42 (film)

In the years following World War II, baseball grew in prominence, capturing the hearts of Americans as the national pastime. Yet, for African Americans, the pervasive specter of racism and the enforcement of Jim Crow laws remained barriers to equality. At this time, the Major Leagues were exclusively white, with 400 players on the roster.

In 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey meets with sportswriter Wendell Smith and scout Clyde Sukeforth in the office of his baseball club, saying he wants to recruit a black baseball player for his team. Reviewing potential candidates, Wendell suggests Jackie Robinson of the Negro league's Kansas City Monarchs. Meanwhile, Robinson has an incident at a gas station where he leverages his team's patronage to use a restroom. Sukeforth approaches Robinson, leading to a meeting with Rickey. Rickey outlines the challenges Robinson would face while breaking the color line and emphasizes the need for restraint in responding to provocations. Robinson agrees to join the Dodgers under these terms. Robinson proposes to his girlfriend, Rachel, and she accepts. In Daytona Beach, Florida, Robinson prepares for spring training with the Montreal Royals, the AAA affiliate of the Brooklyn farm system. After performing well his first season, he advances to the Dodgers and is trained as a first baseman in Panama City. Some Dodgers players draft a petition refusing to play with Robinson, but manager Leo Durocher rebuffs them. Word of the petition gets out to Rickey, who confides in Durocher. During a car ride, Wendell explains to a dismissive Robinson that he sits behind third base with his typewriter on his knees because black reporters are not allowed in the press box.

Durocher is suspended by Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler over his extramarital affair. Robinson signs with the team and plays on opening day; Burt Shotton later takes over as manager. Sometime later, Robinson and Rachel have a baby boy. During a game, Robinson faces relentless harassment, particularly from Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman, who taunts Robinson with racial epithets. In the dugout, Robinson angrily strikes his bat against the wall, breaking into tears. Rickey steps in, telling him that Chapman expects him to stand up for himself. In the field, Robinson faces more of Chapman's taunts, but his teammate Eddie Stanky defends him, and Robinson scores the winning run. The next day, the Dodgers are disallowed access to a Philadelphia hotel they had reserved, leading to a confrontation between a player and Robinson. When Chapman's behavior toward Robinson generates negative press for the team, Phillies' general manager Herb Pennock requires Chapman to pose with Robinson for magazine photos. Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese, after seeing several negative letters towards Robinson, sympathizes with Robinson. At a game in Cincinnati, Reese makes a public show of solidarity, standing with his arm around Robinson's shoulders before a hostile crowd at Crosley Field.

In a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Enos Slaughter spikes Robinson on the back of the leg with his cleats. The Dodgers want revenge, but Robinson calms them and insists they focus on winning the game. Robinson's home run against Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Fritz Ostermueller, who had earlier hit him in the head, helps the Dodgers clinch the National League pennant, sending them to the 1947 World Series. As word spreads of the Dodgers, the black community in Daytona Beach erupts in cheers. Wendell documents Robinson's journey and achievements as Robinson confidently sprints toward home plate. An epilogue highlights Robinson's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Rickey and Reese; Wendell Smith becoming the first African American member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America; and the widespread recognition of Robinson's impact, commemorated annually by all players wearing his number, 42, which remains retired across baseball. One boy inspired by Robinson, Ed Charles, later played for the 1969 World Series champion "Miracle Mets".

 

 

 

 

(L to R) Chadwick Boseman (pictured in 2016), Harrison Ford (2017), Nicole Beharie (2014), and André Holland (2019)

• Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson^[10]
• Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey^[10]
• Nicole Beharie as Rachel Robinson^[10]
• Christopher Meloni as Leo Durocher, the Dodgers manager who supported Robinson but was later suspended^[10]
• André Holland as Wendell Smith, a black sportswriter who supports Robinson
• Alan Tudyk as Ben Chapman
• Lucas Black as Pee Wee Reese^[10]
• Hamish Linklater as Ralph Branca
• Brett Cullen as Clay Hopper
• Ryan Merriman as Dixie Walker
• Brad Beyer as Kirby Higbe
• Gino Anthony Pesi as Joe Garagiola
• T. R. Knight as Harold Parrott, a Dodgers staff member^[10]
• Max Gail as Burt Shotton^[10]
• Toby Huss as Clyde Sukeforth
• James Pickens Jr. as Mr. Brock
• Mark Harelik as Herb Pennock
• Derek Phillips as Bobby Bragan
• Jesse Luken as Eddie Stanky
• John C. McGinley as Red Barber, sports announcer^[10]
• Dusan Brown as young Ed Charles
• Linc Hand as Fritz Ostermueller
• Matt Clark as Luther
• Peter MacKenzie as Happy Chandler
• C. J. Nitkowski as Dutch Leonard
• Peter Jurasik as Hotel Manager
• Jeremy Ray Taylor as Boy
• Colman Domingo as Lawson Bowman
• Maury Covington as a police officer who refuses to allow Robinson to play in Florida^[11]

In early 1945, Jackie Robinson accepted the Kansas City Monarchs' offer to play professional baseball in the Negro leagues.^[12][13] In the mid-1940s, Branch Rickey, club president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, interviewed Robinson for possible assignment to Brooklyn's International League farm club, the Montreal Royals.^[14] Robinson was aghast after questions by Rickey: "Are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?"^[15][16] Rickey replied that he needed a Negro player "with guts enough not to fight back."^[15][16] Rickey also discussed prospects with Wendell Smith, writer for the black weekly Pittsburgh Courier.^[17]

 

In 1946, Robinson arrived at Daytona Beach, Florida, for spring training with the Royals. Robinson was lodged at the home of Joe and Dufferin Harris, a politically active African-American couple.^{[18][19][20][21]} Robinson made his Royals debut at Daytona Beach's City Island Ballpark on March 17, 1946, in an exhibition game against the Dodgers. Robinson debuted as a Dodger wearing uniform number 42 on April 1947.^[22] Robinson became the first player since 1884 to openly break the major league baseball color line. Amidst the signing of a petition in which fellow players refused to play with Robinson, Dodgers manager Leo Durocher informed them, "I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays."^[23] Dodgers teammate Pee Wee Reese once came to Robinson's defense with the famous line, "You can hate a man for many reasons. Color is not one of them."^[24]

 

Spike Lee planned to write and direct Jackie Robinson based on the life of Robinson and had it set up at Turner Pictures under his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks in 1995. The studio wanted to release it in 1997 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Robinson's breaking of the color barrier, and courted Denzel Washington to star,^[25] but the project fell apart in 1996 over creative differences. In March 1997, Lee found favor with Columbia Pictures, who signed him to a three-year first-look deal. Columbia President Amy Pascal reflected that it would bring "enormous potential for Spike to reach audiences that are not traditionally associated with Spike Lee movies."^[26] The project eventually fell apart due to lack of finance,^[27] but in 2004 Robert Redford set up a separate biopic as producer with Deep River Productions, as well as his own production company, Wildwood Productions. Redford also intended to co-star as Branch Rickey,^[28] and Howard Baldwin joined as producer the following year.^[29] In June 2011, it was announced that Legendary Pictures would develop and produce a Jackie Robinson biopic with Brian Helgeland on board to write and direct, under a distribution deal with Warner Bros. Legendary collaborated with Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, to ensure the authenticity of her husband's story. She had previously been involved with Redford's project.^[30][31]

Boseman's breakthrough role came in 2013 with the film in which he portrayed the lead role of baseball legend Jackie Robinson.^[32] Boseman had been directing an off-Broadway play in the East Village when he auditioned for the role,^[33] and was considering giving up acting to pursue directing full-time.^[34] About twenty-five other actors had been seriously considered for the role, but director Brian Helgeland liked Boseman's bravery in choosing to read the most difficult scene, in which Robinson goes down a stadium tunnel and breaks a bat in anger, and cast him after he had auditioned twice.^[35] Part of the audition process involved playing baseball; Boseman had been involved with Little League as a child but was primarily a basketball player growing up, saying that in this part the casting directors likely noticed his athleticism rather than specifically baseball skills.^[33] Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, commented that Boseman's performance was like seeing her husband again.^[36] To replicate Robinson's mannerisms, Boseman trained for five months with professional baseball coaches who "would tape [his] practices every few weeks, and they would basically split-screen [his technique] with [Robinson's]" to allow him to compare.^[33] After having portrayed football player Little in The Express, Boseman was encouraged by stunt coordinator Allan Graf to approach running bases in the same way, as Robinson had also been a college football player.^[35][37] Upon taking the role, Boseman first spoke with Rachel Robinson, which he said was of great help in discovering the character.^[33]

