Aunt Mary

In this Hallmark Hall of Fame movie from the late 1970s, audiences are treated to the remarkable true story of a disabled woman who helped poor kids in her neighborhood stay out of trouble and enjoy a healthy activity. Jean Stapleton stars as the titular character, and Martin Balsam costars as her neighbor and friend. It all starts with Martin's grandson loving baseball. Jean plays catch with him and impresses him with her knowledge of the sport, and when she learns he and some other neighborhood kids would love to form a team but lack organization and a leader, she finds her true calling as a coach and mentor. She's warned by many to stay away from the troubled preteens, as they would double-cross her the minute she turned her back on them. "I have no intention of turning my back on them," she replies to a local cop. "Too many people have done that already."

Unexpectedly sweet and totally heartwarming, this tv movie is not to be missed if you like Disney movies about children or sports. Jean is very likable, and it's inspiring to see her give all of herself to the young boys when she herself is in pain and has felt like she lived a wasted life. I also love her rapport with Martin; they have the bickering affection of old married couples even though they just live down the hall from one another. Everything out of his mouth is funny, which helps to lighten the mood that we know she's had such a hard life. Find a copy of this touching Hallmark if you feel you're drifting; it'll put a new spring in your step.

I grew up in Ball - timore at the time the Orioles came to town, so this movie has an extra appeal to me, since it nicely captures the feel of the city during that time, and I am a lifelong Orioles fan. Jean Stapleton nails the Baltimore accent like no one I've ever heard, and does a fine job in the lead role. The other male actors are good, the kids - not so much. It's a predictable movie, but Stapleton makes it worthy of our attention. A superior movie along the same lines is "The Perfect Game."

This is a very unusual film. It's the dramatization about a real-life woman who created and coached a baseball team in Baltimore in the late 1950s for underprivileged kids. Most kids wanting to play ball could afford nice uniforms and fancy equipment, but this team somehow manages to gain respect due to the strong efforts of this remarkable woman. However, when everything seemed to be working out so well, the sweet lady is diagnosed with cancer (or some other ailment) and must have her leg amputated. Her energy and drive quickly fizzle even though she does survive and overcomes the disease. However, she's depressed and wants to stay shut up in her apartment and forget about the team. See the film. It's predictable, sure,...but it's so well-acted and written that it's really engaging and worth a look.

This movie was a heartwarming true story, based on a remarkable woman who didn't let her disability and personal history destroy her. "Aunt Mary" was a positive influence on many youths who may not have had the love & support of family. Like many young people in today's lower economic families, they struggled to be proud of themselves and Aunt Mary showed them understanding and developed a positive way for each member of the to navigate their circumstances with pride and discipline. There were struggles to overcome, often with humor. Aunt Mary was a trailblazer at a time in our country when a dedicated, unbiased woman made a difference in ways no one would have imagined! A true story that is needed today, as much as it was in the 1950s!

Well of course I think it's a great movie. My hubby is in it! he was a child actor(Anthony Cafiso)But it is a good movie. Too bad it isn't available on Video but they do show it on TV at times. Now he's just a "regular married guy" not in the industry any more. He did more movies then Aunt Mary also that aren't listed.