SLIDE KELLY SLIDE (1927). MGM. Directed by Edward Sedgwick.
Starring: William Haines, Harry Carey, Sally O'Neil, Junior Coghlan, Karl Dane, Tony Lazzeri, Bob Meusel, Guinn Williams

William Haines absolutely shines in this gem of a film from the silent era, SLIDE KELLY SLIDE, as an aspiring pitcher for the New York Yankees, Jim "No-hit" Kelly.

The film begins with the usual William Haines assortment of wise-cracks and one-liners on the intertitles and then the usual Haines ogling of the pretty young girl (much like Joan Crawford in WEST POINT or Mary Brian in BROWN OF HARVARD). Throw in a few exploding cigars and a water-squirting boutaineer and you think you're in for a lot of laughs.

And then in the typical MGM fashion of pathos and drama mixing with some light comedy, you have a wonderful story set against the backdrop of "America's pastime".

Harry Carey, a seasoned veteran actor of first rate, plays Yankee catcher, 'Pop' Munson, who is literally on his last legs. 'Pop's daughter, Mary, has caught Kelly's eye, and her his likewise.

Throw in Karl Dane as "Swede" (what else?), a hard-boiled ball player, and a young homeless waif, played by Junior Coghlan (the Mickey Rooney of the 1920s), who attaches himself to the Yankees in general as their batboy, and in particular to Kelly, who takes a liking to the kid, and he and Swede sort of "adopt" Mickey, and now you have a great story.

There is a very touching scene of Kelly "persuading" Swede to give up his bed for the little boy, as well as when Kelly teaches Mickey how to pray. It is a truly tender, moving scene in this movie.

Also moving for me as a baseball fan was when Kelly no-hits the Cleveland Indians , the Yankees win the game, and then his manager berates him for not sliding home on a close play at the plate, even though his teammates and the fans are ecstatic over the win.

I suppose the most emotional scene is the one where Kelly comes to the team hotel "stewed" (to borrow an expression from BROWN OF HARVARD) and lets down his teammates, his girl, his little pal Mickey and then begins to berate his faithful old catcher, 'Pop", telling him in no uncertain terms that if it weren't for his pitching, Munson would have been through, washed up. 'Pop' looks as though he is going to collapse and then decides right then and there to resign.

As the story has unfolded, Swede begins to show a softer side, thanks to a little boy who looks up to him, as well as Kelly. Eventually he persuades Mickey to forgive Kelly for acting like a fool when he was drunk, and so the little guy comes up to Jim and tells him that they're pals again. A VERY emotional moment indeed!

Just before the Yankees meet the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series (which really did not take place until 1928), Jim Kelly decides to go back home to New York as he feels he has let the team down and they play better without him.

Does Jim "No-hit" Kelly ever get to pitch in the World Series? See the film and find out!

I cannot believe that this little gem of a movie is never mentioned in lists of baseball-related films. And, boy, PRIDE OF THE YANKEES owes an awful lot to SLIDE KELLY SLIDE.

I think this is one of William Haines best performance in any film of his that I have ever seen.

I like to think that all the references in this film to cigars whether implicit or explicit was due to the fact that William Haines family in Staunton, Virginia was in the cigar-making business.

Reviewed by Tom Best, May 2005.