The Last Home Run
Encyclopedia
The Last Home Run is a 1996 film directed by Bob Gosse
.
It tells the story of Jonathan Lyle, an elderly man in a nursing home
(played by Seymour Cassel
) who is transformed by a mystic, for five days, into a 12-year-old boy (played by Tom Guiry
) playing Little League Baseball.
The Last Home Run also starred Jordi Vilasuso
and Vinnette Justine Carroll
(in her last film appearance), and included cameos by former Major League Baseball
players Gary Carter
and Dave Winfield
.
It was based on a story by Roger Flax who wrote the screenplay along with Ed Apfel.
The independent film
was produced in 1996, and was released direct-to-video
on March 23, 1996.
The movie marked the only film appearance by the real Marley, the Labrador Retriever
that was the central character of the successful best selling 2005 book Marley & Me
. Author John Grogan
devoted Chapter 16, "The Audition", in detailing the dog's escapades during filming at a Lake Worth, Florida
hotel parking lot. Marley got a screen credit "Marley the Dog...As Himself" for his two minutes of screen time.
Bob Gosse
Bob Gosse is an American film producer and director. He has also acted in several movies.-Background:Gosse was born on Long Island, New York. After graduating with a BFA degree from the film program at SUNY Purchase in 1986, Gosse joined the independent film scene in New York City, creating...
.
It tells the story of Jonathan Lyle, an elderly man in a nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
(played by Seymour Cassel
Seymour Cassel
Seymour Joseph Cassel is an American actor.He first came to prominence in the 1960s in the pioneering independent films of writer/directorJohn Cassavetes...
) who is transformed by a mystic, for five days, into a 12-year-old boy (played by Tom Guiry
Tom Guiry
Thomas John Guiry is an American actor.Guiry was born in Trenton, New Jersey and attended St. Gregory the Great school in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey from kindergarten through eighth grade, and then high school at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey...
) playing Little League Baseball.
The Last Home Run also starred Jordi Vilasuso
Jordi Vilasuso
Jordi Alejandro Vilasuso is a Cuban-American actor best known for originating the role of "Tony Santos" on the CBS soap opera, Guiding Light from August 2000 until August 2003....
and Vinnette Justine Carroll
Vinnette Justine Carroll
Vinnette Justine Carroll was an American playwright, and the first African American woman to direct on Broadway, with the 1972 musical Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.- Biography :...
(in her last film appearance), and included cameos by former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
and Dave Winfield
Dave Winfield
David Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...
.
It was based on a story by Roger Flax who wrote the screenplay along with Ed Apfel.
The independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
was produced in 1996, and was released direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
on March 23, 1996.
The movie marked the only film appearance by the real Marley, the Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
that was the central character of the successful best selling 2005 book Marley & Me
Marley & Me
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog is a New York Times bestselling autobiographical book by journalist John Grogan, published in 2005, about the thirteen years he and his family shared their life, home, and heart with Marley, a possibly neurotic, and certified "untrainable",...
. Author John Grogan
John Grogan (journalist)
John Grogan is an American journalist and non-fiction writer. His memoir Marley & Me was a best-selling book about his family's dog Marley.- Career :...
devoted Chapter 16, "The Audition", in detailing the dog's escapades during filming at a Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...
hotel parking lot. Marley got a screen credit "Marley the Dog...As Himself" for his two minutes of screen time.