Ruth, Babe

The Pride of the Yankees (Collector's Edition)

His talent made him a legend. His courage made him a hero. Gary Cooper is nothing short of wonderful (The Motion Picture Guide) in this moving true story of Lou Gehrig the Hall-of-Fame ballplayer who reached the heights of stardom only to face tragedy with a dignity that inspired a nation. Nominated* for eleven Academy Awards® including Best Picture The Pride of the Yankees is a glorious [and] inspiring (The Hollywood Reporter) sports classic. LouGehrig's boyhood dreams come true when he signs on with the New York Yankees and takes the field alongside his idol Babe Ruth. In fact Lou considers himself 'the luckiest man in the world until unthinkable misfortune strikes and he must summon all his courage to face his toughest battle yet.System Requirements:Running Time: 125 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/CLASSICS Rating: NR UPC: 883904102984 Manufacturer No: M110298

When people say, "They don't make them like they used to," Pride of the Yankees is just the kind of film they're wistfully remembering. Nominated for 11 Academy awards (winning one for film editing), this handsome biographical drama of baseball legend Lou Gehrig is one of the most finely crafted films ever to emerge from Hollywood. Gary Cooper, that great oak of an American actor, progresses from the awkward and naively shy rookie to the seasoned "Iron Horse" first baseman of the New York Yankees without losing his idealism or modesty. Teresa Wright captures the same slice of Americana with her mixture of girl-next-door sweetness and urban sophistication as his supportive wife, Eleanor. After he's diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disease (known today simply as Lou Gehrig's disease), Cooper delivers Gehrig's famous retirement speech from the mound of Yankee Stadium with the courage and spirit of a winner: "I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of the earth." One of the finest sports films ever made, Pride is about more than simply baseball: Gehrig, the hard-working, uncommonly talented son of immigrant parents, is the living embodiment of the American Dream. Walter Brennan and Dan Duryea costar as a Greek chorus of sportswriters, and real-life Yankees Bill Dickey, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Babe Ruth appear as themselves. --Sean Axmaker

You'll be proud to introduce your kids to this film about virtue, courage, and an indomitable spirit. Like Treasure Island and Tom Sawyer, Pride should be required viewing for every family. Gary Cooper plays Lou Gehrig, the "Iron Horse" New York Yankee first baseman who became a record-setting legend in baseball. Sure, Cooper's a little long in the tooth to play a collegian, and he tries to capture Gehrig's innocence with a kind of eye-batting dopiness. But the last moments of the film, before Gehrig's final, famous farewell, transform the picture. Gehrig happens across a young man whom he had encountered years before in a children's hospital, and with this sequence, Pride becomes something more than a movie about innate talent and athleticism, or a lost era of America, it crystallizes into a film about (gulp!) human will. An absolute must. --Keith Simanton

Babe Ruth - The Life Behind the Legend

Before Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs, before Roger Maris swatted 61, before Micky Mantle even touched a bat, and before Jackie Robinson played his first game, there was George Herman Ruth. The "Babe" was more than the best player ever to play baseball: he was a mythical American hero, larger than life and the sport that made his name known around the world. He was the most talented sportsman in an era when baseball was the national pastime. The story behind the emergence of Babe Ruth in the 1920s was one even the most talented minds in Hollywood couldn't have drummed up. As one humble teammate of Ruth's recalls in this excellent documentary, "If Babe Ruth had not existed, it would have been impossible to invent him." Babe Ruth: The Life Behind the Legend tells the story of the actual man--from his benevolent acts of charity to his mass consumption (of food and women). Exploring the difference between reality and myth, this touching, subtle biography goes beyond rational explanations into a metaphysical realm that defines the actions and popularity of this man as something not entirely comprehensible. You won't care whether he really did "call" that shot in the 1932 World Series or if he went straight from an all-night bender to go 3 for 4 against Chicago; it won't matter, because the reality eventually dilutes the myth. The facts speak for themselves: he won 90 games as a pitcher, had a lifetime average of .340, smashed his way to 714 home runs (often recording more homers in one season than entire teams). Ruth was greatness personified, "and to just be with him in a stadium, was like having some of that magic rub off on you." This is a splendid tribute to an important American icon who defined a game as well as an era. A must for any sports or history buff. --Jeremy Storey

