42 (film)
42 | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Brian Helgeland |
Written by | Brian Helgeland |
Produced by | Thomas Tull |
Starring | Chadwick Boseman Harrison Ford Nicole Beharie Christopher Meloni Andre Holland Lucas Black Hamish Linklater Ryan Merriman |
Cinematography | Don Burgess |
Edited by | Kevin Stitt Peter McNulty |
Music by | Mark Isham |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 128 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $40 million[2] |
Box office | $97,470,701[2] |
42 is a 2013 American biographical sports film written and directed by Brian Helgeland about the racial integration of American professional baseball by player Jackie Robinson, who wore jersey number 42 through his Major League career. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey.[3] Alan Tudyk, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Andre Holland, Lucas Black, Hamish Linklater, and Ryan Merriman appear in supporting roles.[4][5] 42 was released in North America on April 12, 2013.[6]
Plot
The film tells the story of Jackie Robinson and, under the guidance of team executive Branch Rickey, Robinson's signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers to become the first African-American player to break the baseball color barrier. The story focuses mostly on the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers season and somewhat on Robinson's 1946 season with the Montreal Royals, which emphasize his battles with racism.
In 1945, Jackie Robinson and his team, the Kansas City Monarchs, stop by a gas station. When the attendant refuses Robinson entry to the washroom, Robinson says they will find another station at which to fill up the team bus, and the attendant relents. As Robinson comes out, a scout for the Dodgers approaches him and sends him to Brooklyn. He is offered a $600/month contract and $3,500 signing bonus, which Robinson accepts after being warned he must control his temper if he wants to play. Robinson proposes to his girlfriend, Rachel, by phone and she accepts.
During Dodgers spring training, Robinson makes it to the franchise farm team in Montreal. After a great season there and spring training in Panama, he advances to the Dodgers. Most of the team soon signs a petition stating they refuse to play with Robinson, but manager Leo Durocher insists Robinson will play with the main team. When Durocher is suspended (for actions in his personal life), leaving the Dodgers without a manager to start the regular season, Burt Shotton agrees to manage the team.
In a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, manager Ben Chapman taunts Robinson, causing him to go back to the dugout and smash his bat to vent his anger. With encouragement from Rickey, Robinson then returns to the field and hits a single, steals second base and advances to third on a throwing error and scores the winning run. When Chapman's behavior toward Robinson generates bad press for the team, the Phillies' owner requires him to pose with Robinson for newspapers and magazine photos.
Later, Robinson's teammate, Pee Wee Reese, comes to understand the pressure Robinson is facing, and makes a public show of solidarity, standing with his arm around Robinson's shoulders before a hostile crowd in Cincinnati.
In a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Enos Slaughter spikes Robinson on the back of the leg with his cleats while running the bases.
Robinson's home run against Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Fritz Ostermueller, who had earlier hit him in the head, helps clinch the National League pennant for the Dodgers, sending them to the World Series, which they would lose to the New York Yankees. A concluding postscript describes how Rickey, Robinson, and many of his teammates went on to have distinguished careers, including inductions into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The notes also describe the entrance of other African Americans into the Major Leagues, beginning with the season after Robinson's debut.
