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Bang the Drum Slowly

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Bang the Drum Slowly

PG

Released Aug 26, 1973

1h 36m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

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41 Reviews

63%

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2,500+ Ratings

When hotshot pitcher Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) is signed to the New York Mammoths, his confident ways quickly win over his teammates. He's quite the opposite of Bruce Pearson (Robert De Niro), the team's simpleminded catcher, who has difficulty connecting with others. But when Henry discovers that Bruce has been hiding that he was recently diagnosed with a fatal form of cancer, the unlikely pair become close. Despite Henry's efforts to look out for Bruce, however, team tensions rise.

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Critics Consensus

Bang the Drum Slowly is a touching melodrama that explores the inner workings of a baseball club and its players' personalities with remarkable depth.

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Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

The baseball paraphernalia may or may not strike experts as authentic... What is indisputably good is the flavor of the dialogue.

Jan 23, 2024

Full Review

Alan R. Howard

The Hollywood Reporter

The movie sometimes loses track of its story and rambles for puzzling stretches of unfocused scenes. But it succeeds best with the breezy, warm scenes of baseball life and with such sterling character bits...

Aug 28, 2018

Full Review

Oliver Lyttelton

IndieWire

There's a low-key, melancholy feel to the film, thanks in part to De Niro's turn, which never patronizes his character or begs for sympathy.

May 31, 2018

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

A quiet picture with a love for character that sometimes derails its pacing, but the central relationship is compelling, watching two men deal with their emotions and the reality of mortality while handling the ups and downs of a baseball season.

Rated: B

Mar 3, 2025

Full Review

Patrick Hicks

Feelin' Film Podcast

BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY is a slow-paced drama masquerading as a sports movie. Robert De Niro and Michael Moriarty give decent performances, but there's more sport and action in a game of TEGWAR than anywhere in this film.

Rated: 2.5/5

Apr 10, 2023

Full Review

John Simon

Esquire Magazine

The film profits immeasurably from the performance of Robert De Niro, a Northerner who completely transformed himself into the Georgia cracker with the fatal crack running through him.

Jul 23, 2020

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jacob c

An affecting sports drama packed with great performances, including a particularly endearing one from Robert De Niro.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/10/25

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Ishara L

Very dull, very boring. Couldn't connect with any of the characters. The only thing that elevated it was its great cast. De Niro. Gardenia. Aiello. I also think it's hilarious that Robert De Niro worked with Harry Potter Sr. from Troll.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

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Daniel E

What it has in authenticity it gives up in creativity. It's a chore to listen to a script dumbed down to mimick pro athletes. And the dark secret of PEARSON's illness hampers any hope of quirky humour or surprising plot twists.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

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christina s

A gem of a movie. Sweet and hilarious. A good realistic view of minor league baseball. There is no false not in this movie. Glorifies kindness.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

The film was hardly about baseball and it hardly had De Niro in it. Quite a disappointment.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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blanca m

I love this movie. It's not just about baseball, but about kindness and compassion for others.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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John D. Hancock

Director

Robert De Niro

Bruce Pearson

Michael Moriarty

Henry 'Arthur' Wiggen

Vincent Gardenia

Dutch Schnell

Phil Foster

Joe Jaros

Ann Wedgeworth

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Synopsis

When hotshot pitcher Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) is signed to the New York Mammoths, his confident ways quickly win over his teammates. He's quite the opposite of Bruce Pearson (Robert De Niro), the team's simpleminded catcher, who has difficulty connecting with others. But when Henry discovers that Bruce has been hiding that he was recently diagnosed with a fatal form of cancer, the unlikely pair become close. Despite Henry's efforts to look out for Bruce, however, team tensions rise.

Director: John D. Hancock
Producer: Lois Rosenfield, Maurice Rosenfield
Screenwriter: Mark Harris
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Dibs Partnership, ANJS
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 26, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 24, 2018
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Mono

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