The Pride of the Yankees

When people say, "They don't make them like they used to," Pride of the Yankees is just the kind of film they're wistfully remembering. Nominated for 11 Academy awards (winning one for film editing), this handsome biographical drama of baseball legend Lou Gehrig is one of the most finely crafted films ever to emerge from Hollywood. Gary Cooper, that great oak of an American actor, progresses from the awkward and naively shy rookie to the seasoned "Iron Horse" first baseman of the New York Yankees without losing his idealism or modesty. Teresa Wright captures the same slice of Americana with her mixture of girl-next-door sweetness and urban sophistication as his supportive wife, Eleanor. After he's diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disease (known today simply as Lou Gehrig's disease), Cooper delivers Gehrig's famous retirement speech from the mound of Yankee Stadium with the courage and spirit of a winner: "I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of the earth." One of the finest sports films ever made, Pride is about more than simply baseball: Gehrig, the hard-working, uncommonly talented son of immigrant parents, is the living embodiment of the American Dream. Walter Brennan and Dan Duryea costar as a Greek chorus of sportswriters, and real-life Yankees Bill Dickey, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Babe Ruth appear as themselves. --Sean Axmaker

You'll be proud to introduce your kids to this film about virtue, courage, and an indomitable spirit. Like Treasure Island and Tom Sawyer, Pride should be required viewing for every family. Gary Cooper plays Lou Gehrig, the "Iron Horse" New York Yankee first baseman who became a record-setting legend in baseball. Sure, Cooper's a little long in the tooth to play a collegian, and he tries to capture Gehrig's innocence with a kind of eye-batting dopiness. But the last moments of the film, before Gehrig's final, famous farewell, transform the picture. Gehrig happens across a young man whom he had encountered years before in a children's hospital, and with this sequence, Pride becomes something more than a movie about innate talent and athleticism, or a lost era of America, it crystallizes into a film about (gulp!) human will. An absolute must. --Keith Simanton

His talent made him a legend. His courage made him a hero. Gary Cooper is nothing short of wonderful (The Motion Picture Guide) in this moving true story of Lou Gehrig, the Hall-of-Fame ballplayer who reached the heights of stardom only to face tragedy with a dignity that inspired a nation. Nominated* for eleven Academy AwardsÂ(r), including Best Picture, The Pride of the Yankees is a glorious [and] inspiring (The Hollywood Reporter) sports classic. LouGehrig's boyhood dreams come true when he signs on with the New York Yankees and takes the field alongside his idol, Babe Ruth. In fact, Lou considers himself 'the luckiest man in the world until unthinkable misfortune strikes, and he must summon all his courage to face his toughest battle yet.

Legends in Pinstripes (Babe Ruth The Life Behind the Legend / Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio / The Definitive Story of Mickey Mantle)

The stories of three of baseball?s greatest legends now available in a 3-pack. Mantle: The Definitive Story of Mickey Mantle The almost mythic career of Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle is the subject of this acclaimed HBO Sports documentary special. Over 18 seasons with the Bronx Bombers, despite constant nagging injuries, Mantle managed to hit 536 home runs, twice hitting more than 50 in a season. To this day, ?The Mick? remains the greatest switch-hitter in baseball history; however, behind his country charm and good looks there was his wayward lifestyle that harmed his marriage, his relationship with his four sons and ultimately his health. Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio? A great ? and greatly loved ? baseball player, Joe DiMaggio is one of the few men to truly define the spirit of baseball and, in so doing, capture the hearts of a nation. His 56-game, record-breaking hitting streak; delivering the Yankees nine World Series championships; three time Most Valuable Player; and most eligible bachelor, married twice, the second time to screen goddess Marilyn Monroe; this is a lifetime of great glories, great tragedies, but always, great baseball. Babe Ruth ? The Life Behind the Legend He was a legend in his own time, and a legend for all time. He saved our national pastime from the disgrace which followed the 1919 ?Black Sox: scandal, and brought baseball back to the heartland of America. He was a generous and wild, playful and free-living, loving of children, charity and the game. He was a baseball player the world came to know as Babe Ruth.

