The story of the life and career of famed baseball player Lou Gehrig.The story of the life and career of famed baseball player Lou Gehrig.The story of the life and career of famed baseball player Lou Gehrig.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 10 nominations total
Ludwig Stössel
- Pop Gehrig
- (as Ludwig Stossel)
Bob Meusel
- Robert W. Meusel
- (as Robert W. Meusel)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn reality, Gary Cooper was decidedly not a fan of baseball and required extensive coaching in order to look even passable on a baseball diamond. In fact, he had never played the game before, even as a youth, and had never even seen a baseball game in person until he was hired for this film.
- GoofsAs Gehrig (Cooper) is doing his homework at Columbia, he writes with his right hand. Whilst Gehrig batted and threw left-handed, like many lefties of the era (perhaps because of "correction" in school), he wrote with his right hand.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Lou Gehrig: [his farewell speech]
Lou Gehrig: Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth... play ball!
- Crazy creditsOpening credits acknowledgment: Appreciation is expressed for the gracious assistance of Eleanor Gehrig (as Mrs. Lou Gehrig) and for the cooperation of Ed Barrow (as Mr. Ed Barrow) and the New York Yankees arranged by Christy Walsh.
- Alternate versionsA colorized version is available.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Diamonds on the Silver Screen (1992)
- SoundtracksTake Me Out to the Ball Game
(1908) (uncredited)
Music by Albert von Tilzer
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
Featured review
A touching and emotional experience about the life of late-New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig (played brilliantly by the always excellent Gary Cooper, Oscar-nominated). By 1939 Gehrig was saying farewell to baseball prematurely due to a rare muscle disorder that today bears the hero's name. Shortly after Gehrig's famous speech, he would indeed pass away. "The Pride of the Yankees" (made less than three years after his death) is a moving tribute that is first-class in every way imaginable. We meet the character as a young boy whose strict mother wants him to be an engineer. As the years pass though he cannot deny his love of the grand old game. Sportswriter Walter Brennan (who was always outstanding as well) becomes the biggest supporter of Gehrig, even though Gehrig seems out-of-place in the big city at times and seems more concerned about baseball than anything else (which bothers some inside of the Yankees circle, mainly due to Babe Ruth's famous antics). As the years pass, championships come and a constant is always Gehrig who set a record with 2,130 consecutive games played (Cal Ripken, Jr. would later break that record in 1995). He finds love with a young woman from Chicago (Oscar-nominee Teresa Wright) and it appears that happiness is all that the couple will experience. Sadly that would not be the case though. Sam Wood's heart-felt direction and a focused screenplay (which is a bit sappy at times) just add an odd element of grace that endears the film to most all movie-goers. Babe Ruth does play himself here and is a surprisingly excellent performer who allows himself to be taken out of the spotlight to tell Gehrig's story. He ends up being a really solid supporting actor. I do admit that "The Pride of the Yankees" is slightly flawed. Some things seem a bit staged (most notably the young child in the hospital), but overall the film is right on target. Anyone who loves baseball, loves movies and has feelings (whether good, bad or indifferent) about the Yankees should definitely give "The Pride of the Yankees" an at-bat. It is a stunning experience that is suitable for the whole family and teaches the whole audience about love, friendship, compassion, life, death and heroism. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Details
- Runtime2 hours 8 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was The Pride of the Yankees (1942) officially released in India in English?
Answer