''It's Good to Be Alive'' is a 1974 American television film about baseball player
Roy Campanella of the
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1883 as the Brooklyn Grays. In 1884, it became a member of the American Association as the Brooklyn Atlantics before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brook ...
.
It was first aired on
CBS on 22 February 1974.
Based in part on his 1960 autobiography of the same name, it explores his role in integrating baseball, his own professional rise, and the physical and emotional work of recovery he had to undergo after the devastating 1958 auto accident that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. One of the scariest scenes involved a fly, who flew into the hospital window, frightening Roy, who screamed, sending the doctors, who swatted the fly to death. The film made a few changes to the story, where Ruthie can no longer stand taking care of Roy, resulting in separation and divorce, in 1958, when it really happened in 1960. The moving finale involved Roy, making an appearance at the
LA Coliseum, in a wheelchair, receiving a standing ovation, after making a speech.
Cast
*
Paul Winfield -
Roy Campanella
*
Louis Gossett Jr.
Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American actor. He made his stage debut at the age of 17. Shortly thereafter, he successfully auditioned for the Broadway theatre, Broadway play ''Take a Giant Step.'' Gossett co ...
- Sam Brockington, his physical therapist
*
Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee (born Ruby Ann Wallace; October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress. She was married to Ossie Davis, with whom she frequently performed until his death in 2005. She received numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award, ...
- Ruthe Campanella, his wife
*
Ramon Bieri -
Walter O'Malley
*
Joe De Santis - Roy Campanella's father
* Ty Henderson - David Campanella
*
Ketty Lester - Roy Campanella's mother
* Julian Burton - Dr. Rusk
*
Lloyd Gough - Surgeon
* Eric Woods - Roy Campanella as a Boy
*
Len Lesser
Leonard King Lesser (December 3, 1922 – February 16, 2011) was an American character actor and comedian best known for his recurring role as Uncle Leo on ''Seinfeld''. He was also known for his role as Garvin on '' Everybody Loves Raymond.'' ...
- Man at Accident
* Roy Campanella - Himself
* Roxie Files - Herself
Note: Both Roy and Roxie are shown in real life at the end of the film.
See also
*
List of baseball films
References
External links
*
*
1970s biographical films
American television films
American baseball films
1974 television films
1974 films
Biographical films about sportspeople
Cultural depictions of baseball players
Films about people with paraplegia or tetraplegia
Metromedia Producers Corporation films
Films set in the 1950s
1970s American films
{{US-tv-film-stub