Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #97835 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 77 minutes

Amazon.com
The vintage film biography The Jackie Robinson Story is unusual in that Robinson portrays himself, and the movie was produced in 1950, barely three years after he took up his position at second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke the "color line" in professional baseball. After providing a fast portrayal of Robinson's early life, up to his collegiate sports career at UCLA and his stint in the U.S. Army, the story turns serious when Branch Rickey offers him a contract to play for a Brooklyn Dodgers farm team. Interestingly, some of the scenes, such as an incident when Robinson and his teammates were being locked out of a stadium at a spring training game in Florida, may have more impact with viewers today than when the film was first released. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews

"Mr. Rickey, I've got two cheeks"
A riveting, inspiring piece of American history, seeing the legendary Jackie Robinson play himself is a rare experience; a man who did so much to change the face of segregation, with enormous courage and extraordinary talent.
This is a film everyone, young and old, black and white, should see. Buy it, keep it, give it as a gift. This film is a treasure, even for those of us who are not baseball fans, and like me, don't really understand the game...this film is about so much more...it is the portrait of an era, and the man who was able to make a difference.

Jackie Robinson has a beauty in his face, and is a charismatic screen presence. He is backed by some excellent actors, like Ruby Dee, who plays Rae, his wife, and Minor Watson, terrific as Branch Rickey, who was president of The Brooklyn Dodgers, and also an interesting character. Rickey made a judgement call to hire Jackie, and was proved right, despite much opposition. Humor is provided by the very funny Ben Lessy as Shorty.

The film starts with Robinson as a young boy, through his college years at UCLA, and his time with the Panthers, an all-black team, then a stint in the military during WWII, and later trying to get a job as a coach, with no results.
Robinson of course suffered endless slurs and hatred in the early years with the Dodgers. Mr. Rickey made Robinson promise that he would never fight back when insulted, and even hit, and Robinson replied, "Mr. Rickey, I have two cheeks".

The first game he played with "organized baseball" was in 1946, and changed sports history, and a hero was born. God bless Jackie Robinson, for all he did for sports, and all he achieved for humanity.
With well paced direction by Alfred E. Green, a nice somewhat corny but appropriate score by Herschel Burke Gilbert, and the great Ernest Laszlo did the cinematography, which captures the enthusiasm of the game.
Total running time is 77 minutes.

Pass it on
This is a very heartwarming story of perseverance by one of the best ball players of the era. A model citizen in a difficult position, Jackie shows all of us how to respond to adversity and prejudice. I bought this DVD for my son.
In case you didn't notice this is the only DVD of this movie with close-captioning AND a color option.

Jackie Robinson DVD Breaks the COLOR Barrier!
What an inspirational movie! Jackie Robinson stars as himself in this entertaining sports and family classic. It chronicles his life, from youth, through his college career at UCLA, to his rise to legend with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie triumphs over racial injustices and emerges as nothing less than one of America's true heroes. If you have a child playing baseball, or any sport, The Jackie Robinson Story is an important film for them to watch.

Presented in color for the first time and beautifully restored, this is the definitive DVD edition of The Jackie Robinson Story. Released in conjunction with The Jackie Robinson Foundation which benefits education for gifted students.