Opinions On Eveything

Time for another review on Ye Olde Blog.

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.