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Bang the Drum Slowly

1973·Movie·PG·96 min·6.1(77)

Nothing is more important than friendship. Not fame, not money, not death.

The story of a New York pro baseball team and two of its players. Henry Wiggen is the star pitcher and Bruce Pearson is the normal, everyday catcher who is far from the star player on the team and friend to all of his teammates. During the off-season, Bruce learns that he is terminally ill, and Henry, his only true friend, is determined to be the one person there for him during his last season with the club. Throughout the course of the season, Henry and his teammates attempt to deal with Bruce's impending illness, all the while attempting to make his last year a memorable one.

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Where to watch Bang the Drum Slowly in United States

Click a service to open Bang the Drum Slowly there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.

Where is Bang the Drum Slowly streaming around the world?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesKanopyAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
CanadaApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

About Bang the Drum Slowly

Bang the Drum Slowly is a 1973 English-language drama film directed by John D. Hancock. The cast is led by Michael Moriarty, Robert De Niro, Vincent Gardenia. It has a runtime of 1h 36m. Viewers rate it 6.1/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Kanopy.

Bang the Drum Slowly was produced by ANJS, Dibs Partnership, and Paramount Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on August 26, 1973, and carries a PG certification.

Director
John D. Hancock
Writers
Mark Harris
Release date
August 26, 1973
Original language
English
Age rating
PG
Status
Released
Country
United States of America
Production
ANJS, Dibs Partnership, Paramount Pictures
#terminal illness#baseball player

Bang the Drum Slowly cast & crew

Bang the Drum Slowly was directed by John D. Hancock and written by Mark Harris.

The cast features Michael Moriarty as Henry Wiggen, Robert De Niro as Bruce Pearson, Vincent Gardenia as Dutch Schnell, Phil Foster as Joe, Ann Wedgeworth as Katie, and Patrick McVey as Bruce's Father.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Stephen Lawrence, cinematography is by Richard Shore, and it was produced by Lois Rosenfield and Maurice Rosenfield.

Is Bang the Drum Slowly worth watching?

Bang the Drum Slowly holds an audience score of 6.1/10 from 77 ratings, a solidly received drama films.

At 1h 36m, it's an easy, time-light watch.

If you enjoy drama, Bang the Drum Slowly is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch Bang the Drum Slowly

In United States, you can stream Bang the Drum Slowly on Kanopy, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.

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Cast of Bang the Drum Slowly

Michael Moriarty

Michael Moriarty

Henry Wiggen

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Bruce Pearson

Vincent Gardenia

Vincent Gardenia

Dutch Schnell

Phil Foster

Phil Foster

Joe

Ann Wedgeworth

Ann Wedgeworth

Katie

Patrick McVey

Patrick McVey

Bruce's Father

Heather MacRae

Heather MacRae

Holly

Selma Diamond

Selma Diamond

Tootsie

Barbara Babcock

Barbara Babcock

Team Owner

No photo

Maurice Rosenfield

Team Owner

Tom Ligon

Tom Ligon

Piney

No photo

Andy Jarrell

Ugly

Bang the Drum Slowly — FAQs

Where can I watch Bang the Drum Slowly in United States?

Bang the Drum Slowly is streaming on Kanopy in United States.

Is Bang the Drum Slowly on Kanopy?

Yes — Bang the Drum Slowly is currently available on Kanopy in United States.

What language is Bang the Drum Slowly in?

Bang the Drum Slowly is originally in English, with audio tracks including Spanish, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is Bang the Drum Slowly?

Bang the Drum Slowly runs 1 hours 36 minutes (96 minutes).

What is Bang the Drum Slowly rated?

Bang the Drum Slowly is rated PG. It holds a 6.1/10 audience score from 77 ratings.

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