The film examines the magic and majesty of baseball at that time, the humble manner in which teams stacked with talent went out day in and day to win and play the game hard. The film showcases what made baseball so enjoyable during that period and, in doing so, reflects tremendous contrasts with the game of baseball today.
The film contains extremely impressive color and black and white footage, with a lot more color footage than one might expect for the era. The film allows the viewer to see ballparks, during their glory days, teeming with people and excitement. The viewer is treated to visions of Ebbets Field, Forbes Field, Briggs Stadium, the Polo Grounds, and old Comiskey Park, as well as early footage of Fenway Park before the Green Monster was the Green Monster (It was filled with ad billboards) and Wrigley Field from the time before there were bleachers in the outfield or ivy on the walls. The film also contains some spectacular color footage from the 1938 World Series at Wrigley Field which is believed to be the first color World Series footage in existence.
Even more incredible than a chance to see all the old ballparks is a chance to see footage of the stars of the game from 1934 until 1957, featuring everyone from Dizzy Dean and the "Gashouse Gang" to Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gherig, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams and even a young Mickey Mantle and a young Willie Mays.
While certainly doing a great job romanticizing the past, When it was a game does not settle for simple nostalgia. The film also directly addresses the racial integration issue. The interviews regarding racial integration and the footage of some of the players who finally made it to the major leagues make a strong point on the blemish that may keep these years from being considered the golden years by many. While the film could have been perfectly good without addressing the issue, the subject matter's inclusion is worthy of recognition.
The film, instead of being consistently narrated incorporates speeches, poems, and personal reflections on baseball in general and some of the specific scenes in the film. While it is difficult at first to figure out who all the players actually were, there is a section towards the end in which all the players spotlighted have their name onscreen.
Baseball, for many, represents a common generational bond between parent and child. For those with parents who grew up during the time period covered in the film, this is an absolutely incredible experience. The film allows the viewer to see the players in their prime who inspired the love of baseball which existed in the parents and is now being passed through generations, and put a much younger face to the baseball stories from that era. The film is impressively inclusive, incorporating a ton of footage that really allows the viewer to see these great players as they played during the highlights of their career, rather than at old-timer's day at the local ballpark. Seeing many Hall of Famers playing the game at the height of their careers is truly a treat an can give a viewer as much a sense of baseball history as a walk through the Hall of Fame itself.
The film features a number of readings by James Robards, James Earl Jones and Roy Scheider. While an avid baseball fan may find the poetry to be cheesy but poetic, there is a lot for fans of all levels to take from this film and from the game itself as it was played in that era. The Picture
When It Was a Game is presented in full screen, at an aspect ratio of 4:3. While this is hardly state of the art, the home movies taken from the 30's, 40's and 50's come across incredibly, and the producers have done a fine job cleaning the film up for its release. Despite the fact that much of the material is over 50-60 years of age and shot on 8 or 16 mm film, it still looks quite good. The Sound
The film is presented in Dolby Digital 2 Channel audio. The film rarely employs the actual sounds of the game, instead containing several interviews, poems, readings and reflections about Baseball. While not meeting the highest standards in DVD audio, the audio on this DVD still sounds decent. Bonus Materials
Sadly, this DVD does not contain many bonus materials, merely offering scene selection. It would be quite enjoyable to hear an additional alternate running commentary track giving a bit more background on some fo the players, but the DVD is sufficiently descriptive, particularly towards the end, that a commentary track is less needed. Final Thoughts
When It Was A Game is for anyone who is, to any degree, a baseball fan. The hour-long feature will leave the viewer anxiously awaiting the opportunity to view Episodes II and III and will help rekindle any love for the game which may have faded due to age or the changing nature of the game. Seeing all the "old guard" of baseball and watching them play in their first years in the major leagues is a fantastic experience, as is seeing the "old-timers" who show up during that time period, including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Cy Young. While the film may upset fans, causing them to lament the ways in which the game has changed in the last half-century, it is a fantastic celebration of "America's Pastime" and how it got to be so regarded. This hour-long presentation is extremely enjoyable and, although not a good DVD to show off the medium's technical superiority, would make a fine addition to any baseball fan's DVD collection.