1950 - Eagle Lion Films
Directed by Alfred E. Green
SYNOPSIS
The rise of future Hall Of Fame baseball player is recounted from youth to college to World War 2 service to the minors and on to breaking the major league color barrier for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
MY THOUGHTS
An adequate baseball film.
The film bravely tackles race, especially for 1950. A major studio may have glossed over this as Benny Goodman's very Jewish upbringing was whitewashed for the 'Benny Goodman Story.' This is not the case for this small b-movie production. Jackie faces racial slurs and angry whites who are enraged over his quick ascension to the minors and later to the majors. I'm sure they were worse in real-life than depicted here.
The film depicts Dodger owner Branch Rickey as nearly a saint which I'm sure he was not.
As for the acting, Jackie Robinson didn't break any barriers. His best skills are left for the on-field performances, but he is likable.
Ruby Dee plays Jackie's girl and you'd never expect her to become the great actor she did.
Overall, the film is passable and definitely one Hollywood would be smart to remake (with more care to the screenplay.)
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