The Fireball

Fireball

VHS cover
Directed by Tay Garnett
Charles Kerr (assistant)
Produced by Bert E. Friedlob
Written by Horace McCoy (screenwriter)
Starring Mickey Rooney
Pat O'Brien
Music by Victor Young
Cinematography Lester White
Edited by Frank Sullivan
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release dates
  • November 9, 1950 (1950-11-09)
Running time
 84 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Fireball is a 1950 American drama film starring Mickey Rooney and Pat O'Brien, and directed by Tay Garnett.

The film, released by 20th Century Fox, had its screenplay written by Horace McCoy based on a story by McCoy and Tay Garnett.

Plot

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 a wheelchair-bound Johnny tries to get his life back on track.

Cast (in credits order)


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