Spit-ball Sadie

About This Movie

So, 'Spit-ball Sadie' is this curious little comedy from 1915, and you really get a sense of the early Hal Roach style here. The pacing feels quite brisk, with some nice slapstick moments that are surprisingly engaging. The premise is pretty amusing—our main guy in a bind dresses up as this female pitcher to help his girlfriend's baseball team, and the absurdity unfolds from there. Themes of gender roles and the lengths people go for love bubble beneath the surface, giving it a unique twist for its time. The practical effects are simple, but they work well, and the performances have a charming earnestness that's hard to resist. You can tell Roach was onto something with his knack for comedy.

Features early gender role themes · Fast-paced slapstick humor · Interesting take on sports comedies