This is the first of a two-part article about the making of “42,” a movie about the life of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Partially filmed in and around Chattanooga, the movie will debut in theaters nationwide on Friday, April 12, 2013. The second part of this article will be published on that day.
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson emerged from the tunnel at Ebbets Field in a Brooklyn Dodgers’ uniform bearing the number 42. In that instant, he broke Major League Baseball’s infamous color line. Simply put, that is the extent of what most people know about him in the context of history. However, few today can fully comprehend what that meant in the context of human experience. And the whole of what he achieved was anything but simple.
Brian Helgeland, the writer and director of “42,” reveals that he, like others, was unaware of the level of opposition and overt bigotry Robinson faced as the first African American to play for any major league team. “I thought I knew a lot about Jackie Robinson, but when I began researching the story, I realized I knew very little about that time and what he actually went through. I wanted to make a film that was entertaining but also one that shows what a big breakthrough it was then and how it still resonates today.”
Producer Thomas Tull, a self-described baseball fanatic, offers, “I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame when I was seven years old, which is when I first learned about Jackie Robinson, and his story stayed with me. It touched me and made me wonder what it was like for him because it’s hard for me to fathom what he endured, both as a baseball player and as a man. It really is a classic hero’s journey–someone who has unbelievable odds stacked against him and has the fortitude to overcome those odds and effect great change. When he broke the color line, it marked a turning point, not only in baseball but in history. In that way, it is a moment that transcends sports.”
Chadwick Boseman, who stars as the baseball legend, agrees. “Once you know the full scope of what he did–on the baseball field and in his later work in the Civil Rights movement–you realize that his contribution to society was tremendous, and not just in the sports world. He paved the way for people in every field, so I feel a personal connection to him because I am literally standing on his shoulders right now.”
In the racial climate of 1940s America, it arguably took as much courage to be the man who opened the door to integrating Major League Baseball as it did to be the man who walked through it. It was Brooklyn Dodgers President and General Manager Branch Rickey, who–despite vehement opposition from the league, the public and his own players–signed Jackie Robinson to his team. “Branch Rickey is a great, albeit forgotten, figure,” says Helgeland. “Historians and those in baseball know who he was, but the average person has no idea. He’d given his life to the game and thought very deeply about how to improve it. When he was 65 and could have just rested on his laurels, he bravely decided to put it all on the line and be at the forefront of integrating baseball.”
Harrison Ford, who portrays the visionary baseball executive, states, “It’s an incredible story about a critical step that was taken in confronting the issue of inequality. It was a moment when, ultimately, we shined. A moment when we responded to the ideals of America, and finally matched the nobility of our words and ambitions with our actions.”
Tull saw an opportunity to bring this seminal story to contemporary audiences when he was introduced to the love of Jackie’s life, Rachel Robinson. He relates, “I had the chance to tell her about the lifelong admiration I had for her husband and my passion to tell this story, and she entrusted us with the project, which was, and is, an honor.”
The producer soon discovered that his enthusiasm for the subject was shared by Helgeland. “We’ve worked with Brian before and think he is an amazing talent,” says Tull. “At the time I called him, he happened to be in Brooklyn, which I took as kind of a sign. From the moment I told him about my idea for a movie about Jackie Robinson, he was totally committed.”
Helgeland knew that it would be impossible to do justice to the entire Jackie Robinson story in a single film. Therefore, he decided to focus on the pivotal years of 1945 through ‘47, during which time, Helgeland details, “he got married, signed with the Dodgers’ minor league affiliate, the Montreal Royals, and then made his major league debut.”
Robinson’s public persona and on-field accomplishments are well-documented, but capturing his more private side presented a challenge. Helgeland affirms, “To have a character who comes with a ready-made history and anecdotes you can read about is obviously a huge advantage as a writer, but it was important for me to get out of the way and not insert my own opinions or set of rules. The most difficult thing was getting inside of him, so I was fortunate to be able to draw from people who knew Jackie: especially the woman with whom Jackie spent his life, Rachel Robinson. She has kept her husband’s legacy alive all these years through the Jackie Robinson Foundation and was an invaluable resource.”
It was vital to the filmmakers that the relationship between Jackie and Rachel be as fundamental to the movie as it was to Jackie’s success. Tull attests, “In talking to Mrs. Robinson, we got the sense that they had a true partnership–that each of them had an understanding of what they were up against and faced it together. Whatever he went through on the field, he would come home to a safe harbor.”
Rachel Robinson states, “What I believed then, and still do, is that the challenges made us feel like it was the two of us against the world. We knew this was an experiment in social change that had to succeed, so any personal discomfort we felt had to be discussed and put aside for the greater good. We were fortunate to love each other so much and so deeply that we could carry that belief forward, and I’m delighted that Brian captured all that in the script. I want young people to know you can go through terrible times, but if you form strong relationships and use those bonds to keep you committed, you can make a difference.”
THE PLAYERS
Casting began with finding the right actor to embody the film’s main character. Helgeland recalls, “Our casting director, Vickie Thomas, has a terrific eye and brought me great people, but as far as the part of Jackie Robinson was concerned, I just felt I would know him when he walked in the door. And that’s exactly what happened. Chadwick Boseman read for the role and when he left the room, I said, ‘That’s it; the bar has been set.’ And no one else came close to it.”
