It is almost useless to critique the work of Ken Burns as you know pretty much everything he touches is gold. Whatever historical person or event he chooses to turn his gaze to and make a documentary about will become an interesting and educational time for whoever watches. This one is about baseball pioneer, Jackie Robinson.
Despite the fact that the life of Brooklyn Dodgers star player Jackie Robinson has been the subject of several Hollywood films and documentaries, Ken Burns has the talent to take another look at it and bring something new to the discussion or picture of the man. This even though Burns himself had previously turned his camera on Robinson in his brilliant series Baseball back in 1994.
Baseball is the most American of sports and as such an integral part of the U.S. fabric. As such a man like Robinson, who had a major impact on the game, is very important. Though Jackie Robinson was a four sport star while he was at UCLA it was baseball that had a special place in his heart. He joined the Brooklyn Dodgers (after a short stint here in Montreal) in 1947 becoming the first black player in the MLB. Being the first to do anything is a tough position. In Robinson’s case he had to deal with all sorts of racists and threats.
Jackie Robinson begins with the story of the man’s early life. He was born in Georgia then his family moved to California where he grew up in Pasadena. As a young man he attended UCLA and did some military service. Businessman Branch Rickey recognized the talent of the young man and went about bringing him to spring training, which was also Robinson’s honeymoon with his new wife, Rachel.
We then move on to his beginnings in the big leagues. This involves interviews with people in baseball at the time like Buck O’Neil and scout Clyde Sukeforth. The most interesting part comes next when Robinson, now feeling more confident and being allowed to speak his mind, begins speaking out about civil rights in America. A final chapter of his life after retirement and how he still continued to struggle for equal rights for blacks is a nice bookend.
Like most of Ken Burns’ work the research involved is deep. He knows what angles to come at the story from and who to get on film in interviews. All the big names are invariably there. The most interesting and important figure to speak on the subject of Robinson is his wife. Rachel is a great interview and beautiful storyteller. Moments with her on film are glowing. Rounding out her views of the man and his life are those of his children, David and Sharon. That along with the great archival footage really gives the viewer a sense and feel for the subject.
The end product was a two part and four hour documentary that will air on PBS this month. As far as the story of the man’s life goes a lot of it remains similar to that which previously aired in Baseball. The reason why this documentary is a necessity is that it shows how Robinson’s effect on American society ranged further than baseball. He was an important figure in the Civil Rights fight in that country.
