggle was between two very different players, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Mantle was widely loved and seemed to have no detractors, while Maris was pretty much the opposite. A newcomer to the Yankees, Maris was a hard-working family man - reluctant to step into the spotlight (a position Mantle had no problem assuming). The film follows that one season in '61 where the two were lucky enough to find themselves chasing Ruth's record at the same time. Though the press assumed there was a rivalry between the duo, they were actually good friends and even wound up living together for a short while.

feels authentic; from the stands of Yankee stadium to the announcers in the booth, the whole thing seems to be an accurate representation of what it must have been like during that season. This is no doubt due to Crystal's almost obsessive passion for baseball and his likely insistence that everything be just right. As Mantle and Maris, Thomas Jane and Barry Pepper fill the larger-than-life roles with an appropriate down-to-earth quality. These were two regular guys embroiled in an almost epic struggle - well, it was painted as epic by the media anyway.

Crystal's passion for the story does give the flick a definite sense of authenticity - but it also hinders him from being able to reign his sense of excess in. At a running time of around 130 minutes, the movie is at least a half hour too long. While the baseball scenes never really become tiresome, the various glimpses into the personal lives of these two players eventually does. Once the point's been made regarding the character of these two men (Mantle was a laid back, take-it-easy sort of guy, while Maris was a hard-working family man), there's not really too much more to say about the pair. Instead of presenting us with yet another incident involving Maris' hatred of the press, perhaps more sequences involving his love of baseball would have been more appropriate. But regardless of any superfluous character-building sequences, the movie is just overlong. 90 minutes or less would have been ideal.

But despite that, this is still a movie worth checking out - if only for the incredibly detailed presentation of the time period and two superb performances.

One was the Yankees' best loved player, the other was their most valuable. In the summer of 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle took on Babe Ruth's record, the 1927 single-season 60 home run slam. It would be a summer that no one who knows baseball would forget. In 1961, Mickey Mantle is a Yankee favorite. The smiling sun god of the season, a hit with fans and sports writers alike and natural heir to his predecessors Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, and Bebe Ruth. Also at bat is a yound midwesterner, Roger Maris. A hard-hitting right fielder, Maris is Mantle's opposite in almost every way. Quiet and soft-spoken, he doesn't add up to everything a sports legend should be, and finds himself losing the support of the fans when he refuses to try. As the summer of 1961 unfolds, both Maris and Mantle find themselves approaching Babe Ruth's benchmark of 60 home runs. Facing mounting pressure from the media and the stands, they both know there's only room for one winner. The people make their choice known. But the people's favorite isn't the favorite to win.

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

61 in 1961. One of the greatest, most iconic records in sports history, held by a man who wasn't a legend like his peers. There was Babe Ruth with his original 60, Joe DiMaggio with his 56 game hit streak, and Lou Gehrig with 2,130 games consecutively played. All Yankees, all players bigger than the game, who embodied the sport, captured the hearts of their city and the baseball world. Roger Maris, in the eyes of the world, did not deserve to stand alongside said men, let alone usurp one. The Cooperstown Hall of Fame still doesn't have a plaque for Maris, though his teammate, the untouchable Mickey Mantle, earned his on the first ballot in 1974, as did teammate Whitey Ford.

Maris fell over 200 votes short, earning less than a quarter of the writers' support. To this day, his bat, the one that hit the first ever 61st home run has a home among the baseball immortal, and despite what the late 90s and early 00s brought, his record remains in the heart of baseball purists.

Made a few years after the big home run chase of 1998 that captured the attention of the entire world, before Barry Bonds would break that record himself, Billy Crystal, a man who would go on to play a game for the Bronx Bombers in spring training years later, captured the feel of the team, the sport, and the nation, in one of the most pivotal years in baseball history with the HBO film '61*.' As Yankees fans root for their hero, the oft-injured, hard living Mantle (Thomas Jane), a man who symbolized the storied franchise's pride, there was another outfielder on the team who stood alongside him in the spotlight, the reigning AL MVP, Maris (Barry Pepper). As the two sluggers put up home run after home run, the media creates a backlash, trying to pit player against player, dividing audiences on who to root for, and eventually, who to root against. Over the course of the first 162 game season in history, the pressures of chasing the Bambino weigh on both men.

