Protraph Lack of good storyline.

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

ttrryosborn I saw this movie many years ago with my father on television. He told me about his experience with Monty Stratton.My father wanted to be a big league pitcher. He tried his luck with the White Sox in the late l930's. He only got as far as spring training before being sent down to the minors leagues. He liked to say that in the minors he made as much money as a soda jerk, but girls at parties were a lot more impressed with someone who played baseball than with some who made root beer floats. As a rookie in spring training, My dad was too shy to walk with the veteran ball players to the field. He always walked a distance behind them. One day, Monty Stratton turned back to him and said that if he wanted to be a big league ball player he had to walk with them. My dad got to know Mr. Stratton very well that Spring. Years later, after WWII and marriage, my dad met Monty again at a ballgame. They talked and Mr. Stratton told him that Hollywood was going to make a movie about him. My dad said they couldn't have picked a better man to make a film about.

jarrodmcdonald-1 Supposedly Jimmy Stewart did not really want to do this film. However, he changed his mind when it was pointed out to him by the bosses at MGM that it would inspire veterans of World War II who had limited mobility. One inspirational scene that occurs is the one where he and his son walk together for the first time. It is complemented nicely by June Allyson who is exceptional and perfectly cast as Stewart's wife (this was the first of three films they made together).The supporting roles are worth noting, too. Agnes Moorhead refrains from chewing the scenery, in a performance that is very understated as the mother. And this is another film where Frank Morgan plays a paternal role to one of Stewart's characters. Morgan seems very lively in this offering. The game scenes are equally lively, and the film continues to remain uplifting with each viewing.

diana-2 Don't get me wrong...I like this movie a lot.But having watched it several times over the years, I never could figure out which leg was amputated and whether it was above or below the knee. Being in the medical field, I am interested in these things...The reason I can't tell is that after the accident, Stewart bends his knees when he walks, even though he is supposed to have an above-knee amputation. And he does this throughout the last part of the movie...Let's face it...Jimmy Stewart is so highly regarded that he got away with this. Even the director let this go? Still in all it's a wonderful cast and a nicely-paced story and I do really like this movie! It doesn't really matter what the adversity is, it's the fact that he goes on with his life and tries to get back to baseball. I came away with Agnes Moorehead's line...something like "Monty just seems to be able to figure things out. He's always been that way..." and I'm trying to be that way myself! Ya gotta roll with the punches....

Michael_Elliott Stratton Story, The (1949) *** (out of 4) True story of Monty Stratton (James Stewart), a star baseball player who loses a leg during a hunting accident but makes a comeback. Here's another film I've been meaning to catch for a while since I've heard about it from my father since I was very young. He loves baseball and Stewart so I'm not sure why it took me so long to see this. This certainly isn't in the same league as The Pride of the Yankees but it remains entertaining throughout. I know the story was changed around for the movie but it still works pretty well. The one thing that hampered the film was during the pre-accident scenes you have Stewart just being Stewart and I never really felt he was playing Stratton. After the accident is when Stewart really begins to shine, especially during the depression part of the film. June Allyson steals the show as Stratton's wife.