It Happens Every Spring (1949)

Ray Milland looks like he's having a bit of fun in this light-hearted drama about a science professor ("Vernon") who, thanks to a rogue ball through his window, accidentally discovers a secret formula that makes him an huge success with the hitherto fairly unsuccessful St. Louis baseball team. Even the best pitchers cannot get the ball to hit the bat! His fortune is made. Except, of course, he is doing all this clandestinely and his gal "Deborah" (Jean Peters) and his increasingly frustrated boss "Prof. Stone" (Ed Begley) are reading about this "Kelly" person in the papers whilst wandering just what's happened to the unassuming and reliable "Vernon". An on-form Paul Douglas ("Monk"), meantime, tries to keep the initially sceptical team onside and help out our boffin as he tries to keep his identity under wraps and secure a coveted World Series game. Director Lloyd Bacon allows his star to enjoy this role and that's engaging to watch. He looks every the inch the scientist-cum-hapless sportsman who also has that traditional lab-coat ineptitude when it comes to dealing with the outside world. There a a few quite fun visual effects, the script is amiably presented and the film, though probably twenty minutes too long, flows nicely towards a conclusion that has to raise a smile. Perfectly watchable drive-in fayre, this.