'61*' isn't your traditional baseball story, where a team fights to win a championship. In one of the golden eras of the Yanks, the team was assumed to get back to the World Series. This film doesn't even show an inch of postseason play, instead focusing on the early season slumps and eventual media sensation that was the dueling teammates hitting dinger after dinger, against the ghost of the most legendary player in baseball history. We see the stress of the media and the fans, the unwinnable situations, and the eventual turning of the fans against the man who carried the team the season before, as they felt the wrong man would break the record. And it feels bloody authentic.

Few baseball films have ever captured the aura of an era quite like '61*.' With Tiger Stadium doubling for the historic house that Ruth built, we see the ugliness of it all, rather than some assumed glory, and it's somewhat painful to watch. You see a man tortured by those who should be cheering for him the loudest, as even his home runs draw boos, despite helping his team win. Better still, '61*' focuses on the relationship between Maris and Mantle, as the dueling titans are stuck with this supposed rivalry that never existed, fueled daily by media scrutiny, misquotes, and one of the most tragically under-appreciated in its time performances in any sport.

Simply put, baseball fans must own this film. It's one of the greatest flicks devoted to the national pastime. Pepper is absolutely amazing as Maris, while Jane is no slouch playing the ladies man pretty boy. The funny thing is, there are so many great performances by character actors in the supporting roles, the entire film has this strange familiarity to it, much like one would expect watching the most famous team in sports. The behind the scenes politics of the sport, concerning the record books, asterisks, even simple management, are fascinating to watch unfold, as the deck continues to stack against the Fargo born ballplayer.

With the film's endcaps focusing on the McGwire chase, where Maris's children were on hand to witness their father's name disappear from the charts, '61*' puts you in a whole different environment, unintentionally paralleling the asterisk idea of 1961 to the yearning for the asterisk today, as not a single player who has outslugged Maris has not been long suspected of steroid and other PED use. It's almost ironic. As the true record is tied at the opening, and broken in the closing, the sporting world was done a great disservice, with the purity of the game forever thrown away, and for a good two hours, we're reminded of a different era, a moment that should have been as magical and embraced for Maris as it would McGwire almost forty years later. It's hard to not yearn for the good old days, and lifelong Yankee fan Crystal brings the purity back to the game, if even for just a short moment.

The Disc: Vital Stats

HBO's '61*' comes to Blu-ray on a Region A marked BD50 disc, with no annoying pre-menu content. What makes this release special is the extremely low MSRP, a record mark for the studio, allowing retailers like Amazon to put this already forgotten baseball gem for sale for less than a ten dollar bill. Best of all, this is no "budget" release, as there is no skimped audio or video, and there's a healthy pile of supplements to boot. This is how catalog titles should be treated.

Video Review

HBO's 1080p AVC MPEG-4 encode (at 1.78:1) for '61*' is quite solid.

From appropriate black levels, to superb, sumptuous textures and startlingly good detail levels, this disc is a hit. The detail levels are so good you can see the difference in paper stock used to put a picture of the actors in the place of the original photo, and even mid-range shots show great clarity in facial features normally not found there. The uniforms, the jackets, there isn't a moment not worth falling in love with, as you can almost feel the fuzz. Hair is amazingly detailed and never an aliasing trap, while the picture never suffers for depth problems, save for some obvious green screen moments for home run shots. Edges are pure, while there isn't any crush or obvious DNR in sight, while whites remain pure and free from issue.

There are some bits of dirt, some light noise, and the random soft shot that remind us this isn't some expensive brand new film, but for an inexpensive catalog release that probably didn't have all that much of a budget, '61*' shines on Blu-ray.

Audio Review

The sole English option on this disc is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is good, but not all that great. Inconsistent may be the word I'm looking for.

Dialogue has no problems, whatsoever, none with prioritization, clarity, dynamics, you name it. Bass levels are very light, but this film didn't have much sonic punch to it, anyways. Rears get good soundtrack and score bleed, and some random crowds that fill rooms, but that's the biggest problem on the release. Changed camera angles don't result in changed rear crowd ambience, so the same spectator sounds are heard from all angles, with no change in consistency, volume, pitch, nothing. Worse still, there are numerous moments where rear activity was to be expected, but none was to be found. It's hit or miss, sadly.

