Kill the Umpire
“Columbia's Bases Full of LAUGHS!!!”
Synopsis
Ex-baseball player Bill Johnson, failing at many jobs when his ball-playing days are over, reluctantly takes the advice of his father-in-law, Jonah Evans, a retired umpire, and enters an umpire-training school. Assigned to the Texas League, he does fine until the championship play-offs when a riot develops over one of his calls. The involved player is knocked unconscious in the proceedings and cannot verify that Bill made the correct call. Despite lynch mob plans to at least tar-and-feather him, Bill's family - his daughters Lucy (Gloria Henry and Susan and his wife Betty - help Bill reach the ballpark safely the next day through a series of hair-raising encounters.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
1950 KILL THE UMPIRE - Trailer - William Bendix, Una Merkel
Type: Trailer • Published 2019-04-18
Top Cast
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William Bendix
Bill 'Two Call' Johnson
Una Merkel
Betty Johnson
Ray Collins
Jonah Evans
Gloria Henry
Lucy Johnson
Jeff Richards
Bob Landon
Connie Marshall
Suzie Johnson
William Frawley
Jimmy O'Brien
Tom D'Andrea
Roscoe Snooker
Chester Clute
Man Using Telephone (uncredited)
Billy Gray
Boy Playing Baseball (uncredited)
Alan Hale Jr.
Harry Shea (uncredited)
Harry Hayden
Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Tommy Ivo
Boy Playing Baseball (uncredited)
Jackie Jackson
Boy (uncredited)
Larry Olsen
Johnny (uncredited)
Almira Sessions
Baseball Spectator (uncredited)
Lyn Thomas
Pretty Wife (uncredited)
Al Thompson
Minor Role (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 27, 1950
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lloyd Bacon
- Screenplay & Story
- Frank Tashlin
- Original Score
- Heinz Roemheld
- Original Title
- Kill the Umpire
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 18m
- Production Studios
- Columbia Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lloyd Bacon
Frank Tashlin
Heinz Roemheld
Charles Lawton Jr.
Charles Nelson
John Beck
Department Leadership Roster
Frank Tashlin
Writer
Charles Lawton Jr.
Director of Photography
Charles Nelson
Editor
Jean Louis
Costume Design
Heinz Roemheld
Original Music Composer
John Beck
Producer
Lloyd Bacon
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Kill the Umpire.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Kill the Umpire.
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Baseball Movies
List 1
A grouping of movies that are available to watch... Likely movies I enjoy as well
Baseball Movies
Not instructional or movies where baseball is tangential to the theme.
America's Pasttime
A List of movies that feature baseball. Baseball often serves as the backdrop for human dramas and stories that can teach, entertain, and make you laugh. Movies that span time, borders, and barriers that will fill the hearts of any baseball fan. Many are timeless classics that you can watch time and again. Others are more forgettable. This list will never be complete as the genre continues to expand. As I discover new movies, the list will be updated.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kill the Umpire
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Kill the Umpire about?
Ex-baseball player Bill Johnson, failing at many jobs when his ball-playing days are over, reluctantly takes the advice of his father-in-law, Jonah Evans, a retired umpire, and enters an umpire-training school. Assigned to the Texas League, he does fine until the championship play-offs when a riot develops over one of his calls. The involved player is knocked unconscious in the proceedings and cannot verify that Bill made the correct call. Despite lynch mob plans to at least tar-and-feather him, Bill's family - his daughters Lucy (Gloria Henry and Susan and his wife Betty - help Bill reach the ballpark safely the next day through a series of hair-raising encounters.
Who directed Kill the Umpire?
Kill the Umpire was directed by Lloyd Bacon.
Who stars in Kill the Umpire?
The principal cast of Kill the Umpire includes William Bendix, Una Merkel, Ray Collins, Gloria Henry, Jeff Richards.
When was Kill the Umpire released and how long is it?
Kill the Umpire was released in 1950 with a total runtime of 1h 18m.
Who composed the musical score for Kill the Umpire?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Kill the Umpire was composed by Heinz Roemheld.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Kill the Umpire?
Kill the Umpire holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).