The Catcher Was a Spy

2018
R
1h 34m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Paul Rudd in The Catcher Was a Spy (2018)

This gripping, stranger-than-fiction espionage thriller brings to life the incredible true story of Moe Berg, the professional baseball player who became a World War II spy. A Jewish, Princeton-educated, multilingual catcher for the Boston Red Sox with a closely-guarded private life, the enigmatic Berg (Paul Rudd) was already a man of mystery when, in 1944, the US government's wartime intelligence agency enlisted his services. His mission: go behind enemy lines in Europe to assassinate the Nazi's chief nuclear scientist before the Germans develop an atomic bomb. Trading in his catcher's mitt for a trench coat, Berg must rely on his formidable, steel-trap intellect in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse - with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

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Biography Drama War

Former Major League Baseball player Moe Berg goes undercover in World War II Europe for the Office of Strategic Services.Former Major League Baseball player Moe Berg goes undercover in World War II Europe for the Office of Strategic Services.Former Major League Baseball player Moe Berg goes undercover in World War II Europe for the Office of Strategic Services.

Director
- Ben Lewin
Writers
- Robert Rodat
- Nicholas Dawidoff
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Ben Lewin
Writers
- Robert Rodat
- Nicholas Dawidoff
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Trivia
During the US/Japan All-star Game, Berg introduces himself to Japanese dignitaries in a humorous way and (in Japanese) starts by saying he can't speak Japanese. The movie does not tell us, but this was Moe Berg's second trip to Japan. In 1932, he and a couple other American players were recruited to come teach American-style baseball to the Japanese. Berg, who had a gift for languages, taught himself passable Japanese on the ship while on the way over. Early in the cruise, one of his fellow players asked if he could speak Japanese and Berg said "No". Once they got to Japan, they were astounded to find him speaking the language. One of them said "I thought you couldn't speak Japanese?" He replied, "That was two weeks ago."

Goofs
The Roman numerals for the newsreel of the All-Americans trip to Japan read 1944; the correct year was 1934.

Quotes
Sam Goudsmit: And so, the madness becomes real - We have to kill Werner Heisenberg, and I am to be a part of it.
Moe Berg: No one wants to kill Heisenberg.
Sam Goudsmit: Yeah? Then kidnap him! Send in spies to Germany and kidnap him.
Robert Furman: Ah, you've read too many spy novels.
Sam Goudsmit: I've never read a spy novel.
Robert Furman: It's not that easy to kidnap somebody.
Sam Goudsmit: Ah yeah, you mean killing is easier.

Connections
Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Failed Oscar Bait Movies of 2018 (2019)

Soundtracks
Rhythm for You
Written by Eddy Christiani & Frans Poptie
Courtesy of APM Music

User reviews100

Review

Featured review

Real MLB catcher was a real WW2 spy.

We watched this at home on DVD from our public library.

Over the years there have been many movies made regarding interesting WW2 stories. This one caught me by surprise because it could have had such a significance in the worldwide Scientific community.

German Physicist Werner Heisenberg was one of the great minds of the 20th century. He was responsible for the development of Quantum Mechanics and most science students know him for his "Uncertainty Principle." But the US intelligence worried that he might be on the verge of developing the technology to build atomic bombs.

Paul Rudd comes across really well as Moe Berg, former MLB catcher. Although he was a mediocre big league baseball player he was highly intelligent and highly educated, and spoke several languages fluently, including German, Italian, and French. And he was a patriot, willing to die for his country if it came down to that.

Berg was given the spy assignment as a scientist, to travel to Italy and meet with Heisenberg, find out what he could about their progress. Berg was armed, he was to kill Heisenberg on the spot if he determined that they were on track to develop the bomb. It would be his decision alone.

There isn't a lot of action but it is a very realistic accounting of the Moe Berg story in a very well made movie with some of the best actors in key roles.

FEB 2024 edit: I just watched it again, for me, being a Scientist acutely aware of Heisenberg's role in 20th century Physics, it is one of the better movies I have ever watched.