Boseman bears a remarkable resemblance to the real Robinson, but Helgeland says he was more impressed by what the actor conveyed from within. “You can see him reacting even when he’s being quiet. You know how things are hitting him just looking at his face.”
“Sometimes what a person doesn’t say is more powerful than what they say,” Boseman states. “And the way Robinson played the game was so outspoken and demonstrative; he was able to perform in the most clutch moments and on the grandest stages. That spoke volumes, and it added value to Robinson’s words when he did become vocal.”
The actor notes that he had to “bridge the gap” between himself and Jackie Robinson, particularly in terms of the racially charged atmosphere of then versus now. “I had to take it all in and ask myself what that must have been like. What would that do to me? He obviously feels everything that any person would feel in that situation: anger, frustration, fear... But he has pride in his race and an unshakeable sense of self that enables him to stand in the storm, which is a difficult thing to do. It ultimately comes down to basic human dignity–just respect me as a human being.”
Jackie earns the respect of Branch Rickey, who braves his own storm when he signs Robinson to the Dodgers organization, defying the unwritten but nonetheless explicit segregation of Major League Baseball. His only caveat is that Robinson not react in kind to the abuse–both verbal and physical–that will inevitably come his way. “They make a bargain,” Helgeland expounds. “Rickey knows all eyes will be on Jackie, so he has to just play baseball and ignore everything else. If they are to succeed, Jackie must tolerate things he otherwise wouldn’t so people can’t use anything he says or does against him.”
Rickey is played by Harrison Ford, who reveals, “When I read the script, I thought it was wonderfully written; there were scenes that just knocked my socks off. I was fascinated by the character of Branch Rickey and immediately began to invest some energy in researching him because it was a part I very much wanted to play.”
Despite being an unabashed fan of the actor, Helgeland acknowledges that he was at first a bit reluctant to cast him as Rickey because of Ford’s iconic stature. “Then when we talked, I could tell he totally embraced the part and understood him exactly as I understood him. He absolutely nailed it.”
Describing his role, Ford offers, “He is a businessman who recognizes that dollars aren’t black or white; they are green. But he is also a moralist and a patriot who believes it is unseemly of this country not to offer opportunities to talented people because of the color of their skin. It’s an issue of fairness, especially in a game that is so woven into the American spirit.”
Ford, who had never before portrayed a real historical figure, continues, “I was interested in capturing the truth of the character; however, at the same time, I was concerned about how much freedom there would be in the context of becoming an actual person of some significance.”
It was Ford himself who suggested that he wear padding and makeup prosthetics to look more like the real Branch Rickey. Additionally, in his research, he viewed some archival footage and found, “Rickey had a distinctive way of speaking, so I tried to suggest his voice. I was happy that Brian gave me the liberty to make those changes to my physiognomy, to give me that mask. He is one of the most generous and patient directors with whom I’ve ever had the pleasure to work.”
“Harrison is an incredible actor,” Tull remarks, “but he’s also one of the most recognizable people in the world. So I was in awe watching him completely disappear into Branch Rickey.”
With Rickey’s help, Robinson is placed at the forefront of change, but there is also a woman behind the man, his wife, Rachel. “The love story is what drew me in,” says Nicole Beharie, who was cast in the role. “Rachel is at Jackie’s side on this mission. They have to deal with the bruises, physical and otherwise, together.”
“Nicole is not only beautiful; she has the kind of strength and independence that I wanted to see in Rachel. I believed her in the role,” Helgeland states. “She also had natural chemistry with Chad, which is something you can’t force but was very important.”
Beharie had the advantage of being able to consult with her real-life counterpart, Rachel Robinson, who thrilled everyone when she paid a visit to the set. The actress marvels, “For me, the most amazing thing was that her love and devotion to Jackie is as tangible and strong as it as it ever was. That’s a powerful thing.”
“Rachel had a very emotional response to watching the scenes between Chad and Nicole. If this movie was able to bring a little of the romance between her and her husband back to her life, we could not achieve anything better than that,” Helgeland smiles.
“Meeting Rachel made me realize that the story is not his, it’s theirs,” Boseman adds. “They were a unit–lovers, friends, teammates.”
Jackie has another strong ally with a stake in his success. Wendell Smith is an African-American baseball writer who is hired by Branch Rickey to help guide his controversial rookie through the politics and pitfalls of his newfound fame. Andre Holland plays the reporter, who is coping with his own struggles with segregation. He emphasizes, “Wendell is confronted with the same sort of discrimination in his job; black journalists aren’t even allowed in the press box so he is forced to sit in the stands with a typewriter on his lap. As much as anyone, he knows that breaking the color barrier in baseball is a beacon of hope for people who have been waiting for change in this country. Wendell senses the size of the moment and knows he has to do whatever he can to help.”
Holland, who had never even heard of Wendell Smith before reading the script, continues, “In researching him, I discovered he was such an important figure–really an unsung hero. He and Jackie were fighting the same battle, just on different battlefields. Wendell ended up becoming first African American to be admitted to the Baseball Writers Association, which was a huge deal. Every day on the set, I felt an enormous sense of pride to be part of a movie about people who, under dire circumstances, were able to excel.”
Source: Warner Bros.