The Pride of the Yankees (1942) - Updated

Before superheroes headlined any Marvel or DC blockbuster, it was real life heroes that audiences wanted to see. No pastime was quite as popular as baseball and in that era Lou Gehrig was one of the Titans along with Babe Ruth and the rest of the Yankees. You see this film is less of a biography (It certainly is not completely accurate) and more of a visual eulogy to a contemporary hero. The prologue explains as much:

"This is the story of a hero of the peaceful paths of everyday life. It is the story of a gente young man who, in the full flower of his great fame, was a lesson in simplicity and modesty to the youth of America. He faced death with that same valor and fortitude that has been displayed by thousands of young Americans on the far-flung fields of battle. He left behind him a memory of courage and devotion that will ever be an inspiration to all men. This is the story of Lou Gehrig" ~ Damon Runyon

As a modern viewer I am just happy I can recognize names like Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy, Bill Dickey, Tony Lazzeri and of course Babe Ruth. When audiences went out to see this film starring Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright, back in the day they were practically living it. World War II had already heated up and one of the great American heroes had died the previous year. Lou Gehrig was all those things in the prologue and more making it hard to get it all into a film.

Like any other superhero he has a origin story beginning with his childhood in Manhattan living with his poor German immigrant parents. His domineering mother convinces him to go to Columbia for engineering, but he soon ends up in the big leagues because of his tremendous skill with a bat. He is often a shy and even awkward young man, but he loves his parents and he can sure play ball. It's that last point that gains him a lot respect after a less than graceful start as "Tanglefoot."

He soon becomes a lethal one, two punch with Babe Ruth, after initially being dismissed as the rookie and a boob. Journalist Sam Blake (Walter Brennan) has a major influence in Gehrig's life and never loses faith in the young man's abilities. He also does Lou a favor by introducing him to an attractive  young Chicago socialite named Eleanor Twitchell (Teresa Wright) who finds Gehrig quite ridiculous at first. Soon however a budding romance begins with the often reserved Gehrig falling for the vibrant and vivacious young Eleanor. He gets engaged, married, hits two home runs for a little boy and wins a world series. A lot of his other exploits are laid out for us too and the trophies and accolades start stacking up. All of this happens during the happy times when Gehrig is on top of the world, first with Murder Row and then The Bronx Bombers.

But all fairy tales must come to an end and Lou Gehrig's is especially tragic. He plays an, at that time, unheard of 2,000 consecutive games, but he also falls into a rapid decline. Eleanor looks on helplessly as her husband begins to deteriorate in front of her eyes and the fans know something is not right. Gehrig gets examined and learns he has ALS, but very little is known about it. Much less can be done to treat it. 

His final appearance at Yankee Stadium came on Lou Gehrig Day in 1939. That day he gave his Luckiest Man Speech and he walked off the field for good. Gary Cooper delivers the partially revised dialogue with a calm and clear delivery that seems to truly epitomize Gehrig. Although he is playing the man it is almost as if he is giving an eulogy. 

That's a fitting ending, because we do not need to see the suffering or the death. What we remember is the wonderfully full life he led. Perhaps this film had more cultural relevance back in 1942, but I would argue that it is still a stirring, heart-wrenching film. You have a small heart if you cannot find a place in it for this one. 

Although he was not too good at baseball, in the other sequences Cooper seems like the perfect man to embody Gehrig. He is distinctly American, strong, quiet and he also has a pleasant charm with a comical streak in him. The look on his face when he realizes his weakness tears the heart. Teresa Wright had many fine performances early on in her career, but I will step out on a limb and say that this is probably the best one. She has so much spirit and at the same time she is funny with a noticeable tenderness. She is the perfect wife and a wonderful actress to embody Eleanor Gehrig. 

In a society that places so much interest in make believe superheroes I don't mind taking some time to acknowledge a real one. We were the lucky ones Lou, thanks. Let anyone and everyone who does the Ice Bucket Challenge know who you are. You deserve to be remembered. Always. 

4.5/5 Stars

Teresa Wright: Unassuming Star of the 1940s

Teresa Wright was a revelation for me when I first saw her. If I can remember correctly I saw her first in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and then Shadow of a Doubt (1943). In their day both films were quite popular and although one was a romantic drama directed by William Wyler and the other a thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Wright remained steadfast in both. She is never villainous or petty, but in all circumstances she exudes kindness. In a more innocent world where the girl next door was the dream, Teresa Wright was the perfect representation.

Although that unfairly suggests that it was all a front and Wright was actually not like that at all in real life. Such things were true of other stars, but I have no indication that they were true of her. She seemed like a genuine and humble person her entire life. 

Despite being an Oscar winner* and 3 time Oscar nominee for her first three films (which is unheard of!), Ms. Wright said herself that she "only ever wanted to be an actress, not a star."

She did not need top billing on all the marquees, she was content with just being in the movies. The amazing thing is that she saw success even if it was not what she needed. She was a reluctant star and that makes her even more appealing to audiences. 

