Search - The Scout [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Movie Release: 1994 DVD Release: 10/02/2001 Format: DVD - Color - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 41 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Total Copies: 20 Genres: Comedy Drama, Psychological Drama, Sports Comedy

After several weeks filming The Scout in the late 1970s, star Peter Falk and director Howard Zieff abandoned the project. Two decades later, writer Andrew Bergman gave his original script to Albert Brooks and Monica Johnson, who polished it as a vehicle for Brooks and director Michael Ritchie. Brooks stars as Al Percolo, a talent scout for the New York Yankees whose latest recruit (Michael Rapaport) has just vomited on the field and fled. Sent to Mexico as punishment by his boss (Lane Smith), Percolo finds phenomenal young pitcher Steve Nebraska (Brendan Fraser). Before he can get back to the Big Apple, however, Percolo gets pink-slipped by the Yankees, so he offers Nebraska as a free agent. After a stellar tryout, Nebraska is signed for millions. Soon after, he starts to exhibit odd behaviors that may be linked to psychological problems. A psychiatrist (Dianne Wiest) hired by the ball club wants Nebraska in daily therapy, so Percolo ends up babysitting a mentally unstable pitcher. Brooks' normally winning mix of laughs with psychological insights didn't add up to box office or critical success, despite cameos from real-life sports figures such as George Steinbrenner and Steve Garvey. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Albert Brooks - Al Percolo
Brendan Fraser - Steve Nebraska
Dianne Wiest - Doctor H. Aaron
Lane Smith - Ron Wilson
Anne Twomey - Jennifer

Michael Ritchie directs Albert Brooks in The Scout, which comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Closed-captioned English soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 4.0 and Dolby Digital Stereo. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a making-of featurette, the trailer, and television commercials. This is a fine release from 20th Century Fox that boasts excellent picture quality. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide