THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942)

Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Productions

Producer: Samuel Goldwyn

Director: Sam Wood

Music: Leigh Harline

Release Date: July 14, 1942

Awards: It was nominated for eleven Oscars, winning only one of them for Best Film Editing. The nominations were for: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Special Effects, Best Music, Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Original Story & Best Screenplay.

Origination: Based on the legendary Major League Baseball player, given the name "Iron Horse." Lou Gehrig was one of the first notable figures to be diagnosed with a disease that later bear his name and took his life only seventeen months before this film was released.

Interesting Fact: Gary Cooper was right-handed in comparison to Lou Gehrig's left handed swings. To pull off such a stunt, they reversed the numbers on the uniforms and had Cooper run to third base instead of first. The film was then reversed before the final cut.

Lou Gehrig: Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
 

This film was an instant success at it's release and has withstood the test of time. To this day, it is the example of what an athletic biography should be like. It is as emotional as is it is fascinating all while portraying baseball history in the making. This film has become a treasure for any fan of the sport, with cameo appearances of some of Gehrig's teammates, most notably Babe Ruth.

With Gary Cooper at the lead, he would give one of his best performances and sealed a fitting tribute to the man who played 2,130 consecutive games. He effectively depicted the spirit and strength of Gehrig's persona and, in turn, the American dream. This is not just one of the best biographies of the past, but also one of the greatest films of the past.
 

The climatic Lou Gehrig speech.

 

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