It's Good to Be Alive (1974 TV Movie) User Reviews

Serious, solid drama

[obloco · 7/10 · 1 April 2011]

We get a front row seat to serious trials and tribulations as Roy Campanella, Major League Baseball's first black catcher, struggles to rehab from a car accident that left him paralyzed below the shoulders. We get some flashback moments to show how Roy got to where he did, but the focus is on his life after the accident, dealing with his own agonies and those of his family as they all try to cope, sometimes well, often times not.

There are some trite/cliché moments in the movie (including a scene very reminiscent of the Lou Gehrig farewell speech), but even those hold up well due to the quality of the acting, and the realism of the direction (Kudos to Michael Landon in his directorial debut!).

Solid acting performances by all the players, and a realism (I'd like to use the word "gritty" even though it isn't quite right, but neither is any other adjective I can think of) that hit me right in the gut.

I think even those who don't like sports movies in general, but who appreciate a good real life drama, would enjoy this mostly "lost" TV movie. I'd never even heard of this before I saw it the other night, and it deserves a wider audience strictly on its merits, and even more so as an important piece of history many probably don't know about.

It's no pity party

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 24 August 2013]

This film is about the life of baseball player Roy Campanella following his car accident that left him paralyzed back in 1958. Up until that point, he'd been a major star--having been the league's MVP and all-star many times. Apparently, the film is based on a book written by Campanella about how he and his family dealt with the disability. Interestingly, this made for TV film was directed by Michael Landon and stars Paul Winfield as Campanella.

So is it worth seeing? Yes. I liked how the film was NOT simply a schmaltzy inspirational story--a story that would have seemed very fake. Instead, Campanella, for a while, wallows in self-pity. Additionally, instead of bringing his family together, it just brought out the problems that were there and magnified them. All in all, a very good film and one that is apparently in the public domain, as it's available at archive.org--a website frequently linked to IMDb. My only quibbles are that of a history teacher, as some of the fashions and hairstyles are not true to the period--but, aside from nuts like me, most folks won't notice or care.

#39

[donaldricco · 8/10 · 16 April 2017]

The touching, and at times tragic, story of Roy Campanella. I thought Paul Winfield was terrific as Campy, and Lou Gossett and Ruby Dee were good too! (hey, didn't Ruby play Jackie Robinson's wife too? Lucky Dodgers...) I really liked the use of actual player footage of Roy in flashbacks, seeing ol' #39 swinging the pine! And I thought seeing Roy himself at the beginning and ending was a nice touch! But my favorite scene of all was the fly scene! The terror, panic, and realization of helplessness really came out in that few minutes! Really well done!

What a Music Score !

[elshikh4 · 7/10 · 9 October 2009]

While it's "what a movie". I've got to wonder more: what a music score!

It's a very good TV. (Paul Winfield)'s performance is effective apart. (Louis Gossett Jr.) did a great job as usual. I can't forget some scenes. Or the great meaning of the whole thing. However, I must give my heart for (Michel Legrand)'s music!

It has the overzealous expression of the hero's glory days, and the touching case of him later, then the rebirth of the hero inside of him. All of that while being a catchy, so memorable, tune as well.

I don't run into that often in cinematic movies, so how about TV ones! Believe it or not, maybe 15 years ago, I was out of reaching the soundtracks of movies easily, so I recorded the music out of the movie on a cassette tape. I recall memorizing many of the movie's lines, since they were mentioned on a magic music I used to hear daily. Ever since I put it on the list of my dream soundtracks to be bought in the future. This is indubitably one of the best music scores ever written for a movie.

At the same time, I recall being crazy about another melody of (Legrand) which's the title track of a TV series named (Love at First Side). Well, this is one series which I can't find in the mighty IMDb till now!

Finally, without this music, (It's Good to Be Alive) can't be that highly good and alive.

Extraordinary film of the life of Brooklyn Dodger star, Roy Campanella .

[stovers · 9/10 · 13 March 2005]

Extraordinary film of the life of Brooklyn Dodger star, Roy Campanella, with a solid performance by Paul Winfield as Campanella. Roy campanella was baseball's's first black catcher, World Series champion, and Hall of Famer, he is a legend. This is a great sports movie in the tradition of Pride of the Yankees, as it tells the story of a baseball hero whose life has turned tragic. Louis Gossett Jr. does a fine job as Sam, Campanella's physiotherapist.

The movie begins with Campanella wrestling with his decision of whether to stay in Brooklyn, or relocate his family to Los Angeles with his team, the Dodgers. This illustrates how petty ones problems are as compared to other peoples lot in life, and sets the stage for what is to come. The film uses flashbacks effectively to tell Roy's story. Ruby Dee is excellent as Campanella's wife, who tries to cope with the struggles her husband is going through. This film uses actual Dodger baseball film, and it is surprising how close Winfield resembles Campanella!

Unlike the Lou Gerig, Gary Cooper film, this film focuses more on Campanella's rehabilitation than with his glory years. This creates a moving film that shows Roy's extraordinary courage in the face of despair. Without giving anything away, there is a scene with just Winfield and a fly that will haunt me for the rest of my life. Anyway, why have I not heard of this film before, and why is it not mentioned on lists of great sports movies? Don't miss this classic film!

He'll never walk again, but perhaps he'll smile again.

[mark.waltz · 10/10 · 15 December 2021]

That will be the moment he learns how to swat his own flies in this terrific TV movie that focuses on the tragic car accident of baseball hero Roy Campanella (Paul Winfield) and how he learned to cope with his situation thanks to the wonderful people around him. But most of all with his attendant, Louis Gossett Jr., he begins to gain some hope and in the process reconnect with his wonderful wife Ruby Dee who had to readjust her life, having been tired of being a baseball wife.

Flashbacks early in the film shows his dealing with the issue of being a mixed-race kid with a black mother (Ketty Lester) and Italian-American father (Joe De Santis), and the only real Glimpse you get into his baseball career is the fact that the Dodgers are getting ready to move to Los Angeles which occurs before his accident. Ty Henderson plays his young son, devoted to his mother throughout, hurt by the fact that his father won't see him. Falling in with a bad crowd doesn't help the situation any, but it's obvious that he wasn't a willing party to what transpired. His breakdown when he finally sees his father is a tear jerking moment.

The persona of Campanella shows him to be a basically shy man, becoming angry over his situation and having many explosions as he tries and fails to make adjustments. Winfield, already a legendary actor by this time, adds another sensational performance to his roster of major league acting roles, and Gossett, an actor rising with respect in the field, is sensational, giving his character humor and heart, and showing the power as an angel in human form who doesn't give up when helping others.

DeSantis and Lester are terrific as his parents, and Lloyd Gough is also very good as the surgeon. His scene explaining the situation to Ruby Dee is a to the specially by the great writing which is consistent in the film that draws you into this family's situation. Ramon Bieri plays the agent who stood by him through thick and thin. This is a tender look at an American hero, fallen from grace due to a situation beyond his control, but forced to wake up and find life again. This is a joyful film that moves beyond the tragedy, and if you have to get it a nickname, that nickname would be Hope.