Cast
- Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson
- Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey
- Andre Holland as Wendell Smith
- Christopher Meloni as Leo Durocher
- John C. McGinley as Red Barber
- Toby Huss as Clyde Sukeforth
- Lucas Black as Pee Wee Reese
- Alan Tudyk as Ben Chapman
- Nicole Beharie as Rachel Isum Robinson
- C. J. Nitkowski as Dutch Leonard
- Brett Cullen as Clay Hopper
- Ryan Merriman as Dixie Walker
- T. R. Knight as Harold Parrott
- Hamish Linklater as Ralph Branca
- Brad Beyer as Kirby Higbe
- Jesse Luken as Eddie Stanky
- Max Gail as Burt Shotton
- Peter MacKenzie as Happy Chandler
- Linc Hand as Fritz Ostermueller
Former minor league player Jasha Balcom served as a stuntman for Boseman in some of the film's scenes.[7]
Production
Spike Lee planned to write and direct a film based on the life of Jackie Robinson and had it set up at Turner Pictures under his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks in 1995. The studio wanted to release it in 1997 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Robinson's breaking of the color barrier, and courted Denzel Washington to star,[8] but the project fell apart in 1996 over creative differences. In March 1997 Lee found favor with Columbia Pictures, who signed him to a three-year first-look deal. Columbia President Amy Pascal reflected that it would bring "enormous potential for Spike to reach audiences that are not traditionally associated with Spike Lee movies."[9] The project eventually fell apart, but in 2004 Robert Redford set up a Jackie Robinson biopic as producer with Deep River Productions, as well as his own production company, Wildwood Productions. Redford also intended to co-star as Branch Rickey,[10] and Howard Baldwin joined as producer the following year.[11] In June 2011 it was announced the Legendary Pictures would develop and produce a Jackie Robinson biopic with Brian Helgeland onboard to write and direct, under a distribution deal with Warner Bros. Legendary collaborated with Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, to ensure the authenticity of her husband’s story. She had previously been involved with Redford's project.[12]
42 was filmed primarily in Macon, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Some interior scenes were shot at Atlanta Film Studios Paulding County in Hiram, Georgia.[13]
Most of the interior stadium shots were filmed at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Utilizing old photographs and stadium blueprints, Ebbets Field, Shibe Park, The Polo Grounds, Crosley Field, and Forbes Field were recreated for the film using digital imagery.Cite error: The <ref>
tag has too many names (see the help page).
Reception
42 has received positive reviews from critics, as it currently holds a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 178 reviews. The consensus states: "42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some." On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 62 out of 100, based on 39 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Richard Roeper stated, "This is a competent but mostly unexceptional film about a most extraordinary man."[14] Lisa Kennedy, of the Denver Post, lauded the film, saying "This story inspires and entertains with a vital chapter in this nation's history."[15][16] Conversely, Peter Rainer, of The Christian Science Monitor, criticized the film as "TV-movie-of-the-week dull and Robinson's ordeal is hammered home to the exclusion of virtually everything else in his life."[17]
Jackie Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, was involved in the production of the film and has praised the end result, saying, "It was important to me because I wanted it to be an authentic piece. I wanted to get it right. I didn’t want them to make him an angry black man or some stereotype, so it was important for me to be in there . . . I love the movie. I’m pleased with it. It’s authentic and it’s also very powerful."[18]
Box office
The film earned an estimated $27.3 million for its opening weekend, the best premiere for a baseball-themed film in Hollywood history. Only released in the US and Canada, the film went on to gross a total of $95,020,213.[19]
Home media
42 was released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 16, 2013 in America, and on Feb. 3rd, 2014 in the U.K.[20]
Historical inaccuracies
Robinson and Rachel Isum became engaged in 1943, while he was still in the United States Army and before he began his professional baseball career, unlike in the film where he proposes after signing the contract with the Dodgers.
The Brooklyn Dodgers held their 1947 Spring Training in Havana, Cuba, not Panama City, Panama, as depicted in the movie.
The scene of Robinson breaking his bat in the dugout tunnel is not based in fact. Both Rachel Robinson and Ralph Branca, film consultant and Dodger pitcher in the dugout that day, say it did not happen. Director Helgeland concurs, explaining that his justification for including the scene was that he felt "there was no way Robinson could have withstood all that abuse without cracking at least once, even if it was in private."[21]
Red Barber would not have broadcast Dodger away games from the opposing team's ballpark in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, as shown in the film. Radio broadcasts of away games in this era were recreated back at the studio from a pitch by pitch summary transmitted over telegraph wire from the stadium where the game was being played.[22][23]
Wendell Smith is said to have been the first black member of the Baseball Writers Association of America; Sam Lacy was the first, having joined in 1948.[24]
Pirates pitcher Fritz Ostermueller threw left-handed, not right-handed as in the film. His first inning pitch hit Robinson on the left wrist, not his head, and he claimed it was a routine brushback pitch without racist intent. There was no fight on the mound afterwards.[25] The climactic scene in which Robinson hit a home run to clinch the National League pennant for the Dodgers came in the top of the fourth inning of the game, did not clinch the victory (it made the score 1–0, and the Dodgers eventually won 4–2), and did not clinch the pennant; the Dodgers clinched at least a tie for the pennant on that day before clinching the pennant the next day.[26]
While Dodger manager Leo Durocher did have an affair with actress Laraine Day, the official reason for his suspension by commissioner Happy Chandler during Robinson's rookie year was allegations of gambling and not his relationship with Day.
Toward the end of the film, Barber states Robinson's stats at that point in the 1947 season, saying he had stolen 27 bases without being caught on the season. In reality, caught stealing was not an official statistic at the time and would not become one until 1951.
In the film, four umpires were present on opening day of the 1946 Jersey City Giants' season. At the time, and to this day, the International League uses only three umpires per game.
References
- ^ "42 (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. July 8, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ^ a b "42 (2013)". Box Office Mojo. April 3, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
- ^ Fordin, Spencer (December 9, 2011) Jackie Robinson movie to star Ford, Boseman. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved on April 23, 2013.
- ^ Chandler, Rick (December 21, 2011) Harrison Ford to play Branch Rickey in movie about Jackie Robinson. Offthebench.nbcsports.com. Retrieved on April 23, 2013.
- ^ Neuse, Corwin (May 22, 2012) Lucas Black Is Pee-Wee Reese In '42'. Social.entertainment.msn.com. Retrieved on April 23, 2013.
- ^ Calcaterra, Craig (June 4, 2012) The Jackie Robinson movie “42″ to open next April 15. Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved on April 23, 2013.
- ^ Kepner, Tyler. "Immersing Himself to Play a Pioneer". New York Times. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ Cox, Dan (October 16, 1995). "Turner Pix bows starry slate". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ Cox, Dan (March 2, 1997). "40 Acres & A Mule to Col". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ McNary, Dave (July 5, 2004). "Duo in Deep with Par". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ McNary, Dave (June 20, 2005). "Rodney gets some respect". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ McNary, Dave (June 1, 2011). "Jackie Robinson biopic takes flight". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ McAllister, Cameron (April 22, 2013). "Review: "42"". Reel Georgia.
- ^ Roeper, Richard (April 12, 2013). 42 Review. Richard Roeper & the Movies. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ Kennedy, Lisa (April 12, 2013). Movie review: "42" gives baseball great Jackie Robinson, but also heroism, its due. Denver Post. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ Korsgaard, Sean CW (April 12, 2013). 42. Korsgaard's Commentary. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ Rainer, Peter (April 12, 2013). '42' is a dull treatment of Jackie Robinson's story. Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ Haylock, Rahshaun. "Rachel Robinson reflects on role in making '42'". FOX Sports Interactive Media. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Smith, Grady (April 14, 2013). "Box office report: '42' knocks it out of the park with $27.3 million; 'Oblivion' huge overseas". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ 42 Blu-ray. blu-ray.com
- ^ Koltnow, Barry (April 19, 2013). "Viewpoint: Why biopics swing hard and strike out". The Providence Journal. Providence, Rhode Island. p. C3.
- ^ "Transcripts: Show". PRX. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Williams, Jim; Staff (August 5, 1921). "Baseball Games Re-created in Radio Studios". Modestoradiomuseum.org. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Litsky, Frank (May 12, 2003). "Sam Lacy, 99; Fought Racism as Sportswriter". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Kennedy, Wally (May 5, 2013). "'It didn't happen that way'; Daughter of pitcher in '42' says movie unfair to her father". The Joplin Globe. Joplin, MO: Community Newspaper Holdings. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "MLB Stats, Standings, Scores, History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
External links
- Official website
- 42 at IMDb
- 42 at Rotten Tomatoes
- 42 at Box Office Mojo
- 42 History vs. Hollywood
- 2013 films
- Jackie Robinson
- 2010s drama films
- American baseball films
- American films
- American biographical films
- American drama films
- Baseball films
- Sports drama films
- Biographical films about sportspeople
- Brooklyn Dodgers
- English-language films
- Films about racism
- Films set in 1945
- Films set in 1946
- Films set in the 1940s
- Films set in Brooklyn
- Films set in California
- Films set in Florida
- Films set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Films set in Panama
- Films shot in Alabama
- Films shot in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Films shot in Tennessee
- Legendary Pictures films
- Warner Bros. films