The film begins in Wagner, Texas, in the early 1930's, as cotton farmer, Monty Stratton, is pitching for the local amateur baseball team, the Wagner Wildcats. Agent Barney Wild (Frank Morgan) happens upon the young man and, impressed, informs him that he has a chance to play baseball professionally. With Barney promising to do what he can to get him a tryout and his cousin agreeing to take care of the farm, Monty heads west to California, where he meets up with the Chicago White Sox.
The Sox are impressed enough to offer Monty a contract, and after a bit of a rough start, he settles in and becomes not only an all-star, but the leading right-handed pitcher in the American League. With coaches making statements such as "What a future that boy's got" and "Right now, I wouldn't trade him for any other pitcher in baseball," Monty enjoys great success in the years 1934-1938.
At the height of his career, though, tragedy strikes, as, while on his property hunting, Monty's gun discharges, sending a bullet into his leg. In order to save his life, doctors must remove Monty's leg; for a man whose legs are his life, the loss of the limb is a bitter blow, and for a time, Monty is overwhelmingly depressed and without a will to do anything. Eventually, however, he comes to terms with his handicap and, with a prosthetic leg, seeks to pitch in the big leagues once more.
The Stratton Story isn't a spectacular movie, but it is interesting, touching, and inspiring. I count it among my top 5 baseball movies. Jimmy Stewart is terrific in the role, and his chemistry with June Allyson is wonderful. (The two of them would be paired together twice more---in The Glenn Miller Story and Strategic Air Command.) I adore both Jimmy and June...although I can never watch a single June Allyson film without hearing "Christopher Columbus" every time she utters a word. (She is and always will be Little Women's Jo March to me.)
A few real-life baseball players make appearances in this film...Bill Dickey, Gene Bearden, and Jimmy Dykes.
Out on DVD as part of the James Stewart Signature Collection, The Stratton Story ought to be fairly easy to track down. It is also on the TCM schedule for Sunday, July 21st, at 8:00 a.m. (ET). If you like Jimmy Stewart, baseball, or inspiring, uplifting stories, you're sure to enjoy this. I give it 4 stars.
Happy viewing!!
