THE STRATTON STORY
US, 1949, 106 minutes, Black and white.
James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan, Agnes Moorehead, Bill Williams.
Directed by Sam Wood.
The Stratton Story is a genial, homespun tale about a baseball celebrity. Monty Stratton himself acted as technical adviser for the film.
James Stewart is at his most typical in the opening part of this film as the tall Texan farmer who was a champion pitcher. The film offers baseball sequences, especially with Stratton, after a shooting accident and the loss of his leg, making a comeback. It is a film of courage and determination after depression.
James Stewart is teamed with June Allyson, a sturdy and attractive wife. They were later teamed in Anthony Mann's Glenn Miller Story and Strategic Air Command. Agnes Moorehead (only a couple of years older than Stewart) portrays his mother in her typical way. Frank Morgan has a good role as an ex-alcoholic ballplayer turned trainer who discovers Stratton.
The film was directed by Sam Wood, veteran director of many of the Goldwyn and M.G.M. film classics of the '30s and '40s, including the baseball story of Lou Gehrig with Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright, The Pride of the Yankees. (The film was colourised in the late '80s.)
1. A popular piece of Americana? Portrait of a man, baseball player, handicapped man making a comeback? Baseball and the American ethos, baseball heroes?
2. M.G.M. production values: black and white photography, the atmosphere of Texas, the baseball sequences? Musical score?
3. The focus on Monty Stratton, his offering technical advice? Some of the baseball players of the period acting as themselves?
4. The focus on Monty: his skill in playing in Texas, his walking back to the farm, his hard work, keeping in training, his relationship with his mother and their life on the farm? Barney discovering him, walking back with him? Staying for the winter, working and giving advice and training? The decision to go to Houston, the attempt at a try-out, his proving himself? Winning at the slot machine, the date with Ethel, his taking her away early and her discomfort? His explanation of himself and the game to her, falling in love? Going on tour, not getting a chance to play, being beaten in his first attempt? The second meeting with Ethel and explaining things to her? Playing in the second division and succeeding? His recall, going to the cinema, proposal? The happy marriage, her support, at the farm? The birth of their child? A successful career? The hunting accident, sending the dog back, Ethel and her signing the declaration for his amputation? Return home, depression, irritability, doing nothing? Not reading the fans' letters? Ethel's attempt to interest him, the baseball? His watching his son, learning to walk, his decision to get his artificial leg, the two of them walking together? Starting to pitch and practise, with Ethel, Barney's return? Going to Houston, surprising them by playing, his lack of success initially in the comeback, his batting, running and falling,
joking and putting people at ease, champion pitching? Winning the game? Making a comeback and acclamation? A James Stewart portrait of a good man?
5. Ethel, from Nebraska, the date and her irritability, learning to know Monty, falling in love, his visits, the cinema, marriage, the birth of the child, with Ma, the accident, signing the declaration, trying to help him
come out of his depression, the baseball, the baby, pitching with him? At Houston, thinking to dissuade him, supporting him?
6. Barney and the tramp, the train, watching Monty, walking home with him, persuading him to practise, training him, going to Houston, the brush-off from the coach? Allowing him to stay? The happy times together? His return, going to Houston, success - an achievement of an ambition and a purpose in life?
7. Ma, the sturdy Texan woman, her stern manner of speaking, letting Monty make his own choices, her disapproval? His return, her happiness, the accident and her tears? Watching the final game, her support of her son? The cousin on the farm and his working it while Monty was away?
8. The world of baseball, the games, the competition, the skills, victories and defeats? Social life - and Monty disapproving of his friend flirting with Ethel? On the bench, support, morale?
9. Baseball and the American ethos? This film's contribution to an understanding of American heroes and a tribute to Stratton?
