The Bad News Bears

Top 10 Fun Facts

1. Jerry Fielding's memorable score is adapted from Georges Bizet's legendary opera Carmen (see also: old school Tetris on the Nintendo Entertainment System).
2. You can throw a few pitches on the same field where the Bears played - it's in Mason Park in Chatsworth, California (outside Los Angeles).
3. The Bears' sponsor was a real Los Angeles company at the time. Let's hope Chico's Bail Bonds scored some business when the film came out.
4. By 21^st century standards, some of the movie's moments are downright scandalous - including a scene in which a drunken Buttermaker climbs behind the wheel of a convertible and drives his team around without seatbelts (all that profanity from the kids? Not so scandalous).
5. Equal opportunity drunk: Buttermaker enjoys many different brands of beer throughout the film, including Budweiser, Miller High Life, Schlitz, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Coors. Guess he's a domestic kind of guy.
6. Before Tatum O'Neal was cast as tough-talking Amanda, producers had offered the role to Kristy McNichol - who was understandably disappointed when they changed their minds and went with the young Oscar winner.
7. True colors: the other teams in the Bears' league borrow their nicknames and colors from major league clubs - a clever way to reinforce the idea that the Bears are the ultimate misfits.
8. Continuity crazies: during the final game against the Yankees, Buttermaker's beer switches from small Red Stripe-like bottle to a can of Coors.
9. Keep an eye out during the scene when Buttermaker gets into his car after leaving the Councilman's office - there's a sign in the background for a local production of "Hello, Dolly!" Walter Matthau played Horace Vandergelder in the film version of Hello, Dolly! (and try saying Vandergelder Buttermaker five times fast).
10. Happier ending: two versions of the final game were filmed - one where the Bears won, and one where they lost. Either way, they probably got orange slices and juice boxes after the game.

Cast

Crew