The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

Biography of Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player in the 20th century. Traces his career in the negro leagues and the major leagues.

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Arthur Mann, Lawrence Taylor

Stars:

Jackie Robinson, Ruby Dee, Minor Watson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jackie Robinson	...	Jackie Robinson
Ruby Dee	...	Rae Robinson
Minor Watson	...	Branch Rickey
Louise Beavers	...	Jackie's Mother
Richard Lane	...	Hopper
Harry Shannon	...	Charlie
Ben Lessy	...	Shorty
William 'Bill' Spaulding	...	Bill Spaulding (as Bill Spaulding)
Billy Wayne	...	Clyde Sukeforth
Joel Fluellen	...	Mack Robinson
Bernie Hamilton	...	Ernie
Kenny Washington	...	Tigers Manager
Pat Flaherty	...	Karpen
Larry McGrath	...	Umpire
Emmett Smith	...	Catcher

Storyline

Biography of Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player in the 20th century. Traces his career in the negro leagues and the major leagues.

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Plot Keywords:

baseball | brooklyn dodgers | underdog | civil rights movement | civil rights | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 1953 (Australia)

Also Known As:

A História de Jackie Robinson

Filming Locations:

UCLA, Westwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jewel Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

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

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Jackie and Rae Robinson are on the bus traveling to Florida to join the baseball team they are sitting on the very last seat in the rear of the bus. Above them there is a sign that reads; "COLORED, Sit In Rear." This is just one example of what the colored people had to endure at that time.

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Goofs

The Negro League team Jackie Robinson actually played for was the Kansas City Monarchs (who so dominated African-American baseball they were often called the "Black Yankees"),not the fictitious "Black Panthers."

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: This is the story of a boy and his dream. But more than that, it is the story of an American boy and dream that is truly an American.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer-colorized version.

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Connections

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

User Reviews

Historic baseball film

Sure, many can criticize this film for what it didn't show, but it's a movie, not a mini-series. So, they had to gloss over the fact that his brother Mack (Joel Fluellen), with a college education and an Olympic medal was a milkman; didn't touch on the Army at all; and left out Satchel Paige.

What was worth watching was Robinson'e play for UCLA and branch Rickey's (Minor Watson) valiant efforts to get him into major league baseball. It is no secret that I love watching baseball movies From Fever Pitch to The Natural to "A League of their own;" I'll watch baseball movies over baseball games. This was a good one. Robinson did a very good acting job playing himself. Of course, as Ringo Starr said, "All I have to do is smile and act naturally." Well, he did much more that that.

So, head on over to the Internet Archive and check it our: http://www.archive.org/details/Jackie_Robinson_Story_The