The Stratton Story
| The Stratton Story | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Sam Wood |
| Starring | James Stewart June Allyson Frank Morgan Agnes Moorehead |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date | 12 May 1949 |
Running time | 106 min. |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
The Stratton Story is a 1949 film directed by Sam Wood which tells the true story of Monty Stratton, a Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1934-1938.
James Stewart plays the part of Stratton, who in the off-season of 1938 accidentally shoots himself in his right leg while on a hunting excursion. When his leg has to be amputated, it looks as though his pitching career is over. Nevertheless, with a wooden leg and his wife Ethel's (June Allyson) support, Stratton is able to make a successful minor league comeback in 1946.
Ronald Reagan had sought the title role but was under contract with Warner Bros., which did not want to release Reagan for the film because they thought the movie would be a failure. The Stratton Story became a financial success and won the Academy Award for best original screenplay.
Stratton commented that Mr. Stewart "did a great job of playing me, in a picture which I figure was about as true to life as they could make it".
Other names in the cast include Frank Morgan as scout and personal coach "Barney Wile", Agnes Moorehead as Ma Stratton, and the big-leaguers Gene Bearden, Bill Dickey and Jimmy Dykes in cameo appearances. Moorehead reportedly met her first husband, actor Robert Gist, during the making of this film.
Locations
Scenes were staged at various baseball parks, including:
- Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois, the home field of Stratton's team, the White Sox.
- Gilmore Field, the home of the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League, used in the final scenes of the film, which were set in Texas.
- Wrigley Field, the Los Angeles version, was used in some scenes.
- Stock footage was used of some other American League baseball parks, in establishing shots.
External links
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