The Movie "42"- Brief Report

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After watching the film “42”, I came to the conclusion that one of the most important scenes throughout the film takes place at 01:21:23.

During this scene Jackie Robinson is up to bat for the third time playing for the Dodgers against the Phillies. However, from the first time at bat Jackie has been getting harassed by an opposing team’s manager. The manager, Chaplin, has been calling him “Nigger” continuously along with other racial and ghastly remarks. It is not until this scene, after 8 innings, that finally one of his team players takes a stand after Jackie gets up for bat when the player starts calling him and saying, “Nigger… Porch money...You don’t belong here nigger”. This player, Stanky number 12, is outraged and bursts from the dig out telling the Phillies manager to “sit down (that) you’re the problem you got damn disgrace” and then calling him a “Redneck piece of shit”.

This scene reveals a major act of acceptance of an African American ball player in the national league. It is also a major shift in respect to not only Jackie Robinson, but also for all African Americans. This presents an important shift from what was considered “normal” in society of how you respected and treated a black person.

Now again looking at the scene by its artistic choices, the director effectively uses multiple camera angles to create an emotional response from the audience. Starting from the beginning of the scene the camera starts at the score board to signify that it has been 8 innings since we last saw Jackie Robinson getting harassed. The camera then moves to home plate and is angled so you can see Jackie walking up to plate and also see the Phillies manager. Then focusing in on just Ricky and following to his teammates and going back and forth to each of them while they hear what the manager is saying to reveal their emotional response of the situation.

Next the camera zooms out at an angle from the dug out to show number 12 bursting out and the other players standing up in attention to the commotion. Following, the camera follows Stanky while he walks flashing also to Chaplin, then viewing Jackie's response looking over at the two arguing. From there the camera focuses on the two arguing them moves to the radio broadcaster who makes the commotion a bigger deal. Then the camera moves to the view from home plate to see the catcher, Jackie, and the other two. Next the camera follows back and forth while Stanky is walking back to the dugout showing him and his entire team standing up and then back to Chaplin.