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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THE STRATTON STORY (1949)

Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Producer: Jack Cummings

Director: Sam Wood

Music: Adolph Deutsch

Release Date: May 12th, 1949

Awards: It won the Best Writing Oscar at the Academy Awards and received two Photoplay Awards.

Origination: This story is based on the life of Major League Baseball pitcher, Monty Stratton.

Interesting Fact: This was the first of three films to cast Jimmy Stewart & June Allyson as husband & wife. The other two were The Glenn Miller Story (1954) & Strategic Air Command (1955).

Ethel Stratton: You told me once, "A man has to know where he's goin'!" Where are you goin', Monty?

 

 

This is one of those unkown films that has an amazing cast, a great story and a powerful message. Jimmy Stewart plays Monty Stratton, whose love of baseball got him out of poverty and into the Major Leagues. His fame and talent continued to grow until a fateful accident, which resulted in the removal of his right leg at the knee. With his career at an end, he sinks into a quite depression, of which, only his wife can pull him out. So she begins to offer herself for pitching practice. While she begins to learn a littlle bit more about baseball, he begins to light the fire within him to return to the sport. This is an amazing film.

Stewarts tall and lanky shape made him a perfect candidate for Monty Stratton. Most notable though, is Stewarts performance with only one leg. His chemistry with June Allyson was evident, as they were paired two more times as husband and wife. Frank Morgan is much different in this film then you may be use to seeing him. Tough on his luck, he looks at eveything under his eyebrows. Agnes portrays the sinical yet loving mother who can't figure how someone could make money throwing a ball.

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