If you are looking for some sort of systematic or complete documentary about American baseball, "The Baseball Chronicles" is not it. Instead, it is a film that is mostly about baseball from the late 1940s onward--with a strong emphasis on the 1950s. Additionally, it isn't really a documentary per se because it's more about the MYTH and mystique of baseball and not exactly an objective or cerebral analysis. It's much more an emotional film--one which will resonate with many from the era in which it's set.
It was an odd choice, in my opinion, that the following a few quotes about the sport that the film suddenly begins with the 1951 playoff game between the Dodgers and Giants. Why this particular event was chosen isn't exactly clear. Other subsequent topics discussed were the integration of the game in the late 40s, the Brooklyn Dodgers and various players (often, oddly, National Leaguers).
In many ways, this film felt like I was sitting and listening to some old guys talk about baseball in the good 'ol days. As such, being systematic or even 100% accurate in portraying the game isn't necessarily the point--it's all just a bunch of recollections. And, because of this, the film did very little for me nor does it have a lot of lasting value.
It was an odd choice, in my opinion, that the following a few quotes about the sport that the film suddenly begins with the 1951 playoff game between the Dodgers and Giants. Why this particular event was chosen isn't exactly clear. Other subsequent topics discussed were the integration of the game in the late 40s, the Brooklyn Dodgers and various players (often, oddly, National Leaguers).
In many ways, this film felt like I was sitting and listening to some old guys talk about baseball in the good 'ol days. As such, being systematic or even 100% accurate in portraying the game isn't necessarily the point--it's all just a bunch of recollections. And, because of this, the film did very little for me nor does it have a lot of lasting value.
