Fear Strikes Out

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Fear Strikes Out

Released Apr 20, 1957

1h 40m

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

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24 Reviews

76%

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1,000+ Ratings

Ever since Jimmy Piersall (Anthony Perkins) was a boy, his baseball-obsessed father (Karl Malden) has pushed the sport on him. Trying to live vicariously through his son, the elder Piersall makes Jimmy eat, sleep and breathe baseball with destructive determination. But once Jimmy achieves his father's goal and makes it to the major leagues, he begins to unravel. After Jimmy suffers a breakdown, it is unclear whether he will ever be able to play the sport again.

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Critics Consensus

Based on the true story of troubled baseball star Jimmy Piersall, Fear Strikes Out is an emotionally compelling drama featuring excellent performances from Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

[Mulligan] reflects an intense sensitivity, a romanticism of vulnerability and innocence that flashes a political edge.

Apr 5, 2019

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Ty Burr

Entertainment Weekly

Fear holds up well, and the climactic showdown between father and son offers a tremendously appealing resolution.

Rated: A-

Mar 4, 2011

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TIME Magazine

Fear Strikes Out rolls Frank Merriwell and Sigmund Freud into a ball and then lines it out for a solid hit.

Mar 4, 2011

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Anthony Perkins, Hollywood's most ballyhooed new star since James Dean, justifies most of his press agents' blurbs by the power and sincerity of his performance here...

Oct 29, 2019

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Tony Sloman

Radio Times

Director Robert Mulligan's feature film debut is a harrowing and intense biopic of Boston Red Sox baseball star Jim Piersall, superbly portrayed by Anthony Perkins.

Rated: 4/5

May 6, 2014

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Harrowing look at pressures on a young ballplayer.

Aug 16, 2012

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Steve D

Solid acting horrible script.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/08/23

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Audience Member

The best sports movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

Great acting from Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden, but otherwise it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be. Just an OK biopic drama that is worth seeing once. (First and only viewing - 4/10/2018)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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ashley h

Fear Strikes Out is a decent film. It is about the life of Jimmy Piersall, who battled mental illness to achieve stardom in major league baseball. Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Robert Mulligan did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Great GREAT acting and stuck pretty well to the original story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

Pretty darn good! Malden is great as the overbearing sports dad! And Perkins really owns his role and flashes a bit of his Norman Bates to come! Poor kid!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Robert Mulligan

Director

Anthony Perkins

Jim Piersall

Karl Malden

John Piersall

Norma Moore

Mary Piersall

Adam Williams

Doctor Brown

Perry Wilson

Mrs. John Piersall

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Synopsis

Ever since Jimmy Piersall (Anthony Perkins) was a boy, his baseball-obsessed father (Karl Malden) has pushed the sport on him. Trying to live vicariously through his son, the elder Piersall makes Jimmy eat, sleep and breathe baseball with destructive determination. But once Jimmy achieves his father's goal and makes it to the major leagues, he begins to unravel. After Jimmy suffers a breakdown, it is unclear whether he will ever be able to play the sport again.

Director: Robert Mulligan
Producer: Alan J. Pakula
Screenwriter: Ted Berkman, Raphael Blau
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 20, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 40m

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