Fever Pitch (1985 film)
| Fever Pitch | |
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Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | Richard Brooks |
| Produced by | Freddie Fields |
| Written by | Richard Brooks |
| Starring |
Ryan O'Neal Catherine Hicks Giancarlo Giannini Bridgette Andersen Chad Everett John Saxon Hank Greenspun William Smith |
| Music by | Thomas Dolby |
| Cinematography | William A. Fraker |
| Edited by | Jeff Jones |
| Distributed by | MGM/UA Entertainment Co. |
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Release date
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Running time
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96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $618,847 (United States) |
Fever Pitch is a 1985 American drama film starring Ryan O'Neal, and written and directed by Richard Brooks. This turned out to be the final film for Brooks, director of such acclaimed pictures as Blackboard Jungle, Elmer Gantry, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and In Cold Blood. Co-starring in the film were Giancarlo Giannini, Chad Everett, John Saxon and Catherine Hicks. The original music score was composed by Thomas Dolby.
The film failed at the box office after it grossed only a little more than $600,000. Fever Pitch was nominated for four Razzie Awards, including Worst Picture, as well as contributing to O'Neal's later Razzie nomination for Worst Actor of the Decade. The film is listed in Golden Raspberry Award founder John Wilson's book The Official Razzie Movie Guide as one of the 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.
Sports writer Steve Taggart (O'Neal) volunteers to do a series of articles for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner about a compulsive gambler he calls "Mr. Green"...who is, in fact, himself.
Taggart becomes obsessed with gambling, which lands him deeply into debt. He compounds his money and gambling problems by dealing with associated loan sharks, including the dangerous L.A. bookmaker known as "The Dutchman" (Chad Everett). Taggart soon learns that a local pro football quarterback, whose story he covers, is also on the Dutchman's payroll - as a means of cutting his own gambling debts. Taggart journeys to Las Vegas for a field report on his gambling series; through a casino owner he meets a sexy casino cocktail hostess named Flo (Catherine Hicks). Loving the tables, he gambles with Flo at roulette and wins, instead of taking her to bed.In Las Vegas Taggart also checks out assorted Las Vegas bookmakers, including Leroy. He meets various Vegas gambling and business figures, including famed Las Vegas Sun publisher Hank Greenspun, for more insight into the gambling world. He is unaware that the Dutchman's tough guy enforcer, "Panama Hat" is closely following him until the Hat William Smith confronts him at the hotel pool as Taggart attempts to relax on a chaise lounge. Panama Hat tells Taggart to return to Los Angeles immediately and settle up with the Dutchman, or there will be dire consequences.
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