goes on to win the pennant, with Robinson driving in the tying run and scoring the winning run in the deciding game. Cast Jackie Robinson as Himself Ruby Dee as Rae Robinson Minor Watson as Branch Rickey Louise Beavers as Jackie's mother Richard Lane as Clay Hopper Harry Shannon as Frank Shaughnessy (listed as "Charlie" in the end credits) Ben Lessy as Shorty Bill Spaulding as Himself Billy Wayne as Clyde Sukeforth Joel Fluellen as Mack Robinson Bernie Hamilton as Ernie Kenny Washington as Tigers Manager Pat Flaherty as Karpen Larry McGrath as Umpire Emmett Smith as Catcher Howard Louis MacNeely as Jackie as a boy George Dockstader as Bill Dick Williams as the Jersey City Pitcher Production Principal photography for the film took place in the off-season following his third season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Much of the film was shot at Gilmore Field, home of the PCL Hollywood Stars. Ben Winkler served as the sound engineer for the film. Reception Even during its initial release—in the era of racial segregation—the film received critical praise and fared well at the box office. According to Bosley Crowther, "What is surprising... in this new film... is the sincerity of the dramatization and the integrity of Mr. Robinson playing himself. Too often, in films of this nature about sports figures, fanciful or real, the sentiments are inflated and the heroics glorified. Here the simple story of Mr. Robinson's trail-blazing career is re-enacted with manifest fidelity and conspicuous dramatic restraint. And Mr. Robinson, doing that rare thing of playing himself in the picture's leading role, displays a calm assurance and composure that might be envied by many a Hollywood star." The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: 2006: AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers – Nominated Colorized version On April 19, 2005, 20th Century Fox and Legend Films released a colorized version of the film, donating a portion of the proceeds to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, a charity that benefits education for gifted students. Another official version, as seen on Amazon Prime Video, remains in release by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (whose sister company, United Artists, produced this film). See also 42, a 2013 film also about Robinson List of United Artists films References External links 1950 films 1950s biographical drama films 1950s sports films American baseball films Biographical films about sportspeople American black-and-white films Brooklyn Dodgers Eagle-Lion Films films 1950s English-language films Films