When asked about Robinson and Rachel, Hegeland emphasized the importance that the actors "be accepted at once by the audience." He found it tricky for "someone famous to play someone else famous".^[38] Filmmaker Brian Helgeland reflected on casting Chadwick Boseman in his first lead role for 42. Helgeland recounted that his introduction to Boseman came through casting director Victoria Thomas, who brought Boseman in early during auditions for the role of Jackie Robinson.^[39]

 

In the spring of 2012, Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, served as a stand-in for Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York, for the production of 42.^[40] Filming at the stadium began on April 21, 2012. Some interior scenes were shot at Atlanta Film Studios Paulding County in Hiram, Georgia.^[41] Some were shot at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, which also served as the set for game-action scenes at Forbes Field, Roosevelt Stadium, and Shibe Park, as well as itself in the film's opening. The filming of 42 was a significant economic boost for Chattanooga, with an estimated $5 million injected into the local economy.^[40] Filming in Chattanooga marked the longest-running and largest-budget production the city had hosted at that time, surpassing previous Hollywood projects such as Water for Elephants and Deliverance.^[40]

When Boseman first got the role, he expressed self pressure from the fact that Robinson's widow Rachel Robinson had still been alive; he wanted to "do right by the family." In addition to routine baseball practice, Boseman and baseball coaches watched tape footage of Robinson.^[42][43] Boseman's deep character study enabled him to note when his stunt double was playing Robinson incorrectly, and he insisted on doing his own stunts,^[44][45] but former minor league player Jasha Balcom was Boseman's stunt double for some scenes.^[46] Using old photographs and stadium blueprints, Ebbets Field, Shibe Park, The Polo Grounds, Crosley Field, Sportsman's Park, and Forbes Field were recreated for the film using digital imagery.^[47] Inflatable people were used in the stands for reference for the visual effects team. They were all replaced with individual fans that were shot individually against a blue screen. Home base and the infield were moved. The scoreboard and outfield ads were recreated, and the rest of the field was green-screened so the stands could be added.^[38] Extras, many of whom were local residents, filled roles as players and other period-specific figures. Despite the long hours, the experience was a source of excitement and inspiration for many. While filming wrapped in Chattanooga on May 25, 2012, the green screen setup around Engel Stadium remained in place for several more weeks in case additional shots were needed.^[40]

 

42 was released in April 2013.^[48] It grossed $95 million in the United States and $2.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $97.5 million, against a production budget of $40 million.^[3][49] The film earned $27.3 million for its opening weekend, the best-ever debut for a baseball-themed film.^[50][51][52] It then made $17.7 million and $10.7 million on its second and third weekends, finishing second and third, respectively.^[53]

42 was released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 16, 2013. This release sold 1.3 million units ($18 million), becoming the 33rd highest-grossing DVD of 2013 in the United States.^[54]

After Boseman's death in August 2020, several theater chains, including AMC and Regal, re-released the film in September.^[55]

External videos
White House student workshop about 42 hosted by Michelle Obama with Rachel Robinson, Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Brian Helgeland, and Thomas Tull, April 2, 2013, C-SPAN

On Rotten Tomatoes, 42 holds an approval rating of 81% based on 197 reviews, with an average rating of 6.90/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some."^[56] On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[57] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare "A+" grade.^[58][59][50]

