Admirable film.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Nominally a baseball movie, this is actually more of a human interest story focusing on the relationship of a couple of teammates who hang together through the thick and thin of catcher Bruce Pearson's (Robert DeNiro) bout with Hodgkin's disease. You never get a clear idea of why New York Mammoth's pitcher Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) takes a shine to his buddy but their loyalty to each other is convincing. I'm not sure if a real life ball player could have pulled off the contract demand that Wiggen did by forcing the owner and manager to agree to his terms for keeping 'Bill' employed, but this was made over forty years ago when money hadn't yet become that big a deal.Now I'd never heard of Big League Tegwar before seeing this picture and I don't know if it was simply made up for the story, but it looks like it could be a lot of fun. With a little creativity you could almost convince a newcomer that the game was on the up and up as long as you didn't get too carried away. But getting too carried away is probably the whole point of it.For DeNiro, this was his last picture before really coming on as an actor with an appearance in "Mean Streets" as Johnny Boy in the same year. After that his career took off like a rocket and is still going as strong as could be. Michael Moriarty, well I never really cared that much for him, probably because I've seen him in too many roles like Hull Barret in Eastwood's "Pale Rider" where he's too much of a doormat. In this picture his character is a commendable sort to stand up for Bruce but his non-aggressive demeanor for some reason bothers me a bit.As for the baseball, there are a handful of scenes to give the picture it's flavor as a sports film, but if you're tuning in that's not the main reason to see it. It's the human drama that takes center stage here in a story that personifies the meaning of friendship and going the extra mile.

Mark Harris's story about a star pitcher (Michael Moriarty) who helps a slow-witted catcher (Robert De Niro) with a terminal illness make it through a season could have been maudlin but instead is intensely moving. Moriarty and De Niro are absolutely believable as major league players (Moriarty might have had a leg up here _ his grandfather, George Moriarty, was a Major League player and then an umpire). This film is especially fascinating because of the moment in which it captures the early stages of the two lead actors' movie careers, portending what remarkable performers they were and would go on to demonstrate again and again. If you don't shed a tear as De Niro struggles with his character's illness throughout this film, have somebody check your pulse. Beautifully done, top to bottom. I hate to use the phrase "instant classic," but this is that.

I saw this when it was released in 1973. I did not know anything about DeNiro, Moriarty, or Mark Harris but I am a lifetime baseball lover and fan as is my wife. We were accompanied by a couple who also loved this production and none of had ever heard a word about it. It captures the feeling of baseball from the opening jogging scene throughout despite the fact that is not really about baseball as much as it's about dying. I also played baseball from age 12 to 18 and went to numerous games. I agree with all the favorable reviews and many of the disparaging ones as technical points are often well taken. Mark Harris wrote four books about baseball and Henry Wiggens; The Southpaw, this one, A Ticket for a Seamstitch, It Looked Like Forever as well as a collection of essays one of which I may have read as it is about his life long love of baseball and the making of the movie. Each of his books tells a story about humanity with baseball as an underlying theme. The essay on the movie mentions that it was partially financed by a reader who loved the story, none of the stars were baseball experienced but worked very hard to be convincing and I believe they captured the essence of the book preserving the humor and the Ring Lardner flavor.

From the eye-catching novel by Mark Harris, the narrator and protagonist Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) often used that repeated quote, "Lay it on thin boys." He takes a great caring for his ailing teammate Bruce Pearson (Robert DeNiro)with the insecure belief that his teammates of the fictional team, the New York Mammoths might overdo their sympathy after mistreating the poor man for so many years. "Bang the Drum Slowly" truly defies the "Diamond in the Rough" film that was seen by so few, but respected by those honorable few. Though more of a drama than a baseball movie, we seldom view the chronicle pain of DeNiro's Pearson. Films centered around a dying protagonist often throw it high on the melancholy. Why should we go through such excruciating pain as to sit back and weep ourselves to death during this hour and forty minute film? There's no point to it at all. We don't have to watch our dying victim suffer for the film to carry on, this film is a breath of fresh air as Pearson, though dying, decides to keep his illness as low-key as possible. That could make this tear-jerker a little less tearful.The performances were overall above average. The young DeNiro gives poise and charisma as the simple, but kindred spirited farm boy. Moriarty so talented and so underrated throughout his career is wonderful in his role as a star pitcher, wheeler and dealer and acting brother to his dying friend and teammate. Vincent Gardenia is remarkable as the straight man manager of the Mammoths who are poised with talent, though their personalities are quirky and inner problems.Bruce's intention was to keep his illness secretive, but the secret unfortunately leaks out to the club an in the end, though a bit predictable, manages to pull the team together.The glue that held this movie together is the power of friendship between Wiggen and Pearson which also usurps the illness that's victimizing poor Bruce. It's not all serious though, so tissue papers are not a necessity. In fact, there's plenty of humor to go along on the ride. And the dramatic scenes compliment which makes this film all the more memorable. And when the narrator says the final lines in to finish the movie, you'll remember it for a long time to come.