What was the title of the 1950 film starring Jackie Robinson as himself?

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The 1950 film starring Jackie Robinson as himself was titled The Jackie Robinson Story.

The film is a biographical sports drama about Robinson's life and his breakthrough with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Directed by Alfred E. Green, it was released while Robinson was still an active major-league player, making his performance unusually close to the events being portrayed. Robinson played himself, while Ruby Dee portrayed his wife, Rachel Robinson.

The movie follows Robinson from his early athletic career through his signing with the Dodgers and his struggle to establish himself in the major leagues amid intense racism. It helped introduce his story to a broad popular audience, though, like many biographical films, it compresses events and presents a dramatized version of his life.

The title is often confused with 42, the 2013 film in which Chadwick Boseman played Robinson. A League of Their Own and The Great White Hope concern different stories and subjects.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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