| The Jackie Robinson Story | |
|---|---|
 Lobby card | |
| Directed by | Alfred E. Green |
| Written by | Arthur Mann Lawrence Taylor |
| Produced by | Mort Briskin William J Heineman (United Artists) |
| Starring | Jackie Robinson Ruby Dee Minor Watson |
| Cinematography | Ernest Laszlo |
| Edited by | Arthur H. Nadel |
| Music by | Herschel Burke Gilbert |
Production company | Jewel Pictures |
| Distributed by | Eagle-Lion Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 77 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $336,000[3] |
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The Jackie Robinson Story is a 1950biographical film directed byAlfred E. Green (who had directedThe Jolson Story, "one of the biggest hits of the 40s")[4] and starringJackie Robinson as himself. The film focuses on Robinson's struggle with bigotry abuse as he becomes the firstAfrican-AmericanMajor League Baseball player of the modern era. The film is in part based on Robinson's own autobiography,My Own Story.[5] The film is among thelist of films in the public domain in the United States.[6]
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The film begins with Robinson as a boy. He is given a worn-outbaseball glove by a stranger impressed by his fielding skills. As a young man, he becomes a multi-sport star atUCLA, but as he nears graduation, he worries about his future. His older brotherMack was also an outstanding college athlete and graduate, but the only job he could get was that of astreet cleaner.
When America entersWorld War II, Robinson is drafted, serving as an athletic director. Afterward, he plays baseball with a professional African-American team. However, the constant travel keeps him away from his college sweetheart.
Then one day,Brooklyn Dodgers scoutClyde Sukeforth invites him to meetBranch Rickey, president of the Major League Baseball team. At first, Robinson considers the offer to be a practical joke, as African Americans are not allowed to play in the segregated major leagues. When he is convinced that the opportunity is genuine, he and Rickey size each other up. After thinking over Rickey's warning about the hatred and abuse he would have to endurewithout being able to strike back, Robinson signs with the Dodgers'International Leaguefarm team, theMontreal Royals. Though he wants to delay marrying Rae to shield her, she insists on an immediate wedding so she can support her man in the trying times ahead.
Robinson leads the league in hitting in his first year, and despite the grave concerns expressed by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rickey goes ahead and promotes him to the Dodgers. Reviled at first by many of the fans and some of his own teammates, Robinson gets off to a shaky start, playing out of position at first base and going through a hitting slump, but then gradually wins people over with his talent and determination. The team goes on to win the pennant, with Robinson driving in the tying run and scoring the winning run in the deciding game.
Principal photography for the film took place in the off-season following histhird season with the Brooklyn Dodgers.[2] Much of the film was shot at Gilmore Field, home of the PCL Hollywood Stars.
Even during its initial release—in the era ofracial segregation—the film received critical praise and fared well at the box office.[7] The film was not as popular as originally thought but still profitable.[3]
According toBosley Crowther, "What is surprising... in this new film... is the sincerity of the dramatization and the integrity of Mr. Robinson playing himself. Too often, in films of this nature about sports figures, fanciful or real, the sentiments are inflated and the heroics glorified. Here the simple story of Mr. Robinson's trail-blazing career is re-enacted with manifest fidelity and conspicuous dramatic restraint. And Mr. Robinson, doing that rare thing of playing himself in the picture's leading role, displays a calm assurance and composure that might be envied by many a Hollywood star."[1]
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On April 19, 2005,20th Century Fox andLegend Films released acolorized version of the film, donating a portion of the proceeds to theJackie Robinson Foundation, a charity that benefits education for gifted students. Another official version, as seen onAmazon Prime Video, remains in release byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer (whose sister company,United Artists, produced this film).
Baseball biopics, in general, are harshly panned by the critics, and lightly ridiculed by the customers. The 1950 release of "The Jackie Robinson Story," on the other hand, met a measure of critical approval, and it fared well at the box office.