Her career undoubtedly would have kept on going strong, but she had a disagreement Samuel Goldwyn and her contract was terminated in 1948. She gladly took less money in her next roles; the falling out came partially because she had a long stipulation in her contract to preserve her modesty. In other words swim suit modeling or shots of her hair flying were not allowed. That was for other stars who were willing to bend to the studio system, but Teresa Wright was not that type of actress. She worked on her own terms.    


One performance of hers that I have yet to bring up is her role as Eleanor Gehrig in The Pride of the Yankees (1942). I am not one to tear up in movies, but when I watch Wright as she begins to cry, knowing that later her husband (Gary Cooper) will die from ALS, I can barely stand it. I cannot bear anything bad happening to her because she is so innocent, this is not what she deserves, but life can be cruel.

Eleanor's Bracelet
The Pride of the Yankees — MOVIECLIPS.com

Teresa Wright was the perfect choice for the role, going from moments of light hearted playfulness to pure anguish. She certainly tugs at the heartstrings and makes the story of the already tragic Lou Gehrig that much more impactful. 

Then, I read that Ms. Wright became an avid Yankees fan later in life and I was sold! This actress who I was so enthralled by was also a baseball fan? What more could you want to solidify a legacy. She even met Babe Ruth and Eleanor Gehrig herself. That's fantastic!  

After she passed away at the age of 86 in 2005, her name was read aloud with other former Yankee players of old. She was always and forever a Yankee, but in the hearts of fans everywhere she was so much more. I hope that many others will discover her like I did back in 2011. The beauty of her career is that she rose to the apex of Hollywood only to gracefully fade away, content with what she had done.

Her filmography includes:

The Little Foxes (1941) - Starring Bette Davis, Directed by William Wyler

The Pride of the Yankees (1942) - Starring Gary Cooper, Directed by Sam Wood

Mrs. Miniver (1942) - Starring Greer Garson, Directed by William Wyler

Shadow of a Doubt (1943) - Starring Joseph Cotten, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

The Best Year of Our Lives (1946) - Starring Dana Andrew, Directed by William Wyler

Pursued (1947) - Starring Robert Mitchum, Directed by Raoul Walsh

The Men (1950) - Starring Marlon Brando, Directed by Fred Zinnemann 

Inspired by this story (Not this exact article): 

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/04/sports/backtalk-becoming-a-yankee-fan-by-way-of-hollywood.html  

Source: IMDb 

*She won best supporting actress for the popular WWII drama Mrs. Miniver

The Best Films of Teresa Wright

1. The Best Years of Our Lives
2. Shadow of a Doubt
3. The Pride of the Yankees
4. The Little Foxes
5. Mrs. Miniver
6. Pursued
7. The Men
8. Enchantment
9. The Rainmaker

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) - Updated

Who in their right mind would make a film like this today? I mean it's nearly three hours of incessant talking and character development. There are no explosions or special effects. There are not even any war scenes! And yet it is pure gold from William Wyler. He forces us to get to know these characters, all the details about them, and it is a pleasure.

In a year that boasted the likes of It's a Wonderful Life, it is not simply a testament to the post war sentiment but also the power of this film that led it to garner so much praise including a Best Picture Oscar.

Like Capra's film, WWII plays a role here without actually focusing on the fighting. The effects of such a cataclysmic event was enough on its own.  The Best Years of Our Lives chooses to focus on the point of view of three returning servicemen. However, it would be selling the film short to suggest that is all the film is about. It revolves around deeper issues such as family, camaraderie, patriotism, and of course romance. Over the course of the film each man must navigate his own path and much of those pathways have to do with their romantic relationships.

Al (Fredric March) has been married 20 years and yet he returns to a home with a wife and kids who seem more foreign than the battlefronts he fought on. His loving wife Milly (Myrna Loy) patiently allows him to become acclimated and stands beside him as he stands up for his convictions at his bank.

Then there is Homer (Harold Russell), the double amputee, who is bracing for the worst as he returns to his family and the girl next door named Wilma. His way of dealing with the situation is to avoid those he loves, because by not letting them get close he thinks he will allow them to move forward with their lives. However, Homer completely misjudges just how much his girl loves him. Wilma is the real deal and she is prepared to remain faithful to Homer no matter the circumstances.

The final relationship is perhaps the most complicated of the lot. Fred Derry is the complete antithesis of Al. He has little work experience and he was a young man who knew his wife for only a handful of days before he went off to war. Now it is all coming back to bite him, because Marie (Virginia Mayo) is not ready to patiently wait around while the former soda jerk tries to find a job. She wants money, nights on the town and good times. Sparks fly and Fred finds himself drawn more and more to Al's daughter Peggy (Teresa Wright) since his marriage is a loveless one. This relationship is perhaps the most agonizing to watch as Fred is torn apart, but he ultimately gets the girl who will accept him for who he is.

The Best Years of Our Lives may have been during the war for some, but that really does not matter, because with the right attitude humanity is able to move forward to make the best of the future. That is one of merits of this film, it exudes hopefulness and despite their different lots each character is able to find a little slice of joy.