For what the film is, it sounds good, but it will never earn high marks in my book.

Special Features

Final Thoughts

'61*' isn't the best baseball film ever made. It's not 100 percent historically accurate, no matter how much work was put into it, but the sheer amount of love and dedication poured into the production shows, creating a fantastic, memorable little flick that seems to get forgotten far too often in the conversations about great sports films. HBO does a bang up job with this release that is sure to appease fans and even entice newcomers. It earns any easy recommendation from me, but heck, I'm biased. Relive the days before the 'roids, when controversy still existed, and separate records were made. Hint, hint, Major League Baseball...

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Movie "61*" (2001)

Movie's ratings

  • Kinorium 6.4 100+
  • IMDb 7.7 17 651
  • Critics 86% 28

Awards and Nominations

  • Cast & Crew
  • Technical Data
2 hr 9 min
September 25, 2001
April 28, 2001
Parental Advisory Profanity,
  • Post-Credits Scene

Videos Stills Filming Covers

"61*" — trailer

In 1998, the family of the late Roger Maris goes to Busch Stadium to witness Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals break their father's record with a 62nd home run. Maris' widow, Pat, is hospitalized due to complications from arrhythmia and watches the game on television from a hospital bed.

Related Movies There are no related titles yet, but you can add them:

Moneyball

Critique: 10

Barry Pepper is an amazing Maris look-alike, Thomas Jane manages to suggest the damage Mantle did to himself, and Richard Masur plays the sort of s...

The triumph here is one of tone and texture, where the baseball and the emotions are almost always depicted just right.

The beauty of 61, the Billy Crystal film for HBO, is that it early on makes a few dangerous missteps and corrects them quickly, all the while...

The filmmakers depict the teammates' relationship with a gratifying complexity – they’re both competitive and protective of each ot...

What begins as a lively, vibrant evocation of one of baseball’s greatest seasons ends as a frustratingly conventional tale of sport...

While the script has its fair share of treacly moments intended to manipulate viewers into caring deeply for this duo, Billy Crystal’s dream...

Maybe you had to have been there to really appreciate 61*. On the other hand, 61* might just make you feel as if you were.

Featured here are Barry Pepper as Maris and Thomas Jane as Mantle, actors as persuasive on the field as off.

This film is about more than a broken record. It’s about a broken heart. Watch it, and yours may break, too.

Mr. Jane, as Mantle, nails both the player’s movie-star charisma and his painful, self-destructive streak.

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61* (Blu-ray Review)

61 movie reviews

Billy Crystal’s heartfelt ode to the New York Yankees and even baseball itself, 61* tells the story of two men’s friendship and their race to beat Babe Ruth’s record for home runs.  Mickey Mantle (Thomas Jane) is a longtime fixture of the Yankees and is beloved by the fans and the press.  Roger Maris (Barry Pepper) is fairly new to the team and isn’t as loved as Mantle despite his incredible playing ability and winning the Most Valuable Player award the previous season.

Despite being the team’s most popular player, Mantle’s private life is hurting his performance on the field due to his incessant drinking and carousing.  Amazingly enough, his teammates do their best to help him even though he is dragging them down.  Whitey Ford (Anthony Michael Hall) keeps bailing him out of trouble much to his own expense and Mantle gets so out of control that Maris and and Cerv (Chris Bauer) invite him to live with them in Brooklyn in an effort to keep him out of trouble.  Both Maris and Mantle both miss their families who live far away although Maris is more of a family man than the hard living Mantle.

Initially, it’s Mantle who is red hot and Maris is the one struggling through a slump but eventually things change and Maris is on a roll.  Even his new hot streak doesn’t endear him to the press or the public who still hammer away at his self-confidence and self-esteem.  It doesn’t help that the press seems to be out to get him either through false stories of Mantle and him feuding or by taking his comments out of context.  While Mantle is comfortable in the spotlight and can deal with the press and the fans easily, Maris struggles to walk the fine line of fulfilling his obligations to the fans and the press even when most of the time it backfires on him in some way.

