Bang The Drum Slowly (1973)

88% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(3,404 ratings)

A guaranteed tear-jerker, Bang the Drum Slowly centers on professional baseball player Bruce Pearson (Robert DeNiro) and his team mate Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty), who supported Bruce to the bitter end after learning that the young catcher was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and would soon die.… More A guaranteed tear-jerker, Bang the Drum Slowly centers on professional baseball player Bruce Pearson (Robert DeNiro) and his team mate Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty), who supported Bruce to the bitter end after learning that the young catcher was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and would soon die. When hayseed Pearson first joined the team, he and Wiggen, the team's red-hot pitcher were oil and water. The other team members were none to thrilled to have Pearson on their team. Wiggen changes his attitude when he learns of Pearson's illness, and when the other team members find out, they too become more helpful until the inevitably teary ending. Look for popular character actor Danny Aiello in his feature film debut. The story is based on a novel by screenwriter Mark Harris and was first filmed for television. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: John D. Hancock
Written By: Mark Harris
Genres: Drama, Sports & Fitness, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 26, 1973 Wide
On DVD: Mar 4, 2003

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
A funny, gentle and honestly sentimental movie that is easily one of the best of the year in any category, and very possibly the best movie about sport ever made in this country.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Never before has a movie considered the game from the inside out.
Roger Greenspun, New York Times
It is one of those rare instances in which close adaptation of a good book has resulted in possibly an even better movie.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This sports melodrama about a dying athlete is sentimental and predictable, but it's also very well acted by the young De Niro, Vincente Gardenia and Michael Moriarty.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Talky, leisurely, and poetic baseball drama.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It was first filmed for television, where it seems best suited as a 'disease of the week' movie.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Mention this flick to any guy over 40 and watch him get all weepy.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A well-done if depressing film.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It's a good film, avoiding all the obvious goop and the 'big game' cliché at the climax.
Mike Barkacs, Bullz-Eye.com
Unfortunately, no real relationships are ever developed in this film, so, even with Robert DeNiro playing the lead, something always seems to be lacking.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Low key character study of baseball player dying; De Niro, Moriarty are fine.
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com
Finally, a baseball melodrama with a full count of emotional impact. Hancock's narrative delivers the right pitch of intensity
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A great baseball movie and a touching buddy film with De Niro showing the talent that has made him one of our best actors. Moriarity gives a fine performance as his star-pitcher friend.
, Film4
You don't have to understand baseball to appreciate this one, which is probably just as well.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

The most boring baseball movie I've ever seen, and I like baseball, but I couldn't get into this movie. The plot is predictable, and the characters aren't interesting.
First L

It's a slow-paced little movie about ball players, and one happens to be dying of an incurable disease. It doesn't jump off the screen and captivate viewers, but only because the writing is so pedestrian. DeNiro's performance isn't particularily noticeable, but… More
It's a slow-paced little movie about ball players, and one happens to be dying of an incurable disease. It doesn't jump off the screen and captivate viewers, but only because the writing is so pedestrian. DeNiro's performance isn't particularily noticeable, but that's only because of how low-key it is. In fact, all the performances are lowkey, and it's only when Moriarty smashes up a locker room after being confronted with the pain of his friend dying, that we see a spark of life here. The entire team squabbles a little, but as each team member learns of the catcher's disease, they become more empathetic towards one another, until by the end of the movie, they're all singing songs together. This movie had a definite potential, I just don't feel it reached it.
Mike T

A sweet, compassionate picture that ultimately comes out mediocre. Failing to find a nice balance between comedy and tragedy, the movie meanders along without leaving a lasting impression. That being said, it's fairly entertaining and Robert De Niro is outstanding.

Cast

            Robert De Niro as Bruce Pearson

            Michael Moriarty as Henry Wiggen

            Vincent Gardenia as Dutch Schnell

            Phil Foster as Joe Jaros

            Ann Wedgeworth as Katie

            Heather MacRae as Holly Wiggen

            Danny Aiello as Horse

            Barbara Babcock as Team Owner

            Donny Burks as Perry

            Selma Diamond as Tootsie

            Marshall Erwin Efron as Bradley Lord

            Hector Elias as Diego

            Ernesto Gonzalez as Dr. Chambers

            Barton Heyman as Red Traphagen

            Tom Ligon as Piney Woods

            Alan Manson as Doc Loftus

            Pierrino Mascarino as Sid Goldman

            Patrick McVey as Pearson's Father

            Tom Signorelli as Goose Williams

            Nicholas Surovy as Aleck Olson

            Maurice Rosenfield as Team Owner

            Jack Hollander as Legwar Player

            Andrew Jarrell as Ugly Jones

            Tony Major as Jonah

            Hector Troy as George
See full cast