It's Good to Be Alive (1974) (TV)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Michael Landon

Writers:

Roy Campanella (book)
Steve Gethers (writer)

Release Date:

22 February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Plot:

The story of former Brooklyn Dodger catcher Roy Campanella, whose career was cut short in 1959 when he lost the use of his legs in an auto accident.

Plot Keywords:

Accident | Baseball | Based On Book

Cast

Paul Winfield	...	Roy Campanella
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Sam Brockington
Ruby Dee	...	Ruth Campanella
Ramon Bieri	...	Walter O'Malley
Joe De Santis	...	Campanella's father
Ty Henderson	...	David Campanella
Ketty Lester	...	Mother
Julian Burton	...	Dr. Rusk
Lloyd Gough	...	Surgeon
Eric Woods	...	Roy Campanella, as a boy
Len Lesser	...	Man at accident
Gene Borkan
Matthew 'Stymie' Beard	...	Stymie
Paul Savior	...	Attendant
Stanley Bennett Clay	...	Boy (as Stanley Clay)
Nina Roman	...	ER receptionist
David Frank
Stuart Nisbet	...	Reporter
Willie McIntyre		(as Willie McIntyre Jr.)
Buck Young
Rick Hurst	...	Ambulance attendant
Gene Tyburn
Benny Nickleberry
Byron Nickleberry
Azalie Nickleberry
Joe E. Tata	...	Pee Wee Reese
Roy Campanella	...	Himself
Roxie Campanella	...	Herself
Joni Campanella	...	Herself
Tony Campanella	...	Himself
Routh Campanella	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephen R. Hudis	...	Boy in wheelchair

Directed by
Michael Landon

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Roy Campanella		book
Steve Gethers		writer (as Steven Gethers)

Produced by
Charles W. Fries	....	executive producer
Larry Harmon	....	executive producer
Gerald I. Isenberg	....	producer
Richard Marx	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michel Legrand

Cinematography by
Ted Voigtlander

Film Editing by
John A. Martinelli

Casting by
Eddie Foy III

Art Direction by
Rodger Maus

Set Decoration by
Phil Abramson

Costume Design by
Tom Dawson

Makeup Department
Ruby Ford	....	hair stylist
Fred B. Phillips	....	makeup artist (as Fred Phillips)

Production Management
Gary S. Gerlich	....	post-production supervisor (as Gary Gerlich)
Joe Wonder	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Maury Dexter	....	assistant director
Robert Jones	....	assistant director

Art Department
Sam Bergman	....	property master

Sound Department
Charles T. Knight	....	sound mixer (as Charles Knight)
Robert J. Litt	....	recording supervisor
Echo Film Services	....	sound effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Chuck La Rocca	....	key grip
Lon Massey III	....	gaffer (as Lon Massey)

Editorial Department
Scott C. Eyler	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John Mick	....	music editor

Other crew
Gerald W. Abrams	....	assistant to producer (as Gerry Abrams)
Elliot Friedgen	....	production administrator
Willis Grant	....	creative affairs executive
Jeff B. Harmon	....	assistant to producer
Lee Sollenberger	....	animal trainer
Andrew Solt	....	researcher
Arthur Stolnitz	....	production executive (as Art Stolnitz)
Malcolm Stuart	....	program developer
Mary Yerke	....	script supervisor

Thanks
Glenn Goldfinger	....	special thanks
E.H. Klag	....	special thanks
Aldo Romiti	....	special thanks
Howard Rusk	....	special thanks (as Dr. Howard Rusk)
James P. Sheridan	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Larry Harmon Pictures Corporation
• Metromedia Productions

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox Television (1986) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Echo Film Services  sound effects by

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L

Company:

Larry Harmon Pictures Corporation

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Roy is taking his first 'tour' of the Rehab center he sees several children playing. One girl is playing with a toy telephone that has a push-button dial. Push-button phones were not introduced until the early 1970s.

Extraordinary film of the life of Brooklyn Dodger star, Roy Campanella .

Extraordinary film of the life of Brooklyn Dodger star, Roy Campanella, with a solid performance by Paul Winfield as Campanella. Roy campanella was baseball's's first black catcher, World Series champion, and Hall of Famer, he is a legend. This is a great sports movie in the tradition of Pride of the Yankees, as it tells the story of a baseball hero whose life has turned tragic. Louis Gossett Jr. does a fine job as Sam, Campanella's physiotherapist.

The movie begins with Campanella wrestling with his decision of whether to stay in Brooklyn, or relocate his family to Los Angeles with his team, the Dodgers. This illustrates how petty ones problems are as compared to other peoples lot in life, and sets the stage for what is to come. The film uses flashbacks effectively to tell Roy's story. Ruby Dee is excellent as Campanella's wife, who tries to cope with the struggles her husband is going through. This film uses actual Dodger baseball film, and it is surprising how close Winfield resembles Campanella!

Unlike the Lou Gerig, Gary Cooper film, this film focuses more on Campanella's rehabilitation than with his glory years. This creates a moving film that shows Roy's extraordinary courage in the face of despair. Without giving anything away, there is a scene with just Winfield and a fly that will haunt me for the rest of my life. Anyway, why have I not heard of this film before, and why is it not mentioned on lists of great sports movies? Don't miss this classic film!