The Bad News Bears - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[discussimdb]

Fan of The Bad News Bears or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to The Bad News Bears

[riley]

One of the only three movies written by Bill Lancaster ( son of Burt Lancaster ), the other two being The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) and The Thing (1982).

[terry]

The Coach is shown to purchase his team's uniforms at "Willis' Sporting Goods" in Thousand Oaks, CA. This store (now closed) was owned and operated by Howard (Howie) Willis, who is now retired and living in Lake Oswego, OR. [February 2015]

[stephanie]

The second time Vic Morrow and Walter Matthau starred together in a film. The other was King Creole 1958 starring Elvis Presley.

[miriam]

Walter Matthau's real life son Charles Matthau appeared in the film as an opposing team player for the Athletics little league baseball team.

[manuel]

The baseball field is Mason Park in Chatsworth, California.

[ronnie]

The ball field location was part of a larger recreation park and had no car lot directly beside it. Loose dirt was laid down, and a temporary cement ramp was installed at the curb to create the look of a parking lot.

[frederick]

Ahmad is consoled by Buttermaker saying he missed the flyballs because "The sun was in [his] eyes". Later in the film he is seen wearing flip-up sunglasses while fielding.

[sara]

Kristy McNichol was originally offered the role of Amanda Whurlitzer. After successfully auditioning, the producers told her when they would begin filming, and to start preparing, but McNichol says over one weekend they changed their minds, and she got the disappointing call they were giving the role to Tatum O'Neal. The pair later co-starred together in Little Darlings (1980).

[eli]

At no point in the movie are there any references or logos referring to Little League Baseball, and some of the movie's depictions run counter to official rules of Little League Baseball. It appears either the Little League Baseball Organization didn't authorize rights to their name and logos for the film, or none was sought by the filmmakers.

[kristina]

In an alternate ending, Kelly is safe at home instead of out. Test audiences preferred the ending with him out, as it would've been too much of a happy ending for the underdog Bears.

[jessie]

The filmmakers used handheld cameras in many of the baseball scenes to give the film a documentary feel.

[ronnie]

This film was made and first released in 1976, just under three decades (or twenty-nine years) prior to its remake, Bad News Bears (2005), which starred Billy Bob Thornton in the Walter Matthau role. The remake dropped the original title's definite article, "the", from its name.

[michele]

Reportedly, star Walter Matthau was paid US $750,000 while Tatum O'Neal was paid US $350,000 and eight percent of net profits.

[bernice]

Tatum O'Neal trained with a professional sports trainer for several weeks before shooting so she could get her pitch "pitch perfect" so to speak. Although some of the pitches in the movie were done by stunt doubles; O'Neal did the bulk of them on her own. (Rare for a movie like this).

[willard]

Throughout the film, Coach Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) is constantly drinking beer, yet he is seldom seen drinking the same brand. Buttermaker is seen at various times in the film drinking Budweiser, Miller High Life, Schlitz "Kingers," Pabst Blue Ribbon, Lucky Lager, Mickey's "Big Mouth" and Coors.

[mathew]

Jackie Earle Haley would have a big comeback in the 2000s after a thirteen-year hiatus. He played many roles, including a child molester in Little Children (2006) and turned in an impressive performance as Rorschach in Watchmen (2009). He also played a prominent role as Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) reboot, and was in two other reboots, Dark Shadows (2012) and RoboCop (2014).

[elmer]

In the scene where Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O'Neal) tries to set up future plans with Buttermaker, herself and her Mom, Buttermaker angrily rebukes her, sending her away crying. Some might think it's implied that Buttermaker is her father, otherwise the scene wouldn't be so emotionally charged. However, the only thing that is definitely implied is that Buttermaker and Amanda's mom dated. He could be her father, but it seems unlikely.

[kenneth]

Actor Vic Morrow, who played Roy Turner, received an 'also starring' credit.

[tamara]

Featured an unusual crossover of product placement for Denny's, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's. All three are family oriented restaurants serving convenience foods, and largely in competition with each other.