One Cup of Coffee

PG

Released Aug 23, 1991

1 hr. 35 min.

Drama

List

50%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the late 1950s, veteran minor league baseball player Roy Dean Bream (William Russ) befriends an African-American rookie named Tyrone Debray (Glenn Plummer). Cast off by his teammates because of his age, Bream can't help but relive past glories as a one-time big leaguer, and Bream recognizes a kindred spirit in Tyrone, who himself is shunned by the others because of his race. So, with his wealth of experience, Bream takes the younger player under his wing as his protégé.

Read More

Read Less

Audience Member

Wonderfully acted, brilliantly set film about the sunset of one career and the dawn of another. William Russ who went on to play the father in 'Boy Meets World' plays Roy Dean Bream, the aging player trying to hang on a bit longer while Glenn Plummer plays the up and coming prospect. Filmed on location in Central California, the film captures the area as if it was filmed during that time instead of 33 years later. Add in first rate performances by Noble Willingham and Jeffrey Tambor and this indeed is an overlooked classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

william s

One of my all time favorite baseball movies......touching,tender little hidden gem that is a bittersweet classic.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

There have been a number of baseball films over the years delving into subjects such as ageism, racism, camaraderie between players, older managers who don't seem like they care, a curmudgeonly owner, etc. Pastime delves into each of these. The problem is, it doesn't delve into the problem nearly as well as many other baseball films. I've never heard of this movie before I watched it, and that's probably the reason. It doesn't do anything unique to attempt to differentiate itself form other movies. It's just a light version of many other baseball films, and with less star power.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An aging pitcher takes a promising African-American hurler under his wing in the minor leagues. The title of this film is a pun: baseball is America's pastime and the main character is past his time. I'm not saying the pun is clever or that I like it; I'm just saying I notice it. The film is compelling because William Russ gives a good performance in the leading role, but that's about all I can say for it. Set in the fifties, the film ignores or glosses over the racial realities of baseball at the time. Yes, Tyrone is persona non grata in the clubhouse, but that's the extent of the racial tension he has to face though Jackie Robinson's reality showed a treatment quite different than what Tyrone deals with. Also, the baseball action is as realistic as baseball action is in most films, excepting <i>61*</i> and <i>Sugar</i>. The pitchers don't warm up, the hitters don't work counts, and players mostly either strike out or hit home runs. The characters are bluntly drawn, especially Inez who has no inner life of her own and serves the plot only as a mild romantic interest. Tyrone is meek, but we don't where he comes from or why he is driven to succeed in the game. The exposition revealing the owner's backstory is from the "How to Not Do Exposition" manual. Overall, even for baseball fans <i>Pastime</i> is a poor effort.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A great look at baseball back in the late 50s. Insight to what a young black player had to face and what a veteran goes through when he knows nothing else but the sport he loves.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Now a lot of you movie fans will read this synopsis and immediately draw several allusions to the 1988 Baseball classic Bull Durham with Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins. It should be noted that Pastime did indeed come out a few years after Durham but the story Pastime is adopted from was written long before Durham was made. That being said I think I like Bull Durham better even though I like this film taking place in the tail end of the 50â²s and have the relationship take place with and older white guy and a young African American kid just starting out at a time when Baseball was still getting through its bigoted phase. The movie has a very âindyâ? feel to it while also doing enough work to make it feel like the the 50â²s. And telling a minor league ball story from this era is a cool hook (one that got me watching in the first place). The performances are pretty good as well. The cast is mostly made up of character actors and are somewhat familiar but no big names unless you count Jeffery Tambor (Arrested Development). The movie also plays with traditional movie tropes that you are use to seeing in sports films like this. I wonâ(TM)t go into spoiler territory but for example Roy-Dean made it to the majors but he was never a great player that just got hurt or too old like in so many others. He was up for one game and gave up a grand slam and never saw the prime time again. He wasnâ(TM)t MLB material and he just sat around in the minors until he couldnâ(TM)t hack it there either, but even though he didnâ(TM)t have the tools he had the knowledge and tried to pass it on even though he was the proverbial punching bag on his team. For its good it also had moments where the movie just didnâ(TM)t feel complete to me, like it was missing something, maybe more character development or back story would have really sucked me in more. It is a good movie that deserves a look especially if you enjoy Baseball!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Robin B. Armstrong

Director

William Russ

Roy Dean Bream

Glenn Plummer

Tyrone Debray

Noble Willingham

Clyde Bigby

David Eyre Jr.

Writer

Jeff McCracken

Executive Producer

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

41%

90%

Pure Country

40%

59%

Hard Promises

77%

90%

Rudy

TRAILER

for Rudy

71%

66%

Little Man Tate

50%

42%

The Stars Fell on Henrietta

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Apr 4, 2011

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 1/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

The film is rather sober, managing cliches with skill, and ends up being moving with its modesty. [Full review in Spanish]

Dec 8, 2022

Full Review

Ryan Cracknell

Movie Views

Plays an honorable game, tackling the touchy subject of ageism on the baseball field. But it's ultimately a hollow attempt, one that thinks that just by touching on a subject that it makes up a plot.

Dec 25, 2010

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 4/5

Oct 9, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

In the late 1950s, veteran minor league baseball player Roy Dean Bream (William Russ) befriends an African-American rookie named Tyrone Debray (Glenn Plummer). Cast off by his teammates because of his age, Bream can't help but relive past glories as a one-time big leaguer, and Bream recognizes a kindred spirit in Tyrone, who himself is shunned by the others because of his race. So, with his wealth of experience, Bream takes the younger player under his wing as his protégé.

Director: Robin B. Armstrong
Executive Producer: Jeff McCracken
Screenwriter: David Eyre Jr.
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Open Road
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 23, 1991, Original
Release Date (DVD): Apr 8, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA): $54.7K
Sound Mix: Surround