why is this never considered as a great Philadelphia movie? from scenes of rt. 76 going thru the Walt Whitman to the jersey shore to the scene at the Vet to the talk about Reading Phillies. anyone from philly can easily relate to this movie.
shareI figured out that Carlton Academy is supposed to be Chestnut Hill Academy, but where is Seasmoke supposed to be...I guess near Atlantic City? Also, this movie was released in 1988, but the flashbacks are 1960...there's no way Harmon is supposed to be 45 years old...
shareThere are so many anachronistic moments in this film, which happens readily enough when the writing flashes back the way it does. Talk of the Phillies "always" losing would seem to indicate the 61 Phillies who lost 23 straight games, but Billy is only 10 when that happens. In the 50s, the Phillies were average to above average. Yet, when Billy is 16, he and his father have a catch between "Jim Bunning" and "Clay Dalrymple", which would put them in 1964, when Bunning joined the team (Funny that there is no mention of his perfect game on Father's Day of that year). Also, just 2 months after his father dies, they're at the shore and listening to the 4 Seasons song "Sherry". By 1964, the Seasons were even bigger than that 1962 hit, with other hits, not to mention the British Invasion.
Too many things wrong with the timetable in this film. Plus, he's playing ball at Reading with Mike Schmidt. Schmidt was in Reading in 1971 as a 22 year-old, and only for a part of the season. That they chose Schmidt over Billy over a dropped fly ball is pure fiction. Schmidt was a high level talent at the time, and the brass knew all about him, and a dropped fly wouldn't have mattered anyway.
This script is too inconsistent.
I've seen this movie so many times that I can remember each beat of the story by heart. It is one of my favorite movies. I have a couple problems with this film. When Billy and his dad are listening to the game, the radio announcer's commentary is totally unrealistic. Without a pause, he says, "It's hit, it's gone..." I mean, brisk editing is one thing, but a ball takes at least two seconds to leave the yard, even a Barry Bonds homerun.
Another thing that really bothers me is when Billy's mom tells him that his dad was in a car accident. She says, "Your father's been in an accident." It comes across so acted and cold for a genuine parent to say. It's like she's as much of a stranger as the policeman who's come to inform them. I suppose Blair Brown's performance was kind of irksome, but she has her moments. It's just that sometimes she sounds like she's addressing someone else, not her son.
Still, you can forgive most parts of this film for the genuine heart.
Do we know for sure the script/movie says it's 1960? I watched this (again) last night, though I missed the first hour or so and they may have mentioned it in the beginning. Anyway, I always thought of it as 1966 or so. After breaking into the ball field, drunk, Harold Raimis says "38 year old rookie Allan Appleby etc" He then (at the end) to Robin "When we were 16, do you remember Billy asking you to the prom for me?" Assuming that the "present"/Mark Harmon occurs in 1988, that would be about 1966. So, I can't remember if they said what year the flashbacks were or not?
Also, I had suspected the Seasmoke scenes were filmed on Island Beach State Park and the filming locations section of imdb confirmed that...
the movie advertizes itself as "circa 1960" which would make 1966 quite a stretch
shareyou gotta love some really good philly shots
- the "TRENTON MAKES" sign over the delaware
- seeing a TRAIN on the manayunk bridge again
- the VET!
- alan's sporting goods store on germantown ave in chestnut hill
maybe you guys can help...
there's another movie from the 80s with GREAT philly shots
it is about a dance/tv show in the late 50s/early 60s (like bandstand). it focused on a high school kid who became a regular on the show and how his new set of friends created a lot of trouble for him in his neighborhood. the place that was used for the tv studio was the tower theatre in upper darby. it featured a lot of regional rail shots and a skyline shot with liberty one HALF BUILT
anyone know what it is?
GO BIRDS!!!
a little "work" on imdb and i think i found it!
"The In Crowd"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095362
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Philly locals.... is the large house he grows up in actually exist in Philly? what neighborhood is it supposed to be?
sharei'm assuming chestnut hill, (that's where grown up alan's store is) or east falls.
cheers
The House he grew up in is On a private lane at the corner of Flourtown Ave. and Gravers lane just accross the border from Philly in Wyndmoor. It is accross the street from the Wharton Sinkler estate.
shareI had trouble figuring out where the house was. Early in the movie, the motel scenes were clearly on the Admiril Wilson Blvd. There was a "Wilson" sign somewhere in the background. And the billboard for Cheap movies was from one of the Fantasy Showbar establishments in Jersey. Anyway, as he was going home, he was crossing the "Trenton Makes, The World Takes" bridge INTO New Jersey, even though he was clearly in New Jersey in the first place, and the house that the movie was filmed in was in Springfield Montgomery County.
Also liked the scenes from Bob's Diner on Ridge Pike in Roxborough. Very Authentic as you can see the cemetary across the street in the background.
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Watching "Stealing Home" right now, great to see so many beautiful shots of Philly, & the suburbs. I live about two blocks from the restaurant where the bar scene with the Nymphs painting behind the bar was filmed. Beautiful bar (second floor of the old Wheel Pump restaurant in Erdenheim), too bad it's now a lamp store. Not sure whatever happended to the bar & painting, guess I'll have to go look at some lamps. I've been looking for Billy's house for years, always assumed it was in Chestnut Hill near Chestnut Hill Academy, have to check out Wyndmoor.
Good movie, nice story about devotion to an special old friend. Not the best performances for any of the fine actors in it, but a nice sentimental movie with a charming love story between Jodie Foster & Mark Harmon's character.
His house is located at 8498 Flourtown Ave, Wyndmoor, PA 19038
The wheel pump was renovated by a basement waterproofing company. I went to there opening and I heard they do have the painting in a secure location and may put it up behind the bar that they refinished for the company. Hope this helps. I'm sure they would give you a tour of their facility.
Ditto on the above.
I am from Maryland but spend many weekends and holidays growing up and visiting with friends in Center City, and along "Mainline PHiladelphia". I still consider Philadelphia my city, and I travel there alot via the Pennsylvania RR and Reading lines, today it is called SEPTA. The Movie was a great Philadelphia Movie, I love the scenes along the Reading and Pennsy commuter lines, as well the famous bridge crossing the Delaware and the words on the bridge "Trenton Makes, The World Takes" and you can still see that when traveling by Amtrak or Septa. I found it to be one of Jody Fosters best.
Well I know a couple of the houses in the movie are on St. Martins Lane (which is right down the st from the school) but its been a while since I have seen the movie and don't remember which are. This movie always brings back great memories for me because I was a student at Chestnut Hill Academy when it was being filmed. Even though I was just in lower school at the time I can still remember it and it was an amazing time.
shareYou know, it seems a lot of baseball movies take place in Philadelphia. Most recently I've seen this and another baseball movie, Chasing 3000, and Philadelphia is a major setting in both of them. What is it with Philadelphia and baseball?
I only do it with superheroes.