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Jackie Robinson, Ruby Dee, Minor Watson, Louise Beavers, Richard Lane ... see more see more... , Harry Shannon , Ben Lessy , Bill Spaulding , Billy Wayne , Joel Fluellen , Bernie Hamilton , Kenny Washington , Pat Flaherty , Larry McGrath , Emmett E. Smith , Howard Louis MacNeely , George Dockstader

Despite its lack of production values and box-office "names," The Jackie Robinson Story is one of the best and most convincing baseball biopics ever filmed. Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robi... read more read more...nson plays himself, and quite well indeed. The film traces Robinson's career from his college days, when he excelled as a track star at Pasadena College and as UCLA's All-Sports record holder. Upon his graduation, Robinson tries to get a coaching job, but this is the 1940s, and most doors are closed to black athletes. After serving in the army, Robinson plays with the Negro Baseball League, where his uncanny skills attract the attention of Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Anxious to break down the "color line" that exists in major-league baseball, Robinson is chosen in 1946 to play for the Brooklyn farm team in Montreal. In a harrowing sequence, Rickey lets Robinson know what he's in for by bombarding him with insults and racial slurs. The manager is merely testing Robinson's ability to withstand the pressure: he wants a black ballplayer "with guts enough not to fight back." Robinson agrees to ignore all racial epithets for the first two years of his Brooklyn contract. Despite the unabashed hatred to which he is subjected during his year with Montreal, Robinson steadfastly continues to turn the other cheek, and in 1947 he graduates to the Dodgers lineup. After a slow start, Robinson justifies the faith put in him by Rickey. The Dodgers win the pennant race, and slowly but surely the ban on black players vanishes in the Big Leagues. Though a model of restraint by 1990s standards, The Jackie Robinson Story is surprisingly frank in its detailing of the racial tensions of its own era. It falters only in a couple of silly vignettes involving comic-relief ballplayer Ben Lessey. The cast is uniformly fine, including Louise Beavers as Robinson's mother, Ruby Dee as his wife Rae (Dee would later play Robinson's mother in the 1990 TV movie The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson), Joel Fluellen as his brother Mac, Minor Watson as Branch Rickey, and best of all, Richard Lane as Montreal manager Clay Hopper. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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60% liked it

539 ratings

Critics

75% liked it

8 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 16 min.

Directed by: Alfred E. Green

Release Date: January 1, 1950

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (41)

  • paj85
    February 3, 2012
    paj85
    "The Jackie Robinson Story" falls flat in comparison to most other baseball films out there, fictional or non-fictional. I respect the fact that Jackie Robinson played himself in the lead role, but that is the only reason that I gave this movie a chance. It does feel a bit gimm... read moreicky since his acting is expectedly below Hollywood standards and this definitely seemed more like a made-for-tv movie than something that people paid to see in the theaters. His story is an amazing one, but it feels very rushed with its 76-minute runtime. This film is an important preservation of history and the racism that our country once faced, but if I were recommending a baseball film, this wouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as "Pride of the Yankees" or "Field of Dreams."
  • mkatchan
    December 11, 2007
    mkatchan
    Very good story about Robinson (who plays himself) breaking into Major League Baseball. Begs for a good remake.

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Critic Reviews

March 21, 2011
TIME Magazine

The best thing about the movie is Jackie Robinson himself, playing the title role. Burdened with some lines and situations that would weigh heavily on a professional actor, he gives a remarkably natur... Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Here the simple story of Mr. Robinson's trail-blazing career is re-enacted with manifest fidelity and conspicuous dramatic restraint. And Mr. Robinson displays a calm assurance and composure that migh... Full Review

Nell Minow
December 28, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Movie's main asset is that Robinson plays himself. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
October 9, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

One of the most sincere sports biopics. Full Review

Steve Crum
October 16, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Lackluster production but great central baseball hero.

Emanuel Levy
July 3, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Tony Toscano
December 1, 2002
Tony Toscano, Talking Pictures (U.S.)

No review available.

Nell Minow
January 1, 2000
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

No review available.

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