Movie Time - "42" (2013)

Happy Jackie Robinson Day!

It was 75 years ago today that Jackie made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, changing Baseball - for the better - forever!

In keeping with the situation, I rewatched 2013's "42" which chronicles Jackie Robinson's journey from the Negro Leagues to the Major Leagues.

I love Baseball and I love period movies and I think Jackie Robinson was a tremendously inspirational person, so this movie already had a lot going for it, but I think it's good anyway!

The performances of Chadwick Boseman as Jackie and Harrison Ford as Dodgers honcho Branch Rickey are outstanding!

Here's a trailer:

I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Jackie makes good, but one mark of a good movie is when you're engrossed even when you know the outcome!

I can't even begin to imagine the strength of character that Jackie must have had to endure what he was was subjected to. And props to Branch Rickey for doing what he thought was right despite what everyone else said!

An interesting double-feature (double play?) can be had by viewing 1950's "The Jackie Robinson Story" along with "42," so I did that!

"The Jackie Robinson Story" is much lower-budgeted and not as well-acted on the whole as "42," but a huge plus is that it stars Jackie Robinson as himself!

Jackie's not really much of an actor, but acquits himself pretty well and it's intriguing seeing him in a dramatization of events that had only happened a few years before!

Another plus is Ruby Dee as Jackie's wife "Rae" (Rachel). She's a lovely and talented actress and it's really a shame that circumstances of the time didn't allow her to get as many leading roles in big pictures as she deserved.

Here's a pretty neat colorized trailer:

Hey, it's time for another song, so here's Buddy Johnson and his Orchestra with a great tribute to Jackie on Decca Records in 1949 (the year of Jackie's MVP season):

Thanks to "42" and "The Jackie Robinson Story," I feel like I did see Jackie Robinson hit that ball!