Jane and Pepper not only look eerily similar to the people they are portraying, but I can’t imagine more honest and true performances being done by anyone else.  The both inhabit their characters so well that the movie feels very authentic and as if it was captured from real life.  The movie also is helped by some of the best character actors around like Bruce McGill, Christopher MacDonald, Bob Gunton, Richard Masur, Peter Jacobson, Seymour Cassell,  Connor Trinneer, and more.  Crystal does an admirable job keeping the viewers interested in an already well known outcome and also manages to keep the film balanced without it becoming too caught up with baseball minutiae or get too melodramatic.

61 movie reviews

This 1080p (1.78:1) transfer looks practically perfect just like the rest of of HBO’s Blu-ray releases.  Detail is sharp, colors are distinct, and all of that shouldn’t come as any surprise since the legendary Haskell Wexler is the film’s cinematographer.  Flesh tones look natural and lifelike and the black levels are suitably inky.  The shots on the field look beautiful and everything about the film feels real partly due to the incredible job Wexler did capturing the textures, light, and colors of the film.

61 movie reviews

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is also very good and it’s a perfect fit along with the picture quality.  The sounds of a baseball game are true to life and replicated here to great effect.  From the roar of the crowd, to the crack of each time a bat knocks one out of the park, this is a very good lossless audio mix.  There’s also some very nice directionality that sounds great for the scenes in the stadium and adds quite a bit immersiveness to the movie.  I especially liked the delay effect from the gamer announcers introductions and play by play that made me feel like I was in the park.  Dialogue is clear and understandable and the music by Marc Shaiman is also well balanced and utilized well.

61 movie reviews

Special Features  

The extras on the disc are pretty good with “The Greatest Summer of My Life: Billy Crystal and the Making of  61* ,” featurette being my favorite, the others are also interesting as well.  I would have liked to have seen some extensive actual footage of the two players included on this disc, but I guess I can get that from other sources.

  • Audio Commentary with Billy Crystal – A insighful and loose commentary where Crystal recounts the challenges of making the film on a tight schedule and everything that went into making it happen.  This is a wide-ranging commentary and it’s filled with interesting tidbits and anecdotes.  If you weren’t already aware that he’s a baseball fanatic before this, this commentary track will correct that quickly!
  • The Greatest Summer of My Life: Billy Crystal and the Making of 61* – While a lot of this behind the scenes look is already covered by the director’s commentary, I still think this is the best extra on the disc and recommend watching it.  Crystal takes us behind the scenes and explains his love for the game and the Yankees and offers a personal glimpse into the reasons he wanted to make this film.
  • Mickey Mantle Bio and Hitting/Fielding Stats – A short bio of Mantle and his stats.
  • Roger Maris Bio and Bitting/Fielding Stats – A short bio of Maris and his stats.
  • Roger Maris’ 1961 Home Run List

61 movie reviews

Final Thoughts  

This is an excellent look back at two of the greatest baseball players of all time.  It feels real and authentic and a lot of that is due to both the actors and the director doing their best to remain faithful to historical events and to the people being portrayed.  I recommend the film to both fans of baseball and those people who have never seen a game before, since it’s very accessible and well done.  This is a home run for all involved!

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61 movie reviews

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By Blake French

Facts and Figures

Year : 2001

Run time : 129 mins

In Theaters : Saturday 28th April 2001

Production compaines : 61* Productions Inc.

Contactmusic.com : 4 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes : 80% Fresh: 12 Rotten: 3

IMDB : 7.9 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director : Billy Crystal

Producer : Robert F. Colesberry

Screenwriter : Hank Steinberg

Starring : Barry Pepper as Roger Maris, Thomas Jane as Mickey Mantle, Anthony Michael Hall as Whitey Ford, Richard Masur as Milt Kahn, Bruce McGill as Ralph Houk, Chris Bauer as Bob Cerv, Jennifer Crystal Foley as Pat Maris ('61), Christopher McDonald as Mel Allen

Also starring : Berry Pepper , Seymour Cassel , Bob Gunston , Donald Moffat , Hank Steinberg

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Facts.net

43 Facts About The Movie 61*

Aindrea Duhon

Written by Aindrea Duhon

Modified & Updated: 30 May 2024

Sherman Smith

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

43-facts-about-the-movie-61

Are you a fan of baseball movies? If so, then you must have heard of the movie “61*”. Released in 2001, “61*” is a sports drama film directed by Billy Crystal that tells the captivating story of the 1961 home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, two legendary New York Yankees players. This film portrays the pressure, the glory, and the challenges faced by these iconic athletes as they strive to break Babe Ruth’s record of 60 home runs in a single season. With its powerful performances, compelling storyline, and accurate depiction of the era, “61*” has become a beloved film among both baseball aficionados and movie enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will dive deep into the world of “61*”, uncovering 43 fascinating facts that will enhance your appreciation for this cinematic gem.

Key Takeaways:

  • “61* is a movie about baseball legends Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, their friendship, and the challenges they faced in breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1961. It’s a classic for baseball fans !
  • “The film captures the excitement and pressures of sports, the power of determination, and the impact of athletes on popular culture. It’s a reminder to never give up on your dreams, no matter the obstacles.”

The movie 61* is a baseball drama film.

The movie 61* is a baseball drama film directed by Billy Crystal.

It was released in the year 2001.

The movie 61* was released in 2001 and quickly gained popularity among baseball fans.

The title refers to the home run record of 61 set by Roger Maris in 1961.

The title of the movie, 61*, refers to the historic home run record of 61 set by Roger Maris during the 1961 season.

The film focuses on the friendly rivalry between Maris and Mickey Mantle.

The movie delves into the friendly rivalry between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle as they both try to break Babe Ruth’s home run record.

Actors Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane portray Maris and Mantle, respectively.

Barry Pepper took on the role of Roger Maris, while Thomas Jane portrayed the charismatic Mickey Mantle .

The film explores the challenges Maris faced as he chased the record.

61* delves into the numerous challenges and pressures that Roger Maris faced on his quest to break the home run record.

Billy Crystal, a lifelong New York Yankees fan, directed the movie.

Billy Crystal, a well-known comedian and lifelong New York Yankees fan, directed the movie 61*.

The film accurately depicts the historical events of the 1961 baseball season.

61* is praised for its accuracy in portraying the historical events of the 1961 baseball season and the race to break the home run record.

The movie showcases the intense media scrutiny faced by Maris.

The film highlights the intense media scrutiny that Roger Maris faced as he approached Babe Ruth’s legendary record .

The soundtrack of the film includes popular songs from the 1960s.

The movie features a soundtrack filled with popular songs from the 1960s, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere .

The film captures the essence of the Golden Age of baseball.

61* captures the essence of the Golden Age of baseball, taking viewers back to a time when the sport was at its peak in popularity.

The movie received critical acclaim for its performances and storytelling.

61* was well-received by critics, who praised the performances of the cast as well as the compelling storytelling.

The film was nominated for several awards.

61* received nominations for various awards, including the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards .

The screenplay for the movie was written by Hank Steinberg.

Hank Steinberg wrote the screenplay for 61*, crafting a compelling and emotional story around the historic baseball season.

The film showcases the legendary rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

61* includes scenes that highlight the fierce rivalry between the New York Yankees and their arch-rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

The movie features iconic baseball stadiums such as Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park.

Baseball fans will delight in seeing iconic stadiums like Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park featured in the movie.

The film captures the excitement and anticipation surrounding Maris’ chase for the record.

61* effectively captures the excitement and anticipation that surrounded Roger Maris’ pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record .

The movie portrays the camaraderie and friendship between Maris and Mantle.

61* showcases the deep friendship and camaraderie that developed between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle during their record-breaking season.

The film highlights the controversies and challenges faced by Maris throughout his career.

61* sheds light on the controversies and challenges that Roger Maris faced not only during the 1961 season but also throughout his career in baseball.

The movie explores the toll that the pursuit of the record took on Maris’ personal life.

61* delves into the personal sacrifices and challenges that Roger Maris faced as he pursued the home run record.

The film emphasizes the importance of teamwork in achieving success.

61* emphasizes the significance of teamwork and the support of teammates in achieving success both on and off the baseball field .

The movie showcases historical footage from the 1961 baseball season.

The film seamlessly incorporates historical footage from the 1961 baseball season, adding authenticity to the story being told.

The accuracy of the film is attributed to Billy Crystal’s passion for baseball.

Billy Crystal’s genuine love and knowledge of baseball contributed to the accuracy and attention to detail in 61*.

The movie is a tribute to the legacy of Roger Maris.

