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)

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: Several patients at the rehab center have clothes and hairstyles from 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!