Biography of Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player in the 20th century. Traces his career in the negro leagues and the major leagues.
Directed by Alfred E. Green
sports
baseball
brooklyn dodgers
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.1 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Jackie Robinson
Self
Ruby Dee
Rae Robinson
Minor Watson
Branch Rickey
Louise Beavers
Jackie's Mother
Richard Lane
Hopper
Harry Shannon
Charlie
Ben Lessy
Shorty
Billy Wayne
Clyde Sukeforth
Joel Fluellen
Mack Robinson
Bernie Hamilton
Ernie
Kenny Washington
Tigers Manager
Pat Flaherty
Karpen
Crew
Alfred E. Green
Director
Ernest Laszlo
Director of Photography
Boris Leven
Production Design
Popular Reviews
5 reviews
Jack Maher
7.0★ · 04/16/26
this was pretty good
this was pretty good
Andrew Warren
6.0★ · 04/15/26
“This is the story of a boy and his dream. But more than that, it is the story of an American boy and dream that is truly an American.”
Happy Jackie Robinson Day! To celebrate today, I decided to switch it up a bit. I’ve seen the 2013 film 42 multiple times, but this is my first viewing of this 1950 film. I just found out that 42 is actually a remake of this film, which sounds like a dumb thing to say because they’re both biopics of the same man. But 42 actually takes multiple lines from this film, specifically the iconic line from Branch Rickey, “I want a ballplayer with guts to not fight back”.
So is this film better than the original? Well although this film does literally have Jackie Robinson as himself, I think 42 is a better made film, and more entertaining for it being 40 minutes longer. The Jackie Robinson Story is still an interesting film to watch for baseball fans, and enjoyers of the 2013 film.
“This is the story of a boy and his dream. But more than that, it is the story of an American boy and dream that is truly an American.”
Happy Jackie Robinson Day! To celebrate today, I decided to switch it up a bit. I’ve seen the 2013 film 42 multiple times, but this is my first viewing of this 1950 film. I just found out that 42 is actually a remake of this film, which sounds like a dumb thing to say because they’re both biopics of the same man. But 42 actually takes multiple lines from this film, specifically the iconic line from Branch Rickey, “I want a ballplayer with guts to not fight back”.
So is this film better than the original? Well although this film does literally have Jackie Robinson as himself, I think 42 is a better made film, and more entertaining for it being 40 minutes longer. The Jackie Robinson Story is still an interesting film to watch for baseball fans, and enjoyers of the 2013 film.
“In baseball, it’s not who or what you are, but can you play the game.”
I can’t take these calendar transitions anymore.
The Jackie Robinson Story’s main selling point is that Jackie Robinson is playing himself. I think that without this factor, this would be abysmal. Even though it isn’t the greatest with him. The film itself is insanely bland and doesn’t have too much excitement to it. They try to do comedy bits with cartoon like sound effects and music, but it ultimately just makes it hard to watch and doesn’t work at all. It hits the big points in Jackie Robinson’s like, but it definitely could have been done better.
“In baseball, it’s not who or what you are, but can you play the game.”
I can’t take these calendar transitions anymore.
The Jackie Robinson Story’s main selling point is that Jackie Robinson is playing himself. I think that without this factor, this would be abysmal. Even though it isn’t the greatest with him. The film itself is insanely bland and doesn’t have too much excitement to it. They try to do comedy bits with cartoon like sound effects and music, but it ultimately just makes it hard to watch and doesn’t work at all. It hits the big points in Jackie Robinson’s like, but it definitely could have been done better.
