Pride of the Yankees - Gary Cooper

directed by Sam Wood
USA 1942

Eloquently written (by Herman Mankiewicz and Jo Swerling from a story by Paul Gallico), stunningly photographed, and directed with great sensitivity, THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES is the sweet, sentimental, and utterly American story of Lou Gehrig, the "Iron Man" first baseman of the indefatigable New York Yankees of the 1920s and 30s. Gary Cooper is exceptional as Gehrig and Teresa Wright marvelous as his sweetheart (and later wife), Eleanor.

Gehrig leads the Yankees to the World Series, becoming one of the best ever to play the game, until, in 1939, he learns that he has a lethal neurological disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, since known as Lou Gehrig's disease) and has only a short time to live. He retires from baseball and makes a dramatic farewell at Yankee Stadium (perhaps the most famous scene in any sports film), standing at home plate and stating, "Some people say I've had a bad break, but I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 14th, 1942

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DVD Comparison:

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (65th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. MGM (65th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	MGM (65th Anniversary Edition) Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	2:08:20	2:08:20
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.51 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.51 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate : MGM
Bitrate: MGM (65th Anniversary Edition)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital Mono), DUB: Spanish (Dolby Digital Mono)	English (Dolby Digital Mono), DUB: Spanish (Dolby Digital Mono)
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, None	English, French, Spanish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Original - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • none DVD Release Date: September 17th, 2002 Keep case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: MGM (65th Anniversary Edition) Aspect Ratio: Original - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • none DVD Release Date: April 7th, 2007 Keep Case inside cardboard box Chapters 16

Comments:

These MGM DVD editions are EXACTLY the same. The only difference is that the Anniversary Edition package offers a cardboard sleeve (funnily enough it doesn't even have new text - it is the same spiel written on the keep case insert). And for your trouble the Anniversary Edition is minutely more money ($0.20). In all fairness they should have just called this a re-issue instead of trying to fool the public - this DVD does nothing at all to celebrate the 65th Anniversary.

The transfer that came out in 2002 is not bad at all - progressive and quite acceptable contrast. There are a few blemishes (speckles) but nothing to get riled up about. There are yellow optional subtitles and clear and consistent mono audio. No extras at all where to properly celebrate the 65 Anniversary you would think some video featurette or commentary would be called for. The film certainly deserves at least that.

Wholesome good nostalgic fun that purports the virtues of courage and determination in a story of how one man and his quiet demeanour was able to touch so many with his gift. Yeah, they don't make'm like this anymore.

All we have to say to MGM is 'not on DVDBeaver's watch'. A great reasonably priced DVD but obviously NO reason to double dip (as many would expect) and shame on MGM!

Gary W. Tooze

(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. MGM (65th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Menus

(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. MGM (65th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. MGM (65th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
Subtitle Sample: Not exact frame