Mr. Baseball (film)
Mr Baseball is a 1992 American sports comedy film about a New York Yankees player suddenly traded to the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and now has to adjust to Japanese culture.
- Directed by Fred Schepisi. Written by Theo Pelletier, John Junkerman, Gary Ross, Kevin Wade, and Monte Merrick.
Jack Elliot
[edit]- [in Japanese talking to players during a lull in training] I would like to apologize to you all. From now on, I would like to make an effort, to be a real member of the team. And between us, I'd like to build... a chopstick [Yoji signals him to speak that last one differently] ..an edge. A bridge? Build a bridge of friendship. [bows deeply to the team]
Dialogue
[edit]- [Jack Elliot is flustered that the Yankees are ditching him for a rookie first baseman]
- Jack Elliot: I don't believe this. I'm a World Series MVP!
- Skip: That was four years ago, Jack.
- Trey: You hit .235 last season.
- Elliot: Last season? I led this club in 9th-inning doubles in the month of August! Screw it man, I don't wanna play where I'm not wanted here. [throws off his cap] What are my choices? I'm ready.
- Skip: [clears throat] There aren't exactly choices, Jack. We only had one taker so we... took.
- Trey: We called everyone, Jack, Canada...
- Elliot: No, not Canada!
- Skip: [as Elliot talks] It goes without saying.
- Elliot: I ain't paying those taxes!
- Trey: [laughs] It's not Canada.
- Elliot: Not Cleveland... No! Say it's not Cleveland!
- Trey: [looks at Skip] Not Cleveland.
- Skip: [clears throat] We got a call from a manager in...
- Elliot: What?
- Skip: ...Japan.
- Elliot: Japan?
- Skip: Yes, the uh... chu-chey? chu?
- Elliot: Hey.. Forget it!
- Skip: Chunichi.
- Elliot: No. I'm a Major Leaguer! There's no way I'm gonna play in Japan!
- Skip: If you wanna play this season Jack, you're a Chunichi Dragon.
- Elliot: A Chunichi Dragon?
- [Jack Elliot tries to imagine a grand entrance at Nagoya Stadium]
- Jack Elliot: [addresses some Japanese at the bleachers] Any of you guys speak Americano? Jack Elliot here bringing you the best in Major League thrills for the fellas, and free mustache rides for the ladies.
- Woman in Orange jacket: I have seen "free mustache rides" offered on t-shirts in America. Always by guys you would not want to ride with.
- Elliot: [removes hat in respect] Sorry.
- [After the Chunichi Dragons lose to the Yomiuri Giants at home, Jack notices Uchiyama-san facing the Dragons' executive committee]
- Chunichi Dragons GM Hiroshi Nakamura: He is becoming an embarrassment to us. You do not appear to have found the answer to the Giants.
- Uchiyama: As usual they stand between us and the pennant. I beg your patience.
- Nakamura: Our patience is running out. And your CONTRACT is running out. [the executives leave]
- [During a Dragons away match against the Hiroshima Carp, Jack rushes the pitcher who belatedly tipped his hat after hitting him in the head.]
- Max DuBois: [pulls him away] Jack, dammit he tipped his hat, it means he didn't mean it!
- Jack: I don't care if he ate his GODDAMN HAT!!! I've had it!
- Yoji: Jack-san, no!
- Jack: Bullshit! [tries to the punch the pitcher... but Yoji is knocked out instead] Yoji!!
- Max: I'm sick and tired of this shit. Haven't you heard a word I said? You're really pissing me off now! [puts down Jack] Now just take your base and get with the program!
- Jack: You too, huh Max?
- Max: [points at Jack] You know the one thing I didn't miss about playing in the States? It's putting up with hotshots like you. Now I don't even have that anymore! [walks off]
- [at the dugout, the Dragons GM confronts Uchiyama]
- Chunichi Dragons GM Hiroshi Nakamura: [coldly] Suspend Elliot indefinitely... and consider yourself out as soon as a replacement is found. You have brought dishonor to the team! [leaves]
- [At the meal with Uchiyama-san's parents alongside Hiroko and Uchiyama-san himself, Jack notices something the grandfather said]
- Jack Elliot: What did he say?
- Hiroko Uchiyama: He says, "You have a hole in your swing."
- Elliot: Like father, like son huh?
- Uchiyama: [in English] Everybody can see it but you.
- Hiroko Uchiyama: [to her father, in Japanese] Why do you always put people down? You always do! [stands up] And try to fit everybody in the same mold! [walks off]
- Uchiyama: [in Japanese] Hiroko, sit down!
- Hiroko: [to her father] Try a little understanding! [Jack smiles at Hiroko standing up to her father] and you, Jack... [Jack looks at the mention of his name] Grow up! [leaves]
- [Elliot jogs up and down the homefield bleachers]
- Elliot: You look thirsty, Chief. What do you say I buy ya a beer?
- Uchiyama: Later! AGAIN!
- Elliot: [mutters] You're no fun anymore...
- Uchiyama: C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! Pick it up! Pick it up! Harder! Harder, Jack!
- Ryoh Mukai: [as the other players come out on the field for practice, in Japanese] Looks like Elliot's run out of excuses.
- [At the Concepts Graphics Design office, a colleague still sees Hiroko Uchiyama at her desk in the late afternoon and asks her why still be there on the day of the Central League championships]
- Hiroko Uchiyama: [in Japanese] I'm working.
- Colleague: But the game is about to start, aren't you going?
- Hiroko: No... Foreigner charming, foreigner romantic... foreigner going home to America.
- Colleague: [humbling] I'm so sorry. [bows]
- Hiroko: No, it's ok.
- Colleague: I'll see you! [leaves]
- Hiroko: See you.
- [The day after the game, Hiroko Uchiyama receives someone at the door of her apartment - it's her father]
- Uchiyama-san: Can I come in? [Hiroko lets him enter; looks around] Nice place! I have come on behalf of Jack. [presses button on stereo remote; music plays but he turns off] He wants you to know... [radio continues but he turns it off] He loves you and wants to discuss the future with you, when your "jets are cool."
- Hiroko Uchiyama: But he's like you, father. He will not change.
- Uchiyama-san: Changes occurring all around. Perhaps you should listen first.
- Hiroko: He is a foreign ball player
- Uchiyama: Who you are in love with.
- Hiroko: It doesn't matter.
- Uchiyama-san: It does matter... More than anything, doesn't it? [offers paper bag he brought] This is for you.
- Hiroko: [sees item] Very nice of him.
- Uchiyama-san: It's not from him, it's from me. From now on... I want to speak to you from my heart with no holding back.
- Hiroko: [slightly emotional] Father. [they embrace]
Taglines
[edit]- He's the biggest thing to hit Japan since Godzilla.
- An inspirational baseball movie.
Cast
[edit]- Tom Selleck - Jack Elliot
- Ken Takakura - Uchiyama
- Aya Takahashi - Hiroko Uchiyama
- Dennis Haysbert - Max "The Hammer" DuBois
- Toshi Shioya - Yoji Nishimura
- Toshizo Fujiwara - Ryoh Mukai, Chunichi Dragons No 2
External links
[edit]
- Mr. Baseball quotes at the Internet Movie Database