American Hercules: Babe Ruth

Few athletes have captured and maintained the fascination of the American public as has George Herman Ruth, better known by his nickname “Babe.” A large, stocky man, Ruth was not the most graceful baseball player, but during his career he made achievements that would serve as a monumental challenge for other players—with some of his records remaining untouched for decades. Produced by Major League Baseball, filmmaker Josh Oshinsky's documentary offers a respectful overview of Ruth's life and career, from his unpleasant childhood years in a Baltimore reform school to his early years with the Boston Red Sox, and on to his era of baseball superstardom with the New York Yankees (the Red Sox letting Ruth go is still considered by many to be the single worst decision in baseball history). In many ways, Ruth epitomized the happy hedonism of the Roaring Twenties, with an extravagant hunger for the best things in life—and an often reckless manner in pursuing those goals. He was also prescient in using the media and popular culture to enhance his image, even appearing in several silent movies. Although it chooses to gloss over some elements of Ruth's life, most notably the repeated humiliations he suffered from the Yankees and other teams when it came to being considered for a managerial position after his playing days were over, this is overall a well-produced, engaging biographical profile of the legend variously known as the “Sultan of Swat,” the “Colossus of Clout,” and the “Great Bambino.” Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (P. Hall)