Aunt Mary

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.

I first saw this in 1979 at 13. I had always been fond of the work Jean Stapleton did. She did a fantastic job as Aunt Mary. I saw this as a 55 year old middle age man. I have more appreciation now for this movie. I recently lost a limb and her role was very inspiring.

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!

What a wonderful, heart-warming movie. Great cast, great story. I love how Aunt Mary fought for the little people of all creeds and colors. Kids who think they don't count. Jean Stapleton give us her usual grand performance with many well-known supporting actors, like Dolph Sweet and Martin Balsam. One of the best TV films I have ever seen and I can not understand why Hallmark did not put it out on VHS/DVD.

I taped the movie twice but messed it up on my VCR. I have some of the unedited version and most of the edited version. It was never put on VHS/DVD. I rarely see it on TV anymore. Does anyone have a copy I could buy from them?? THANKS!