The Pride of the Yankees

When people say, "They don't make them like they used to," Pride of the Yankees is just the kind of film they're wistfully remembering. Nominated for 11 Academy awards (winning one for film editing), this handsome biographical drama of baseball legend Lou Gehrig is one of the most finely crafted films ever to emerge from Hollywood. Gary Cooper, that great oak of an American actor, progresses from the awkward and naively shy rookie to the seasoned "Iron Horse" first baseman of the New York Yankees without losing his idealism or modesty. Teresa Wright captures the same slice of Americana with her mixture of girl-next-door sweetness and urban sophistication as his supportive wife, Eleanor. After he's diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disease (known today simply as Lou Gehrig's disease), Cooper delivers Gehrig's famous retirement speech from the mound of Yankee Stadium with the courage and spirit of a winner: "I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of the earth." One of the finest sports films ever made, Pride is about more than simply baseball: Gehrig, the hard-working, uncommonly talented son of immigrant parents, is the living embodiment of the American Dream. Walter Brennan and Dan Duryea costar as a Greek chorus of sportswriters, and real-life Yankees Bill Dickey, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Babe Ruth appear as themselves. --Sean Axmaker

You'll be proud to introduce your kids to this film about virtue, courage, and an indomitable spirit. Like Treasure Island and Tom Sawyer, Pride should be required viewing for every family. Gary Cooper plays Lou Gehrig, the "Iron Horse" New York Yankee first baseman who became a record-setting legend in baseball. Sure, Cooper's a little long in the tooth to play a collegian, and he tries to capture Gehrig's innocence with a kind of eye-batting dopiness. But the last moments of the film, before Gehrig's final, famous farewell, transform the picture. Gehrig happens across a young man whom he had encountered years before in a children's hospital, and with this sequence, Pride becomes something more than a movie about innate talent and athleticism, or a lost era of America, it crystallizes into a film about (gulp!) human will. An absolute must. --Keith Simanton

His talent made him a legend. His courage made him a hero. Gary Cooper is nothing short of wonderful (The Motion Picture Guide) in this moving true story of Lou Gehrig, the Hall-of-Fame ballplayer who reached the heights of stardom only to face tragedy with a dignity that inspired a nation. Nominated* for eleven Academy Awards(r), including Best Picture, The Pride of the Yankees is a glorious [and] inspiring (The Hollywood Reporter) sports classic. LouGehrig's boyhood dreams come true when he signs on with the New York Yankees and takes the field alongside his idol, Babe Ruth. In fact, Lou considers himself 'the luckiest man in the world until unthinkable misfortune strikes, and he must summon all his courage to face his toughest battle yet.

Baseball - A Film by Ken Burns

After the national success of his 11-hour epic, The Civil War--the highest-rated miniseries in public-television history--many wondered if Ken Burns could capture the same energy and passion with smaller subjects. His reply, the 18-hour history of America's greatest sport, Baseball, not only quieted these worries, it also perhaps surpassed his prior achievement. Massive in scope (it covers more than 100 years), exhausting in detail, and filled with celebrities, journalists, politicians, historians, and the men who played the game, Burns's romantic love letter to the game achieves the impossible: even those who hate baseball can't help but become immersed in it. This is because Burns doesn't just detail the great players and the memorable plays and games; he also presents baseball as a cultural and social mirror, reflecting the beauty and hypocrisy of the nation that created it. Divided into nine innings, two hours each in length, the video examines complex social issues such as segregation, racial inequality (its section on Jackie Robinson, baseball's first African American player, should be required school viewing), labor battles between owners and players, politics, technology and gender conflicts, among others. Then, of course, there's fascinating footage and biographies on the players--troubled icons such as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, heroes such as Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, and tragic figures such as Pete Rose and Lou Gehrig--the men who, despite a rocky and often hypocritical history, constructed baseball's tradition and preserved its invincibility. --Dave McCoy

