The Stratton Story (1949)

Star major league pitcher Monty Stratton loses a leg in a hunting accident, but becomes determined to leave the game on his own terms.

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

Douglas Morrow (screenplay), Guy Trosper (screenplay),

Stars:

James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Stewart	...	Monty Stratton
June Allyson	...	Ethel
Frank Morgan	...	Barney Wile
Agnes Moorehead	...	Ma Stratton
Bill Williams	...	Eddie Dibson
Bruce Cowling	...	Ted Lyons
Cliff Clark	...	Josh Higgins
Mary Lawrence	...	Dot
Dean White	...	Luke Appling
Robert Gist	...	Earnie
Gene Bearden	...	Himself
Bill Dickey	...	Himself
Jimmy Dykes	...	Himself
Mervyn Shea	...	Himself

Storyline

The movie is about Chicago White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton (Jimmy Stewart), who in the 1930s, compiled a 37-19 won-loss record in three seasons. After he became the winningest right-hander in the American League, his major league career ended prematurely when a hunting accident in 1938 forced doctors to amputate his right leg. With a wooden leg and his wife Ethel's (June Allyson) help, Stratton made a successful minor league comeback in 1946, continuing to pitch in minor leagues throughout the rest of the 1940s and into the 1950s.

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Plot Keywords:

hunting | chicago white sox | baseball | wooden leg | farm | 

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Taglines:

James Stewart · June Allyson, In The True Romance of The Year

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Life of Monte Stratton

Filming Locations:

Gilmore Field - 7700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producers first considered Van Johnson and Gregory Peck for the role of Monty Stratton before finally settling on James Stewart, who was the first choice of the real Monty Stratton.

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Goofs

In Monte Stratton's pitching debut versus the NY Yankees, Joe DiMaggio is shown circling the bases in stock footage. However, Stratton debuted in 1934 and DiMaggio didn't show up in the majors until 1936.

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Quotes

Monty Stratton: Look at that road! I used to do ten miles on that road like it was nothin' - just to pitch a game! Now I can hardly reach it, let alone walk on it!

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Connections

Spoofed in Radio Days (1987)

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Soundtracks

"You Are My Lucky Star"
(uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Played when Monty drops Ethel off at home
Played often throughout the picture

User Reviews

Good Film

Stratton Story, The (1949)

*** (out of 4)

True story of Monty Stratton (James Stewart), a star baseball player who loses a leg during a hunting accident but makes a comeback. Here's another film I've been meaning to catch for a while since I've heard about it from my father since I was very young. He loves baseball and Stewart so I'm not sure why it took me so long to see this. This certainly isn't in the same league as The Pride of the Yankees but it remains entertaining throughout. I know the story was changed around for the movie but it still works pretty well. The one thing that hampered the film was during the pre-accident scenes you have Stewart just being Stewart and I never really felt he was playing Stratton. After the accident is when Stewart really begins to shine, especially during the depression part of the film. June Allyson steals the show as Stratton's wife.