The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Arthur Mann (writer)
Lawrence Taylor (writer)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

You'll HIT With Him! You'll RUN With Him! You'll SLIDE With Him!

Plot:

Biography of Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player in the 20th century. Traces...

Plot Keywords:

Baseball | Cat | Breakthrough Hero | Black Cat | African American

Cast

Jackie Robinson	...	Himself
Ruby Dee	...	Rae Robinson
Minor Watson	...	Branch Rickey, President Brooklyn Dodgers
Louise Beavers	...	Jackie's mother
Richard Lane	...	Clay Hopper, Montreal Manager
Harry Shannon	...	Frank Shaughnessy, Dodger Executive
Ben Lessy	...	Shorty, Montreal Player
William 'Bill' Spaulding	...	Himself (as Bill Spaulding)
Billy Wayne	...	Clyde Sukeforth, Dodger Scout
Joel Fluellen	...	Mack Robinson
Bernie Hamilton	...	Ernie, Panther Player
Kenny Washington	...	Tigers Manager
Pat Flaherty	...	Karpen, Dodger Pitcher
Larry McGrath	...	Umpire
Emmett Smith	...	Catcher

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (black and white version) | Color (color version)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

La Palma Park - 1151 N Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, California, USA

Company:

Legend Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sanford and Son: Ol' Brown Eyes (#4.3)" (1974)

Sometimes Athletes Can Be True Heroes.

A wonderful film that acts as a homage to Jackie Robinson (played by himself). The early life of the first black Major League baseball player is shown in a way that makes the picture wholesome and appropriate for all audiences. Ruby Dee is perfect as Robinson's loving wife who stands behind her husband when it seems that no one else will. "The Jackie Robinson Story" was made in 1950 so the social issues and the intense prejudices that Robinson faced are only given a minute glimpse. I have been wanting a movie to be made that goes into greater detail about this individual's life as Robinson was just as important to Civil Rights as people who fought vehemently for equality in the 1960s. The integration of baseball is something that most never believed would happen before 1947 and many forget just how important a piece of American history that is. Not the best film ever made, in fact it is not even great for its time period. I still like and respect the production for what it is though. 4 stars out of 5.