61* serves as a tribute to the legacy of Roger Maris and the impact he had on the sport of baseball.

The film highlights the role of the media in shaping public opinion.

61* explores the power and influence of the media in shaping public perception, especially during significant sporting events.

The movie captures the spirit of perseverance and determination.

61* is an inspiring tale of perseverance and determination as Roger Maris faced numerous obstacles on his journey to break the home run record.

The film showcases the pressures faced by athletes in the public eye.

61* sheds light on the immense pressures faced by professional athletes and the toll it can take on their mental and emotional well-being.

The movie depicts the conflicting emotions experienced by Maris as he neared the record.

61* portrays the conflicting emotions that Roger Maris experienced as he approached Babe Ruth’s record, highlighting the mental and emotional struggles he faced.

The film explores the bond between fans and their sports heroes.

61* delves into the deep bond between fans and their sports heroes, showcasing the impact that athletes can have on the lives of their supporters.

The movie highlights the legacy of Babe Ruth in the world of baseball.

61* pays homage to the legendary Babe Ruth and his enduring legacy in the world of baseball.

The film showcases the power of sports to bring people together.

61* demonstrates the unifying power of sports, as people from different backgrounds come together to witness and celebrate historic moments in baseball.

The movie captures the excitement and thrill of the game of baseball.

61* successfully captures the excitement and thrill of the game of baseball, immersing viewers in the world of America’s favorite pastime.

The film serves as a tribute to the resilience of athletes in the face of adversity.

61* pays homage to the resilience of athletes, highlighting their ability to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness.

The movie features memorable dialogue that resonates with audiences.

61* includes memorable dialogue that resonates with audiences, further enhancing the authenticity and emotional impact of the story.

The film offers insight into the personal lives of the players behind the scenes.

61* provides a glimpse into the personal lives and struggles of the players behind the scenes, humanizing these iconic figures.

The movie showcases the impact of sports on popular culture.

61* highlights the influence and significance of sports in shaping popular culture, especially during pivotal moments in history .

The film reminds us of the importance of chasing our dreams, no matter the obstacles.

61* serves as a reminder to never give up on our dreams , even when faced with significant challenges along the way.

The movie captures the essence of the 1960s era.

61* effectively captures the essence and spirit of the 1960s, immersing viewers in the nostalgia of the time period.

The film pays homage to the iconic New York Yankees franchise.

61* pays tribute to the rich history and legacy of the New York Yankees, one of the most storied franchises in baseball.

The movie highlights the importance of baseball as a symbol of American identity.

61* emphasizes the significance of baseball as a symbol of American identity and the values it represents.

The film showcases the challenges faced by athletes in the pursuit of greatness.

61* sheds light on the immense challenges and sacrifices that athletes often have to endure in order to achieve greatness.

The movie celebrates the power of determination and hard work.

61* celebrates the power of determination and hard work, inspiring viewers to chase their goals and never give up.

The film has become a beloved classic among baseball enthusiasts.

61* has gained a cult following among baseball enthusiasts , cementing its status as a beloved classic in the genre.

61* is a captivating and inspiring movie that delves into the competitive world of baseball and the pursuit of greatness . It tells the true story of the 1961 season when New York Yankees teammates Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle embarked on a race to break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record. Directed by Billy Crystal , the film showcases the pressures and challenges faced by Maris as he came close to achieving this monumental feat while enduring the scrutiny of media and fans alike.

With its stellar performances, gripping storyline, and authentic portrayal of the era, 61* stands as a powerful tribute to the resilience and determination of these two legendary baseball players. It serves as a timeless reminder that the road to accomplishing greatness is not always smooth, but it is the unwavering spirit and passion that ultimately define us.

If you are a fan of baseball or enjoy movies that delve into the human spirit and triumph, 61* is a must-watch film that will leave you inspired and in awe of the incredible journey these players embarked upon.

1. Is 61* based on a true story?

Yes , 61* is based on the true story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle’s quest to break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record in 1961.

2. Who directed the movie 61*?

The movie 61* was directed by Billy Crystal, who is known for his successful career as a comedian and actor.

3. Who played the characters of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in the film?

Barry Pepper portrayed the character of Roger Maris, and Thomas Jane played the role of Mickey Mantle in 61*.

