The Fireball is a 1950 American drama film starring Mickey Rooney and Pat O'Brien, and directed by Tay Garnett. The cast also includes Beverly Tyler and the eighth screen appearance of Marilyn Monroe.
Fireball | |
---|---|
Directed by | Tay Garnett Charles Kerr (assistant) |
Screenplay by | Horace McCoy |
Produced by | Bert E. Friedlob |
Starring | Mickey Rooney Pat O'Brien |
Cinematography | Lester White |
Edited by | Frank Sullivan |
Music by | Victor Young |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
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Running time | 84 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The film, released by 20th Century Fox, had its screenplay written by Horace McCoy based on a story by McCoy and Garnett.[1]
Johnny Casar (Mickey Rooney) runs away from a home for wayward boys, tired of being teased about being short and a poor athlete. He soon finds a pair of roller skates and is befriended by Bruno Crystal (Ralph Dumke), who allows him to wash dishes at his café, while a priest who runs the home, Father O'Hara (Pat O'Brien), secretly keeps an eye on him.
A traveling roller-skating team takes an interest in Johnny after he shows some aptitude. He clashes with Mack Miller (Glen Corbett), a cocky champion, and falls for Mary Reeves (Beverly Tyler), another top skater. Johnny ends up featured in grudge matches against Miller, where they take turns one-upping one another.
As his fame grows, Johnny becomes every bit as arrogant as Miller and more. Life takes a bad turn when he is diagnosed with polio. A long period of physical therapy follows, until Johnny tries to get his life back on track.