This is a biopic of major league baseball player Jimmy Piersall (Anthony Perkins). He is always playing for his father John Piersall (Karl Malden) and is supported by girlfriend turned wife Mary (Norma Moore). He has a breakdown on the field and gets treatment in a mental hospital.
This is still the dark days of mental illness and certainly closeted by professional sports. It's only in the past few years that this issue is being treated with dignity and respect in the sporting world. I can't imagine the stigma during this time. I've never heard of this player. There is a bit of over-acting with this subject matter. Anthony Perkins does well as mentally unstable. He's great at that. The other great performer is Karl Malden. I am surprised that they didn't show the electro-shock therapy. Maybe it would be too shocking for the audience then. It definitely wouldn't be seen as a cure after it gets shown. I haven't seen the 1955 TV version starring Tab Hunter and I can't compare the two. This movie probably got greenlit after the success of the TV episode.
This is still the dark days of mental illness and certainly closeted by professional sports. It's only in the past few years that this issue is being treated with dignity and respect in the sporting world. I can't imagine the stigma during this time. I've never heard of this player. There is a bit of over-acting with this subject matter. Anthony Perkins does well as mentally unstable. He's great at that. The other great performer is Karl Malden. I am surprised that they didn't show the electro-shock therapy. Maybe it would be too shocking for the audience then. It definitely wouldn't be seen as a cure after it gets shown. I haven't seen the 1955 TV version starring Tab Hunter and I can't compare the two. This movie probably got greenlit after the success of the TV episode.