Richard Roeper wrote, "This is a competent but mostly unexceptional film about a most extraordinary man."^[60] Lisa Kennedy, of the Denver Post, lauded the film, saying "This story inspires and entertains with a vital chapter in this nation's history."^[61][62] Conversely, Peter Rainer, of The Christian Science Monitor, criticized the film as "TV-movie-of-the-week dull.... Robinson's ordeal is hammered home to the exclusion of virtually everything else in his life."^[63]

The film's actors were generally praised, with Owen Gleiberman saying of Ford, "He gives an ingeniously stylized cartoon performance, his eyes atwinkle, his mouth a rubbery grin, his voice all wily Southern music, though with that growl of Fordian anger just beneath it".^[64] The Hollywood Reporter commented that Boseman "has the necessary appeal, proves convincing as an athlete and is expressive in spite of the fact that the man he's playing must mostly keep his true feelings bottled up."^[65] Critics, even those who viewed the film negatively, felt that Boseman being a relatively unknown actor was a benefit when playing an icon and an athlete; Mick LaSalle of San Francisco Chronicle wrote that "as [...] played by Chadwick Boseman, Robinson is a hero we can recognize",^[66] and Mary Pols for Time said that "Boseman is not a hugely close physical match to Robinson, except for perhaps in the power he conveys, but he's a great choice to play the ball player".^[67] The Guardian's Mike McCahill noted that "Boseman hits his key scenes out of the park", but felt the film would not interest people who are not baseball fans,^[68] with Dana Stevens of Slate suggesting that the film made black history "squeaky-clean" and did both Robinson and Boseman's performance as him a disservice.^[69]

Jackie Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, was involved in the production of the film and has praised the end result, saying, "It was important to me because I wanted it to be an authentic piece. I wanted to get it right. I didn't want them to make him an angry black man or some stereotype, so it was important for me to be in there. ... I love the movie. I'm pleased with it. It's authentic and it's also very powerful."^[70]

In 2020, Boseman told Essence Magazine that he spoke with Rachel Robinson while preparing for the role. "When you’re doing a character, you want to know the full landscape. You want to know them spiritually, mentally and physically. So I asked her: were there any physical things that he did that stood out. We sat down for hours and talked about his personality and what his tendencies were," he recalled of their meeting. "The way he stood, and the way he held his hands in the backfield…all of those physical things I tried to do."^[71] In a 2023 interview with James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter, Ford said Branch Rickey is one of his roles he is most proud of.^[72]

Robinson and Rachel Isum became engaged in 1943, while he was still in the United States Army and before he began his professional baseball career, unlike in the film, where he proposes after signing the contract with the Dodgers.^[77]

The Dodgers 1947 spring training was in Havana, Cuba, not in Panama, as shown in the film.^[78]

The suspension of Leo Durocher was not directly as a result of his affair with Laraine Day, but largely because of his association with "known gamblers."^[79]

The scene of Robinson breaking his bat in the dugout tunnel is not based in fact. Both Rachel Robinson and Ralph Branca, film consultant and Dodger pitcher in the dugout that day, say it did not happen. Director Helgeland concurs, explaining that his justification for including the scene was that he felt "there was no way Robinson could have withstood all that abuse without cracking at least once, even if it was in private."^[80]

Red Barber would not have broadcast Dodger away games from the opposing team's ballpark in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, as shown in the film. Radio broadcasts of away games in this era were recreated back at the studio from a pitch-by-pitch summary transmitted over telegraph wire from the stadium where the game was being played.^[81][82]

In the film, Wendell Smith is said to have been the first black member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). In reality, Sam Lacy was the first, having joined in 1948.^[83]

Pirates pitcher Fritz Ostermueller threw left-handed, not right-handed as in the film. His first-inning pitch hit Robinson on the left wrist, not his head, and he claimed it was a routine brushback pitch without racist intent. There was no fight on the mound afterwards.^[84] The climactic scene in which Robinson hit a home run to clinch the National League pennant for the Dodgers came in the top of the fourth inning of the game and did not secure the victory or the pennant (it made the score 1–0, and the Dodgers eventually won 4–2). The Dodgers achieved a tie for the pennant on that day, before winning the pennant the next day.^[85]

• List of black films of the 2010s
• List of sports films
• List of baseball films

 

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