An orphanage runaway becomes a roller-skating champion but gets sick with polio.An orphanage runaway becomes a roller-skating champion but gets sick with polio.An orphanage runaway becomes a roller-skating champion but gets sick with polio.
Glen Corbett
- Mack Miller
- (as Glenn Corbett)
James Anderson
- Strong Arm Man
- (uncredited)
Lois James
- Roller Derby Girl
- (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp
- Roller Derby Spectator
- (uncredited)
Frank Mills
- Roller Derby Spectator
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe beginning of the movie is filmed at St John's Military Academy in Los Angeles. The location was at 10th ave and Washington. The school closed in 1961.
- Quotes
Johnny Casar: Well, hiya Champ! Thought you'd be down practising - you could use plenty of it
Mack Miller: You loud mouthed little pest...
Johnny Casar: Woof, woof woof!
Featured review
Mickey Rooney Is Terrific
This is a terrific ultra low-budget film that hits its marks and offers a few surprises. Mickey Rooney stars as an orphanage kid no one wanted. He's past school age (Rooney's 30ish here) but the priest who runs the joint (Pat O'Brien) can't get him motivated to learn a skill. After a big fight, Rooney runs away ... much to O'Brien's delight. Now he'll have to learn a skill. Faced with harsh reality he steals a pair of roller skates and tries to hawk them and eventually lands a job as a dishwasher in a dive. But those skates. He goes to the local rink for lessons and his world changes. He finally finds a passion and becomes a roller derby star until tragedy hits and he learns a thing or two about fame, humility, and life. Fascinating film with Rooney doing much of his own skating. Beverly Tyler is the girl, Ralph Dumke is the dive owner, Milburn Stone is the rink owner. And Marilyn Monroe shows up and gets a few lines as a fan. She even gets a couple scenes with Rooney. I remember roller derby from 1950s TV. It made no sense to me then or now.
helpful•21
- drednm
- Oct 30, 2020
- How long is The Fireball?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 24 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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