The Stratton Story

The Stratton Story
The Stratton Story
	1949 theatrical poster
Directed by	Sam Wood
Screenplay by	Guy Trosper; Douglas Morrow
Story by	Douglas Morrow
Produced by	Jack Cummings
Starring	James Stewart; June Allyson; Frank Morgan; Agnes Moorehead
Cinematography	Harold Rosson
Edited by	Ben Lewis
Music by	Adolph Deutsch
Production; company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	May 12, 1949;
Running time	106 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,771,000
Box office	$4,488,000

The Stratton Storyis a 1949 Americanbiographical filmdirected bySam Woodthat tells the true story ofMonty Stratton,aMajor League Baseball pitcherwho pitched for theChicago White Soxfrom 1934 to 1938.^[2]The film is the first of three to pair starsJimmy StewartandJune Allyson,followed byThe Glenn Miller StoryandStrategic Air Command.Stratton commented that 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."^[3]

The Stratton Storywas a financial success and won theAcademy Award for Best Motion Picture Story.

Plot

Texasfarm boy Monty Stratton demonstrates a knack for pitching a baseball. With the help of Barney Wile, a retiredcatcherwho is now ascout,he manages to arrange a tryout with theChicago White Soxduring the team'sspring trainingin California. He shows promise and is given a contract.

On his first evening at spring training, Stratton is introduced to a young woman named Ethel. They start dating and fall in love, but Stratton must leave from Ethel to travel to Chicago. When he is sent down to a minor league team, he proposes marriage. He is called back up to the White Sox and returns to Chicago with his newlywed bride, and by the end of the season, they are expecting a child.

The next season, Stratton is pitching during a road game and cannot focus because he is thinking of his wife giving birth in Chicago. When he is notified that he has a son, he throws awild pitchand is pulled from the game smiling.

As his career progresses, Stratton improves so much that he is voted an All-Star in theAmerican League.In the offseason of 1938, he accidentally shoots himself in the right leg while hunting on his farm in Texas. When his leg must be amputated, it appears as though his pitching career is over and he enters a very dark, brooding period. Nevertheless, with the support of his wife and a wooden leg, Stratton learns to walk along with his baby boy. He works hard and starts practicing his pitching again. He makes an inspirational, successfulminor-leaguecomeback in 1946.

Cast

James StewartasMonty Stratton
June Allysonas Ethel
Frank Morganas Barney Wile
Agnes Mooreheadas Ma Stratton
Bill Williamsas Eddie Dibson
Bruce CowlingasTed Lyons
Cliff Clarkas Josh Higgins
Mary Lawrenceas Dot
Dean White asLuke Appling
Robert Gistas Earnie
Gene Beardenas Himself
Bill Dickeyas Himself
Jimmy Dykesas Himself
Mervyn "Merv" Sheaas Himself

Agnes Moorehead, who played the role of Monty Stratton's mother, was only seven years James Stewart's senior.

Warner Bros.contract playerRonald Reagansought the title role, but the studio refused to lend him to MGM because it believed that the film would be a failure.^[4]

Van Johnsonwas announced at one stage to play the lead.^[5]

Historical inaccuracy

The movie indicates that Stratton's debut for the Chicago White Sox was part of a catastrophic 16–0 loss to the New York Yankees. However, Stratton's MLB debut occurred on Saturday, June 2, 1934, in a White Sox home game at Comiskey Park versus the Detroit Tigers. Detroit already held a 10–0 lead and had two runners on base when Stratton entered the game in relief with two outs in the sixth inning. Stratton retired the Tigers in that inning without any further runs scored. During the game's three final innings, Stratton allowed two more runs (bothearned) on four hits as the Tigers won 12–0. It was Stratton's only major-league appearance of the 1934 season.^[6]

Production

Scenes were staged at various baseball parks, including:^[2]

Brookside ParkinPasadena,a spring training site for the White Sox
Comiskey ParkinChicago,the home field of Stratton's team, the White Sox
Gilmore Field,the home of theHollywood Starsof thePacific Coast League,used in the final scenes of the film that were set inTexas
Wrigley Field(Los Angeles)

Stock footagewas used to depict several otherAmerican Leaguebaseball parks inestablishing shots.

Reception

According to MGM records, the film earned $3,831,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $657,000 overseas, resulting in a profit of $1,211,000.^[1]It was one of the most popular films of the year.^[7]

Radio adaptation

The story was adapted for a one-hourCBSLux Radio Theatreepisode broadcast on February 13, 1950 that was entitled "The Stratton Story." Stewart and Allyson repeated their roles for the program.^[8]

References

^^a ^b ^cThe Eddie Mannix Ledger,Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^^a ^b"The Stratton Story".www.tcm.com.Retrieved2022-03-15.
^Ap (1982-09-30)."MONTY STRATTON, 70, PITCHER WHO INSPIRED MOVIE, IS DEAD".The New York Times.ISSN 0362-4331.Retrieved2022-03-15.
^"Monty Stratton, 70, Pitcher Who Inspired Movie, Is Dead".The New York Times.AP. 1982-09-30.
^"The Starry Way".The Courier-Mail.Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 13 March 1948. p. 2.Retrieved6 July2012.
^"Retrosheet Boxscore: Detroit Tigers 12, Chicago White Sox 0".www.retrosheet.org.Retrieved2022-01-16.
^"Top Grossers of 1949".Variety.4 January 1950. p. 59.
^"Monday Selections".Toledo Blade (Ohio).1950-02-13. p. 4 (Peach Section).Retrieved2021-06-24.

External links

[Mannix-1] The Eddie Mannix Ledger,Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.

[The_Stratton_Story-2] "The Stratton Story".www.tcm.com.Retrieved2022-03-15.

[3] Ap (1982-09-30)."MONTY STRATTON, 70, PITCHER WHO INSPIRED MOVIE, IS DEAD".The New York Times.ISSN 0362-4331.Retrieved2022-03-15.

[4] "Monty Stratton, 70, Pitcher Who Inspired Movie, Is Dead".The New York Times.AP. 1982-09-30.

[5] "The Starry Way".The Courier-Mail.Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 13 March 1948. p. 2.Retrieved6 July2012.

[6] "Retrosheet Boxscore: Detroit Tigers 12, Chicago White Sox 0".www.retrosheet.org.Retrieved2022-01-16.

[top-7] "Top Grossers of 1949".Variety.4 January 1950. p. 59.

[Toledo-8] "Monday Selections".Toledo Blade (Ohio).1950-02-13. p. 4 (Peach Section).Retrieved2021-06-24.

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