Sunday, October 15, 2006
Monday Review: The Stratton Story
Time for another review on Ye Olde Blog.
The Stratton Story (1949)
Here's the IMDB plot summary
Stratton became a starter in 1937 winning 15 games and making it to the All Star Game. He also won 15 games in 1938. So he was actually a pretty good pitcher heading into his prime years when he suffered his unfortunate accident. This leads to a slight peeve of mine when it comes to old movie biographies. The films are almost always whitewashed and "feel good" flicks with very little substance. Another thing is that the story is constrained to the point that one can easily think that the story takes place over a year or two at most. This is not a huge problem because most films back then were about 90 to 100 minutes at most.
The film is fairly good. I can see why Jimmy Stewart was one of America's most loved actors of all time. The guy just had an every-man quality to him that's infectious. You can't help but pull for him and care for his characters. Monty Stratton as portrayed in the movie was the prototypical gee whiz country boy and Stewart plays it masterfully.
The love interest of Ethel played by June Allyson is wonderful as well. There's just something about the classic female stars of the day. Most of them aren't the most beautiful women in the world but they had a charm that just oozes out of them. Ms. Allyson had a spunkiness and almost tomboyish quality to her that endears the viewer to her role. She and Stewart had great chemistry together and the scene of her getting Monty to pitch her a fastball is very cute and funny.
The character of Barney Wile (not mentioned in the summary) was interesting. He was an old time baseball player who basically was down on his luck. He discovered Stratton and he brought him into the Bigs with the White Sox. I liked how he and Stratton instantly hit it off and developed almost a father/son relationship. The portrayal of Stratton's mother by character actress Agnes Moorehead was enchanting even tho her character didn't want her son to go into baseball. In the end you see the strong bond between mother and son.
Overall I give the film *** out of 5 stars
ADDENDUM:
This is regarding the final baseball scenes when Stratton is making his comeback in Minor League Baseball. Before I complain/muse about this I should say that I guess it was done that way for dramatic purposes more then anything else.
Here is the situation:
9th Inning and Stratton is pitching. His team is leading 2-0 and there's a runner on 3rd with one out. The batter hits the ball to short. Now the way one would normally play the ball is to throw to first for the obvious out but the SS threw the ball to home and the runner is safe.
Again it was probably done for dramatic purposes but it was just odd seeing that considering the etiquete of baseball.
The Stratton Story (1949)
Here's the IMDB plot summary
The movie is about Chicago White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton (Jimmy Stewart), who in the 1930s, compiled a 37-19 won-loss record in three seasons. After he became the winningest right-hander in the American League, his major league career ended prematurely when a hunting accident in 1938 forced doctors to amputate his right leg. With a wooden leg and his wife Ethel's (June Allyson) help, Stratton made a successful minor league comeback in 1946, continuing to pitch in minor leagues throughout the rest of the 1940s and into the 1950s.
Stratton became a starter in 1937 winning 15 games and making it to the All Star Game. He also won 15 games in 1938. So he was actually a pretty good pitcher heading into his prime years when he suffered his unfortunate accident. This leads to a slight peeve of mine when it comes to old movie biographies. The films are almost always whitewashed and "feel good" flicks with very little substance. Another thing is that the story is constrained to the point that one can easily think that the story takes place over a year or two at most. This is not a huge problem because most films back then were about 90 to 100 minutes at most.
The film is fairly good. I can see why Jimmy Stewart was one of America's most loved actors of all time. The guy just had an every-man quality to him that's infectious. You can't help but pull for him and care for his characters. Monty Stratton as portrayed in the movie was the prototypical gee whiz country boy and Stewart plays it masterfully.
The love interest of Ethel played by June Allyson is wonderful as well. There's just something about the classic female stars of the day. Most of them aren't the most beautiful women in the world but they had a charm that just oozes out of them. Ms. Allyson had a spunkiness and almost tomboyish quality to her that endears the viewer to her role. She and Stewart had great chemistry together and the scene of her getting Monty to pitch her a fastball is very cute and funny.
The character of Barney Wile (not mentioned in the summary) was interesting. He was an old time baseball player who basically was down on his luck. He discovered Stratton and he brought him into the Bigs with the White Sox. I liked how he and Stratton instantly hit it off and developed almost a father/son relationship. The portrayal of Stratton's mother by character actress Agnes Moorehead was enchanting even tho her character didn't want her son to go into baseball. In the end you see the strong bond between mother and son.
Overall I give the film *** out of 5 stars
ADDENDUM:
This is regarding the final baseball scenes when Stratton is making his comeback in Minor League Baseball. Before I complain/muse about this I should say that I guess it was done that way for dramatic purposes more then anything else.
Here is the situation:
9th Inning and Stratton is pitching. His team is leading 2-0 and there's a runner on 3rd with one out. The batter hits the ball to short. Now the way one would normally play the ball is to throw to first for the obvious out but the SS threw the ball to home and the runner is safe.
Again it was probably done for dramatic purposes but it was just odd seeing that considering the etiquete of baseball.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Something I Noticed about G.W. Bush
Well this was supposed to be up last night but the sudden death of Yankee pitcher Cory Lidle and the whole surrealism of what happened was a bit much for me.
Anywho, this won't be some longwinded opinion piece but rather something that I noticed while watching a bit of President Bush's Press Conference yesterday. I remember back in 2000 the networks had shown some clips of Bush's debate performances in the gubernatorial races for Texas Governor and Bush was actually a very well spoken and knowledgable guy. Somehow over the course of the last 6 or so years Bush has become increasingly "dumbed down".
