Roy Campanella Movies

Before breaking the hearts of Brooklynites by moving to the West Coast, the Dodgers called that borough of New York City home. Dem Bums: The Brooklyn Dodgers documents the years the franchise played there and includes footage of some of the most famous players in the team's history. Although the team usually failed to measure up to the rival Yankees, the Dodgers could claim such legendary players as Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Gil Hodges. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

For his TV-movie directorial debut, Michael Landon selected the autobiography of baseball-great Roy Campanella. It's Good to Be Alive begins when Campanella (Paul Winfield) is nearly killed in a car accident on January 26, 1958. He survives, but his fifth cervical vertebra has been fractured, meaning that he will be paralyzed for the rest of his life. Thanks to months of tireless efforts by physical-therapist Sam Brockington (Louis Gossett Jr.), Campanella is able to move about a bit, though he remains bitter about his condition. Campanella's accident causes a deeper rift in his already tottering marriage to his second wife Ruthie (Ruby Dee), and alienates his son David (Ty Henderson), who has been raised on his father's "never say die" philosophy. Realizing that by pitying himself he is letting his family down, Campanella sincerely adopts a more optimistic, upbeat outlook on life. Eventually, the wheelchair-bound Campanella accepts an offer to coach the LA Dodgers during spring training. In a finale reminiscent of Pride of the Yankees, Roy Campanella tearfully declares to an SRO audience at Los Angeles Coliseum that "It's good to be alive." When this 90-minute film first aired on February 22, 1974, it was introduced by the real-life Roy Campanella and his family (including his third wife Roxie). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Poor Roogie Rigsby. He's the new boy in town and is the butt of all the local kids' jokes. The meanies won't even let him join their baseball games. But then a strange, magical thing happens when the ghost of a late, great Brooklyn Dodger descends and gives him a bump on the arm that results in Roogie's ability to pitch better than anyone in the world. With such amazing speed, strength and accuracy it isn't long before little Roogie is pitching for the Dodgers alongside such greats as Campanella, Erskine, Loes and Russ Meyer. It's a boy's dream come true, but his mother can't help but worry. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi