The Comrades of Summer
“When a washed-up major leaguer is forced to coach the Russian National Team, he soon discovers that Ivanov, Ilyanovich and Dobrunzki ain't exactly Mays, Musial, and Mantle!”
Synopsis
Sparky Smith (Joe Mantegna) was manager of the Seattle Mariners until he had one too many shouting matches with the team's owner (Michael Lerner) and winds up fired. Now Sparky's ready to coach any team who'll have him. The only problem is, no one will, until the day the Russian Sports Ministry led by the delectable Tanya (Natalya Negoda) comes knocking at his door. The Russians need a baseball coach for their Olympic team, and Sparky is just the man for the job. Once on Russian soil though, he soon discovers that the Russian team is composed of athletes, hockey players, and shot putters who barely know their way around a diamond. Confronted with this losing team, hilarious comedy ensues when Sparky is told to accept an invitation to have his team visit the States and play his old team the Mariners.
Top Cast
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Joe Mantegna
Sparky
Natalya Negoda
Tanya
Mark Rolston
Voronov
John Fleck
Milov
Eric Allan Kramer
Boris
Ian Tracey
Andy
Michael Lerner
George
Jay Brazeau
Tom
Dwight Koss
Jack
David Berner
Director
Garry Chalk
Ump
Roark Critchlow
Petra
Mitchell Davies
Igor
Todd Duckworth
Leonid
Grant Forster
Vasily
Jano Frandsen
Meyers
John Gilbert
Dolonov
David L. Gordon
Scoop Reporter
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Tommy Lee Wallace
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Rodat
- Original Score
- William Olvis
- Original Title
- The Comrades of Summer
- Country of Origin
- Canada
- Spoken Languages
- English, Russian
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Production Studios
- HBO Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Tommy Lee Wallace
Robert Rodat
William Olvis
Richard Leiterman
Stephen E. Rivkin
Joan Barnett, Jack Grossbart, David Pritchard, Tim Braine
Department Leadership Roster
Tommy Lee Wallace
Director
David Pritchard
Producer
Betty Thomas Quee
Stunt Coordinator
Tim Braine
Producer
Larry S. Wells
Costume Design
Robert Rodat
Writer
Stephen E. Rivkin
Editor
David Fischer
Production Design
Richard Leiterman
Director of Photography
William Olvis
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Comrades of Summer.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Comrades of Summer.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Comrades of Summer
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Comrades of Summer about?
Sparky Smith (Joe Mantegna) was manager of the Seattle Mariners until he had one too many shouting matches with the team's owner (Michael Lerner) and winds up fired. Now Sparky's ready to coach any team who'll have him. The only problem is, no one will, until the day the Russian Sports Ministry led by the delectable Tanya (Natalya Negoda) comes knocking at his door. The Russians need a baseball coach for their Olympic team, and Sparky is just the man for the job. Once on Russian soil though, he soon discovers that the Russian team is composed of athletes, hockey players, and shot putters who barely know their way around a diamond. Confronted with this losing team, hilarious comedy ensues when Sparky is told to accept an invitation to have his team visit the States and play his old team the Mariners.
Who directed The Comrades of Summer?
The Comrades of Summer was directed by Tommy Lee Wallace.
Who stars in The Comrades of Summer?
The principal cast of The Comrades of Summer includes Joe Mantegna, Natalya Negoda, Mark Rolston, John Fleck, Eric Allan Kramer.
When was The Comrades of Summer released and how long is it?
The Comrades of Summer was released in 1992 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
Who composed the musical score for The Comrades of Summer?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Comrades of Summer was composed by William Olvis.