Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Ronald Reagan as Grover Cleveland Alexander, a telephone lineman and would-be farmer in early-1900s Nebraska who harbored one of the best pitching arms in baseball history. First pitching for the Phillies, and later the Cubs and the Cardinals, Alexander was sidelined continually in his career by a baseball accident, the war of 1917, and finally blackouts which were falsely attributed to alcoholism. This Warner Bros. throwaway isn't especially well-written or well-made, with archival footage and false backdrops making up the final third, however Reagan is very appropriate for the lead. Top-billed Doris Day (as Grover's saintly, determined wife) is around for moral support and romantic uplift; Day does what she can with the role, though the part as written is fairly preposterous. **1/2 from ****

Nebraska farmer Ronald Reagan (as Grover Cleveland Alexander) wants to be a baseball player so bad he drops the ball on dating pretty Doris Day (as Aimee Arrants), for the big games. This makes father Frank Ferguson (as Sam) reluctant to approve the wedding, but Reagan and Ms. Day are quickly married, anyway. The big event occurs after Mr. Reagan gets hit in the head by a ball; he recovers, but with what the doctor calls "double vision." This on-again, off-again setback eventually drives Reagan to drink, threatening both his career and marriage. Can "The Winning Team" (their marriage) survive? In "Her Own Story", Day confirmed she and "Ronnie" had a brief, real-life romantic relationship, while they were both between marriages. Interestingly, Day states the future President had a lovely apartment, was a great dancer, and spoke enough to give her the impression he was "a very aggressive liberal Democrat." Their best scenes are with (later in the picture) each other, and with (earlier in the picture) movie family members Mr. Ferguson and young Russ "Rusty" Tamblyn (later residents of "Peyton Place")."This Is the True Story of Grover Cleveland Alexander," is the film's opening proclamation. It looks more like the studio shoved the early 1900s baseball player's life story into the typical formula film. As usual, the early scenes reveal a lead actor clearly too old for the part, as Reagan is playing a man half his age; this was something more convincingly done by Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart. Unfortunately, you spend the whole film wondering what Reagan's "double vision" problem is, exactly - and, don't expect the film to give you the answer. Day sings a very pretty Christmas song ("Ol' Saint Nicholas").**** The Winning Team (6/20/52) Lewis Seiler ~ Ronald Reagan, Doris Day, Frank Lovejoy, Frank Ferguson

You don't have to be a baseball or a sports fan to enjoy this film about Grover Cleveland Alexander, one of baseball's great figures in history. Ronald Reagen and Doris Day star in this entertaining and fast moving film that describes Alexander's life before stardom, his own personal demons, and eventual comeback into the world of one of America's most beloved pastimes. Even though some have said, it's not totally accurate in the facts, the movie reflects Alexander's love of the sport, and the movie "The Winning Team" is a testament to Ronald and Doris that we feel we're seeing the real thing. While this film has remained virtually unknown, it has come out on a Ronald Reagen DVD set and deserves to be seen by those who appreciate old movies and who love biographies of any kind.

Ronald Reagan plays famous St.Louis Cardinal pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander in this average baseball flick. Reagan is not believable as a pitcher which, for a baseball fan, takes away from the enjoyment of the story. An effort seems to have been made to make it realistic showing old footage of actual games but it is not enough. Doris Day is outstanding as Mrs. Alexander, constantly encouraging her husband through bouts of alcohol and depression. Look for a few big leaguers like Bob Lemon, Peanuts Lowrey,Hank Sauer and Gene Mauch just to name a few.