No one personality outshines any of the others but instead all the players add up to the perfect combination. I will shamelessly acknowledge that Teresa Wright is one of my favorite actresses and over the last few years I have come to really appreciate Dana Andrews. They really do deserve more credit and I hope this film continues to get the praise it deserves. It is a delectable slice of Americana and cinema.

5/5 Stars

The Men (1950)

I was really drawn into this film and I appreciated Zinnemann's realistic style in capturing Marlon Brando's powerful screen debut. I would have rated this film higher because the topic was interesting, the performances were good, the supporting cast was respectable, and so on. The only thing is although Brando is a good actor and I really love Teresa Wright, they just seem wrong opposite each other. Wright was made for a Best Years of Our Lives and Brando for Streetcar or On the Waterfront. I will say I was surprised to see a young Richard Erdman, who is known to modern audiences as Leonard in Community.

3.5/5 Stars

Shadow of a Doubt (1943) - Alfred Hitchcock

In one of Hitchcock's earlier American films starring Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright, Uncle Charlie comes to visit his niece namesake "Charlie" and the rest of the family. Initially the whole family seems to be in a funk until they find Charlie (Cotten) is coming to visit them in Santa Rosa. However, what they do not know is that he is a wanted murderer. Over time "Charlie" (Wright) becomes suspicious of her uncle and finally comes across the truth. Her uncle figures out what she knows and decides he must get rid of her. Living in constant peril, "Charlie" finally is forced to face him. In the ensuing struggle she fights madly for her life. With the constant discomfort and suspense, Hitchcock proves how powerful thrillers can be even in the home. Cotten and Wright both do a very good job in this film. Supposedly this was Hitchcock's favorite among his own films. I think it certainly one of the best of his lesser known movies.

5/5 Stars

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Directed by William Wyler, the film chronicles the lives of three men as they return from World War II. They feel joy and then angst trying to integrate back into society  with lives that are strangely different from when they left. They face various struggles like finding a job, holding a marriage together, to just trying to get used to a disability. Although they each have their own lives which we get to see first hand, they are still intertwined. Together these three men find it within themselves to make these the best years possible. Full of both highs and lows, this movie is extremely touching and leaves you with a smile. The cast is superb including Dana Andrews, Fredric March, Harold Russell (real life amputee), Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, and of course Hoagy Carmichael. This film is great because it does not try to glamorize and it stands the test of time in my mind.

5/5 Stars

The Pride of the Yankees (1942)

Starring Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig and Teresa Wright as his wife, this movie honors Gehrig's life after a tragic death from ALS. From the time he was a boy, Lou could play ball but his immigrant mother wants him to become an engineer. The quiet, young man goes to Columbia and plays some ball. There he is seen by the Yankees who agree to sign him. Despite her disapproval at first his mom becomes his biggest fan. With the Yankees Lou seems slightly out of place being an introvert. Pretty soon he meets Eleanor Twitchell (Wright) however and then gains a spot as the starting first baseman. The two of them fall in love and get married as Gehrig flourishes in the shadow of Babe Ruth. With his career still going strong, Gehrig becomes captain and plays 2,000 straight games. It cruelly comes to an end when he begins feeling weak and is diagnosed with ALS. His career is over and yet in his farewell speech Gehrig gratefully considers himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. He walked out of the limelight and died soon after, dearly missed. This is one of those truly moving films.


"I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." You just cannot make up stuff like that. Here's to you Lou!

                                                          4.5/5 Stars

Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Starring Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright, and directed by William Wyler, this film tells the touching if not sad story of an English family. We follow their life from the happy moments before World War II to the hardships in the midst of it. Through it all Mrs. Miniver is a quietly strong wife and mother who holds her family together. Whether she is waiting in a bomb shelter, capturing a German parachutist, or simply taking care of her family, she exhibits amazing courage and fortitude. She is a testament to those fighting on the home front  Mrs. Miniver is not a part of Dunkirk like her husband. She is not flying like her son but her role is just as important. Even in the closing when tragedy has hit Britain, the country and its Mrs. Minivers stay resilient. First used as a propaganda device in the 1940s this film is till moving today. When you see any of these people rejoice or suffer you too are moved.

4/5 Stars

The Little Foxes (1941)

Starring a cast including Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, and Teresa Wright, the film opens in the South circa 1900 and it revolves around a greed woman and her two conniving brothers who hope to make millions off mills. Regina sends her innocent daughter Alexandra to bring her ill father home so the deal can be settled. He returns very worn down and he will not take part in the venture. It leaves his wife angry and her brothers dishonestly acquire the rest of the funds they need. Horace inadvertently
 finds out but he will not let Regina tell on them. However, Regina coldly looks on when the sick man needs her most and very soon after he passes away. Now she has her brothers where she wants them, allowing her greed to show through completely. She has gained so much and yet in the process she loses something so valuable in her daughter. The title comes from the book of Songs of Solomon and it perfectly describes these greedy people. I felt the main actors did a wonderful job in this film under the direction of the great William Wyler.

                                                        4.5/5 Stars