4. How accurate is the portrayal of events in 61*?

The movie 61* is known for its meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in depicting the events surrounding the 1961 season. However, it is important to note that some artistic license may have been taken for storytelling purposes.

5. What is the significance of the movie’s title, “61*”?

The title “61*” refers to the asterisk (*) that accompanies Roger Maris’ record-breaking 61 home runs , as there was some controversy surrounding the achievement due to the extended length of the baseball season that year.

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Currently available on 6 streaming services.

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129min - English

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129min - English, Spanish

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61* streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "61*" streaming on Max, Max Amazon Channel. It is also possible to buy "61*" on Apple TV, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video as download or rent it on Microsoft Store, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu online.

In 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees. One, Mantle, was universally loved, while the other, Maris, was universally hated. Both men started off with a bang, and both were nearing Babe Ruth's 60 home run record. Which man would reach it?

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

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Where does 61* rank today? The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

61* is 8256 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 3861 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Til Ex Do Us Part but less popular than Stuart Little.

Rank Title

8252.

+3774

8253.

+3657

8254.

+3957

8255.

+3629

8256.

+3861

8257.

+3909

8258.

+3797

8259.

+3889

8260.

+3591

Streaming charts last updated: 9:10:25 AM, 07/05/2024

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IMAGES

  1. 61*

    61 movie reviews

  2. 61* (DVD 2001)

    61 movie reviews

  3. 61* (Blu-ray Review) at Why So Blu?

    61 movie reviews

  4. 61* (TV Movie 2001)

    61 movie reviews

  5. 61* (Blu-ray Review) at Why So Blu?

    61 movie reviews

  6. 43 Facts about the movie 61*

    61 movie reviews

COMMENTS

  1. 61*

    61 (2001) 61* (2001) 61* (2001) 61* (2001) 61* (2001) View more photos Movie Info Synopsis Aiming for one of the most famed records in sports history, a pair of very different baseball players hit ...

  2. 61*

    Full Review | Mar 25, 2020. Tim Goodman San Francisco Chronicle. TOP CRITIC. The beauty of 61, the Billy Crystal film for HBO, is that it early on makes a few dangerous missteps and corrects them ...

  3. 61* (TV Movie 2001)

    Brilliantly cast, beautifully shot and at times brutally honest in its storytelling, 61* is an absolute gem. Any baseball fan well knows the story of the great home run chase of 1961. Here, Crystal peels back the curtain and brings us up close and personal with the men who made that season so memorable. In Barry Pepper, who plays Roger Maris ...

  4. 61* (TV Movie 2001)

    61*: Directed by Billy Crystal. With Barry Pepper, Thomas Jane, Anthony Michael Hall, Richard Masur. Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle race to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.

  5. 61*

    61* is a 2001 American sports drama television film directed by Billy Crystal and written by Hank Steinberg. ... Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 86% out of 28 professional critics gave the film a positive review, ... Film critic Richard Roeper named 61* one of his top five all-time favorite baseball movies.

  6. ‎61* (2001) directed by Billy Crystal • Reviews, film

    Review by Barry Daulton ★★★★. A movie that is just as much about how players have to deal with the media as it is about the legendary HR chase of 1961. Pepper and Jane really seem to capture Maris and Mantle perfectly. The special effects are still decent if not dated a bit, but were great for the time.

  7. 61* (2001) Featured, Reviews Film Threat

    61* (2001) By Alan Ng | January 9, 2022. Sixty years ago, New York Yankee Roger Maris did what was once believed to be impossible: he beat Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs. In 1998, Mark McGwire would eventually surpass Maris with 70 homers prompting comedian and lover of baseball Billy Crystal to tell Maris' story in HBO ...

  8. '61*' review

    NDSU Spectrum: Movie review Pepper's flawless portrayal of Maris makes '61*' a hit By JOHN HANSEN April 27, 2001. Amazingly, prior to "61*," there had never been a film made about Roger Maris's and Mickey Mantle's home run chase of 1961. Now, after the film makes its national debut at 8 p.m. tomorrow on HBO, no one will ever have to make one again, because director Billy Crystal ...

  9. 61*

    61* 2001 • 128 minutes. 4.6star. 7 reviews. 86%. ... Add to wishlist. infoWatch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn More. About this movie. arrow_forward. Billy Crystal directed this captivating baseball drama that follows Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris as they chased Babe Ruth's single-season home-run record during the magical 1961 ...

