The Stratton Story (1949)

Sport Bio. - The Stratton Story review by Steve

Hard to imagine that this folksy, corny biopic could work without the everyman qualities of James Stewart. Sam Wood returned to baseball- after Pride of the Yankees- and miraculously manages to excise nearly all the sentimentality from the life of Monty Stratton, a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in the thirties who recovered from an above knee amputation to play again.

It's the ultimate Hollywood Americana, the story of a country boy from rural Texas who makes good in the major leagues. The rags to riches narrative of the first part of the film draws on the myth of the American dream. And the star gives us a character we can unconditionally root for. It adds up to cheerful optimistic cinema.

Unless the audience can suspend their cynicism, this isn't going to work! But it only once strays into mawkishness: when Monty shoots off his leg and commands his dog go for help... There are familiar archetypes; the unconditional love of his stoical ma, the drunk former star who cleans up to mentor Monty to the big time. This is the first time peppy June Allyson plays James Stewart's romantic interest.

There are cameos from major league baseball stars to convey a little authenticity on the field, though Stewart is clearly no demon pitcher. There's a great script which allows Monty far more wit than the usual Hollywood country boy. It's easy enough to mock its good hearted ideals, but for me it's the best baseball film of the studio era.