Two of America's favorite pastimes, baseball and the movies, are entwined for an hour in an American Movie Classics special, "Diamonds on the Silver Screen," which premieres Thursday at 8 p.m., two days before the opening of the World Series.
There's hardly time to touch on, let alone explore, the myths, lore, legends and just plain Americana that Hollywood producers put on film for almost 100 years. James Earl Jones narrates as scenes from no less than 35 baseball-themed films are spliced together. They date back to Thomas Edison's "Ballgame" (1896) and "Casey at the Bat" (1899).
The clips of many are brief -- too brief -- as are about two dozen interviews from folks such as Mickey Mantle, Glenn Close, author Mark Harris, Charlie Sheen, Frank Deford, Bob Costas and Gene Siskel.
Some of the choice scenes included are from "Pride of the Yankees" (1942), nominated for 10 Oscars; "The Babe Ruth Story" (1948), "The Stratton Story" (1949), "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (1949), "The Jackie Robinson Story" (1950), "The Pride of St. Louis" (1952), "The Winning Team" (1952), "Fear Strikes Out" (1957), "Damn Yankees" (1958), "Bang The Drum Slowly" (1973), "The Bad News Bears" (1976), "The Natural" (1984), "Eight Men Out" (1988), "Bull Durham" (1988), "Field of Dreams" (1989) and "A League of Their Own" (1992).
Teresa Wright, who was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Lou Gehrig's devoted wife, visited Yankee Stadium for the first time when she was being interviewed for this special. It's a joyous trip around the bases, crammed with nostalgic moments, but too short. Way too short.
"Pride of the Yankees" will air on AMC at 9 p.m. following the special. Both shows repeat beginning at 11:30 p.m. Thursday. "Diamonds on the Silver Screen" will have three additional plays: Saturday at 1 p.m. and next Sunday, Oct. 18, at 4 and 11 p.m. "Pride of the Yankees" will be repeated on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 5 p.m. and 12:35 a.m.
Sunday on TBS at 9 p.m., "A Bride for Four Brothers" is the featured segment of "National Geographic Explorer," from the Himalayas of Nepal where fraternal polyandry is still in practice. A 16-year-old girl tells of her marriage to four brothers, the youngest only 8 years old. The ideal wife is obedient and impartial, but one notes, "I like my eldest husband most." Repeats: Monday at 12:05 a.m., Saturday at 10:05 a.m.
Wednesday on American Movie Classics at 8:30 p.m., "Reflections of the Silver Screen: Anthony Perkins," the last interview with Perkins before his death on Sept. 12. He talks with Richard Brown about his roles, including Norman Bates in "Psycho" and Jim Piersall in "Fear Strikes Out." Repeats at 12:30 p.m. and Saturday at 4:30 and 10:30 p.m.
Friday at 10, Showtime airs the "Hurricane Relief" concert taped Sept. 26 in Miami. The event, to benefit the victims of hurricanes Andrew and Iniki, is hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Andy Garcia. Performers include Paul Simon, the Miami Sound Machine and the Bee Gees.