  10. 61* [Reviews]

    All Reviews Editor's Choice Game Reviews Movie Reviews TV Show Reviews Tech ... The story of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in the summer of '61. Content Rating. NR. Distributors. HBO Productions ...

  11. 61*

    Check out the exclusive TV Guide movie review and see our movie rating for 61* ... 61* Reviews. 2001; 2 hr 8 mins Drama R Watchlist. Where to Watch.

  12. 61* (2001)

    Billy Crystal. Director. Hank Steinberg. Writer. In 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees. One, Mantle, was universally loved, while the other, Maris, was universally hated. Both men started off with a bang, and both were nearing Babe Ruth's 60 home run record. Which man would reach it?

  13. 61* (2001)

    Visit the movie page for '61*' on Moviefone. Discover the movie's synopsis, cast details and release date. Watch trailers, exclusive interviews, and movie review. Your guide to this cinematic ...

  14. 61* (TV Movie 2001)

    Summer, 1961: Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle are on pace to break the most hallowed record in U.S. sports, Babe Ruth's single-season 60 home runs. It's a big story, and the intense, plain-spoken Maris is the bad guy: sports writers bait him and minimize his talent, fans cheer Mantle, the league's golden boy, and baseball's commissioner announces ...

  15. 61*

    61*. HBO has become best known as the home of Tony Soprano's New Jersey crew, but the net's newest TV movie, director Billy Crystal's ebullient 61*, deals with a different breed of tristate ...

  16. 61* (2001)

    61* (December 30/01) Billy Crystal's fascination with baseball is no secret. From his lengthy monologue about his first experience at a ball game in City Slickers to a trip to Yankee stadium for Comic Relief, his love of the game has always been evident.It makes sense, then, that he'd direct a film based on the legendary struggle to over-take Babe Ruth's home-run record back in 1961.

  17. Blu-ray News and Reviews

    Release Date: June 7th, 2011 Movie Release Year: 2001 . Home > Blu-Ray > 61* 61* Overview - One was the Yankees' best loved player, the other was their most valuable. In the summer of 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle took on Babe Ruth's record, the 1927 single-season 60 home run slam. ... Bringing you all the best reviews of high definition ...

  18. Ebert & Roeper

    2 thumbs up from Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper for 61*, Billy Crystal's HBO movie focusing on Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle's quest to break Babe Ruth's sin...

  19. 61* (movie, 2001)

    2:00. Plot. In 1998, the family of the late Roger Maris goes to Busch Stadium to witness Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals break their father's record with a 62nd home run. Maris' widow, Pat, is hospitalized due to complications from arrhythmia and watches the game on television from a hospital bed.

  20. 61* (Blu-ray Review) at Why So Blu?

    Taking a nostalgic look at one of the greatest baseball teams and most memorable seasons in the game's history, 61* spotlights the summer of 1961, when Maris and Mantle chased one of the most hallowed baseball records ever - Babe Ruth's 1927 single-season mark of 60 home runs. In the spotlight of the press and at the mercy of public opinion, Maris and Mantle paid a high personal price ...

  21. 61* Review 2001

    This movie allows us to take part in that experience, both positive and negative. It's 1961. New York Yankee teammates Roger Maris ( Berry Pepper) and Mickey Mantle ( Thomas Jane) are both ...

  22. 43 Facts about the movie 61*

    Released in 2001, "61*" is a sports drama film directed by Billy Crystal that tells the captivating story of the 1961 home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, two legendary New York Yankees players. This film portrays the pressure, the glory, and the challenges faced by these iconic athletes as they strive to break Babe Ruth's ...

  23. 61* streaming: where to watch movie online?

    Currently you are able to watch "61*" streaming on Max, Max Amazon Channel. It is also possible to buy "61*" on Apple TV, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video as download or rent it on Microsoft Store, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu online. Synopsis. In 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle played for the New York ...

  24. Review: With triptych, 'Poor Things' director returns to uncomfortable

    "Poor Things" director Yorgos Lanthimos and Oscar-winning star Emma Stone return to his weird, uncomfortable realm with this triptych of disturbing films that shares the same cast.