Now I understand why this was done as Bush was re-invented for the national audience as a man of the people but over the years his malpropisms, general befuddlement in certain situations and his Black/White philosophy to life has made him look well, pretty stupid and out of his element.
As I watched the presser yesterday it finally clicked for me. George W. Bush is not truly in charge of everything in the White House. He has relied far too heavily on those he trusts. In many ways he's been betrayed by them. I mean, it's crazy how people within the administration and people associated with the admin. have made all kinds of money in defense contracts and other such things in Iraq while America is in a quagmire.
Anywho, I think it's clear that the Bush of the late 90s was more manufactured but I truly think it's distressing that the leader of the Free World is a bumbling, befuddled kind of guy.
Anywho, this won't be some longwinded opinion piece but rather something that I noticed while watching a bit of President Bush's Press Conference yesterday. I remember back in 2000 the networks had shown some clips of Bush's debate performances in the gubernatorial races for Texas Governor and Bush was actually a very well spoken and knowledgable guy. Somehow over the course of the last 6 or so years Bush has become increasingly "dumbed down".
Now I understand why this was done as Bush was re-invented for the national audience as a man of the people but over the years his malpropisms, general befuddlement in certain situations and his Black/White philosophy to life has made him look well, pretty stupid and out of his element.
As I watched the presser yesterday it finally clicked for me. George W. Bush is not truly in charge of everything in the White House. He has relied far too heavily on those he trusts. In many ways he's been betrayed by them. I mean, it's crazy how people within the administration and people associated with the admin. have made all kinds of money in defense contracts and other such things in Iraq while America is in a quagmire.
Anywho, I think it's clear that the Bush of the late 90s was more manufactured but I truly think it's distressing that the leader of the Free World is a bumbling, befuddled kind of guy.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Monday Review on a Tuesday: The Naked Spur
Sorry for lack of updates. I just don't feel up to writing a blog piece but I decided to today. It looks like the next five Monday Reviews will be James Stewart movies unless I read or watch something that is totally intriguing.
THE NAKED SPUR (1953)
Plot summary via IMDB
This isn't exactly one of James Stewart's better movies but it's a good enough time waster. The acting in the movie is VERY broad and almost laughable by today's standards (except for Stewart) but still it wasn't without its charm. The role of Jesse Tate was played to perfection by character actor Millard Mitchell. In many ways I felt bad for him as he was this old guy looking to strike it rich. At one point he talks to Ben about how he has seen so many of his friends and coleagues strike it rich just by sheer accident alone yet he has never seen gold for himself.
The villian of the piece, Ben Vandergoat played by Robert Ryan was pretty one note right down to being abusive to his girl Lina at the end of the picture. The Roy Anderson character was also pretty flat IMO as well but that didn't matter too much as the story truly revolved around Stewart's Kemp character and Janet Leigh as Lina Patch.
It was interesting to learn the motivation and reasoning for Kemp's bitterness and why he traveled all the way out west to get Ben. Lina, who was a very doting and caring lady slowly felt sorry for Howard because of how he lost his ranch. Slowly throughout the film her pity turned into geniune love for Howard but not in an overt and demonstrative way that you'd expect from films of this vintage.
Stewart was fantastic in a role that I felt was a bit beneath him. I did like how he was able to come across as extremely bitter and heelish throughout the first half of the movie. It just goes to show that great acting talent can sometimes lift B grade material to something watchable.
Overall I give this flick ** out of 5 stars.
Next film scheduled: The Stratton Story
THE NAKED SPUR (1953)
Plot summary via IMDB
A bitter Howard Kemp heads westward to the Rockies from Abilene, Kansas on the trail of murderer Ben Vandergroat and the $5000 reward on Vandergroat's head, money after which Kemp lusts in order to re-purchase the ranch that his absconding fiancée had sold during his stint in the army. Kemp unexpectedly crosses paths with an old, star-crossed gold miner, Jesse Tate, and with a recently-discharged soldier of questionable repute, Roy Anderson. Teaming up, they nab Vandergroat and his girl, Lina Patch, but Vandergroat tries to turn his three distrustful, avaricious captors against each other during the return trip.
This isn't exactly one of James Stewart's better movies but it's a good enough time waster. The acting in the movie is VERY broad and almost laughable by today's standards (except for Stewart) but still it wasn't without its charm. The role of Jesse Tate was played to perfection by character actor Millard Mitchell. In many ways I felt bad for him as he was this old guy looking to strike it rich. At one point he talks to Ben about how he has seen so many of his friends and coleagues strike it rich just by sheer accident alone yet he has never seen gold for himself.
The villian of the piece, Ben Vandergoat played by Robert Ryan was pretty one note right down to being abusive to his girl Lina at the end of the picture. The Roy Anderson character was also pretty flat IMO as well but that didn't matter too much as the story truly revolved around Stewart's Kemp character and Janet Leigh as Lina Patch.
It was interesting to learn the motivation and reasoning for Kemp's bitterness and why he traveled all the way out west to get Ben. Lina, who was a very doting and caring lady slowly felt sorry for Howard because of how he lost his ranch. Slowly throughout the film her pity turned into geniune love for Howard but not in an overt and demonstrative way that you'd expect from films of this vintage.
Stewart was fantastic in a role that I felt was a bit beneath him. I did like how he was able to come across as extremely bitter and heelish throughout the first half of the movie. It just goes to show that great acting talent can sometimes lift B grade material to something watchable.
Overall I give this flick ** out of 5 stars.
Next film scheduled: The Stratton Story