Ken Burns tops himself with this epic of American history, told in "nine innings," with a skilled narration by John Chancellor and the voices of Paul Newman, Jason Robards, Billy Crystal, and other stars. The series spans 150 years, starting with the myth-debunking tale of baseball's true beginnings -- when it was a game "one degree above mayhem." Then follow the growth of America's National Pastime through the decades of glory and record-setting achievements, as well as the scandals, the bigotry, and the big money. The series portrays the game as a mirror of America itself -- the passions, prejudices, and ambitions that have shape the country.

Boston Red Sox: 100 Years of Baseball History

The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vol. 3

The third volume in the Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection is close to the standard of excellence set by the first two installments of this essential series. Actually, Lloyd's 1928 Speedy, his last silent picture, would justify this two-disc set by itself. The film packs as many great gags per minute as any Lloyd film, and it also has one of his sweetest love stories (a courtship scene in the back of a moving van, with Harold rearranging the furniture to approximate a cozy living room). But the film is also notable for its extensive location shooting in New York City. There's a sequence involving Babe Ruth (as himself) in the back of Harold's speeding taxi, and the filmmakers also captured one of the Bambino's record-setting 60 home runs from the 1927 campaign. The sequences shot at Coney Island, with some wonderfully hair-raising (and understandably obsolete) rides is gorgeous and historically valuable. Meanwhile, check out the stunning horse-drawn streetcar accident caught on film, and then listen to the commentary for an explanation of how it happened and was incorporated into the storyline.

Hot Water (1924) also goes into the time capsule of great Lloyd features, even if it feels like a handful of shorter films shoehorned together. This one gets its charm from the basic domestic situation (Harold takes the family out for a spin in the new car, faces down his meddling mother-in-law). It turns to haunted-house jokes toward the end, which gives Lloyd a chance to do his electric-hair bit, a familiar gag from his films. Like Hot Water, For Heaven's Sake (1926) is an hour long; this funny one casts Lloyd as a rich twit who takes up with a girl whose father runs a homeless mission. It has a great love scene in a slum (the moon in the background turns out to be a neon sign) and another hair-raising chase. Just how did they get the shot of Lloyd on a speeding bus heading through an intersection with two trains crossing?

There's one talking picture, Movie Crazy (1932), a somewhat routine film from Lloyd's increasingly unsuccessful stint in talkies. He plays a young rube who arrives in Hollywood certain he'll be the next "new face." The silent shorts, of which there are many here, are better. Check out Haunted Spooks from 1920, which has its share of good jokes but which is also fascinating for its place in Lloyd's career. He suffered an off-set accident midway through shooting, costing him the thumb and forefinger of his right hand; after a hiatus, he completed shooting with a prosthetic glove (which he used in films thereafter). A heartfelt 15-minute documentary on Lloyd's palatial L.A. estate, Greenacres, uses copious home-movie footage to show the marvelous place and give a hint of Lloyd's homey, likable personality. --Robert Horton

Having appeared in more than 200 films and widely considered to be one of cinema's most respected comic geniuses, Harold Lloyd was one of Hollywood's first true movie stars. Now, entertainment enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy the work of the man who inspired generations of acting greats with The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by Suzanne Lloyd, Annette Lloyd and Rich Correll on Speedy and Haunted Spooks
Other:*All feature films and shorts are full frame versions. **All content will have Spanish subtitles. Only the pictures with sound will have English subtitles and closed captions
Photo gallery

Major League Baseball - All Century Team

In 1999, 2 million people around the world voted to name the best baseball players of the 20th century. Preceding the All-Star Game in Fenway Park in July 1999, the All-Century Team took center stage in a rousing ceremony. Among the legends stood Bob Gibson, Mike Schmidt, Willie Mays, Brooks Robinson, and Mark McGwire. Never before or after has so much talent gathered in one place, turning Fenway into a "veritable field of dreams." Narrated by Bob Costas, The All-Century Team video is a touching tribute to the many talented individuals who made baseball the sport it is today. Costas takes us through each position, giving us the background and achievements of the selected elite. Historical accounts paint a picture of the competitors of yesteryear, including Honus Wagner, who batted over .300 for 16 straight seasons--when the league average was .248. Or Sandy Koufax, who started in eight World Series games, finishing with an ERA below one. Other honorable mentions go to Walter Johnson, whose slingshot sidearm motion redefined power pitching, causing one peer to state, "You can't hit what you can't see." Interviews with former players and colleagues flesh out the stories behind these heroic icons, as does vintage game footage that reminds us how talented these men were. By exploring the lives of the greatest players, this video teaches us that baseball is not about one man, but about many legendary players whose remarkable achievements tell the story of the game. It will be interesting to see who makes the All-Century Team for the 21st century. --Jeremy Storey

Statistics don't lie. And when it comes to the MLB All-Century Team DVD, you're getting a scorecard full.

Leading off with 100 years of baseball's best interviews, footage and statistical information on baseball's top 100 players of the 20th Century. Unforgettable players like Ruth, DiMaggio, Aaron and Mays -- just to name a few. Also covered are the thrilling All Century Celebrations at the All-Star Game and The World Series.

When it comes down to evaluating the All-Century DVD as a prospect, you'll have no choice but to go by the numbers. It's definitely a #1 pick.

Reel Baseball (The Busher/Heading Home + Shorts)

Reel Baseball is an outstanding collection from Kino of baseball-themed films from the silent era of American cinema. The two-disc set is anchored by an unexpected and enjoyable 1920 feature, "Headin' Home," starring a boyish and slender Babe Ruth in a silly but vibrant piece of fiction about the roots of the legendary player. Portrayed as a hayseed essentially waiting to be discovered, Ruth never looked or performed (as an actor) better than in this expertly paced farce. He re-tools his own legend, playing some version of himself as a rough diamond recruited into playing against his own hometown team and doing well enough to be nearly lynched. The other long production here is the ambitious "The Busher," from 1919, starring Charles Ray as another rural talent fetched up by a visiting team and spat out when he can't get his head in a big league game. Roaming anonymously in the aftermath of his failure, Ray's character comes home ragged and beaten, but baseball has a way of extending opportunities for redemption.

Elsewhere in the collection are a number of short pieces, some of them fragments or excerpts, others complete. Among the highlights is a wonderful Felix the Cat cartoon, "Felix Saves the Day," a funny, mixed-media work in which the darkly mischievous Felix proves an adept pitcher and hitter in street games, then loses a valuable teammate when the latter is thrown in jail. For all its relative simplicity, there are some surprising and delightful moments, including a hilarious chase scene in which animated characters are running amok over real-world buildings somehow excerpted from a photograph. "Kinogram" is a one-minute, undated strip of footage of Ruth in his Yankees uniform. "His Last Game" is an amusing if somewhat tawdry comedy from 1909, about an Indian pitcher trying to resist the temptations of demon alcohol, bribes, and gambling prior to a big game. "The Ball Player and the Bandit," from 1912, is directed by Francis Ford and is a slightly convoluted tale about a ball player who refuses to carry a gun while working as a paymaster out west. The oldest film segment here, the 1899 "Casey at the Bat or The Fate of a `Rotten' Umpire," is a fascinating few seconds of a home plate brawl from a larger project. Another "Casey at the Bat," from 1922, is simply a showcase for actor De Wolf Hopper to recite—as he did for years—the famous, eponymous poem. Finally, "Butter Fingers" is an irresistible, Mack Sennett comedy starring Billy Bevan as a loutish pitcher with some magic hands but bad judgement when it comes to wooing the ladies. --Tom Keogh