Jackie Robinson Film Opens Friday
COSTELLO: It took 30 long years to bring his story to film. But this Friday, the movie about Jackie Robinson breaking Major League baseball's color barrier will open at theaters nationwide. "42" depicts the courage and bravery it took for Robinson to suit up in a Brooklyn Uniform, shows the bravery it took for him to suit up in a uniform during the time when segregation was the norm. Here's a clip from the film. Showing is how Robinson reacts when he's injured on purpose.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The next guy up, you hit him right in the head.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get me up. Just get him out. Just get him out. Understand? Game's too important.</s>COSTELLO: I'm joined now by Robinson's two surviving children; daughter Sharon Robinson and his son David Robinson. Welcome to you both.</s>SHARON ROBINSON, DAUGHTER OF JACKIE ROBINSON: Good morning Carol.</s>DAVID ROBINSON, SON OF JACKIE ROBINSON: Thank you. So Sharon I'll start with you. I assume you've seen the film. What did you think?</s>S. ROBINSON: Six times. I love it. It's a powerful film. The acting is great. There's many special moments in it. You laugh. You, you're silent, stunned, silent at points. It moves very quickly. You know, it's great.</s>COSTELLO: Does it capture your dad?</s>S. ROBINSON: I feel it does. You know, he comes off strong and very determined. And you know, you see his character, the full strength of his character in the film. Chadwick Boseman just does an amazing job.</s>COSTELLO: David, your father in this movie is depicted as a hero. Many people in this country think of him as a hero. Would he consider himself a hero?</s>D. ROBINSON: He had a challenge. And an opportunity that was presented to him. And stepped-up to that challenge in a courageous way. Succeeded in the objectives that he and the game had set forth. And that has to be considered heroic. He was not a man to, to enhance his own thought about himself or other people's thought about himself but an honest evaluation and reflection would have to say it was a heroic challenge that was successful. He would be the first to say that the film is excellent in terms of portraying a year and some of the dynamics and success, but that he would hope, I believe, the film to be inspirational for people to challenge the more complex social problems that exist today that are the not as easy to see as the "white only" sign on the bathroom as depicted in the film. But are equally holding back human potential today. So that's really the challenge, and hopefully the film can inspire people today to become Branch Rickies and Jackie Robinsons of this era.</s>COSTELLO: And Sharon, none of us know what it was like for Jackie Robinson. None of us could know what that was like. Did he ever come to peace, do you think, with all that he endured in his baseball career?</s>S. ROBINSON: You know, he moved, as he retired from baseball, he moved very smoothly into the civil rights movement, and felt, was always surprised -- I remember when the little rock nine called and we were having dinner. And he was surprised that they said that he inspired them, because he thought they were so courageous. So as David said, he was a humble man. He didn't focus so much on what he accomplished, more on what he could continue to do to move the, to move us forward.</s>COSTELLO: And just a last question, Sharon, for you. I think that many people would be surprised to know that your dad was a Republican. I've seen a lot of articles written about it.</s>S. ROBINSON: Well, actually, he was independent. He supported the candidate he felt was strongest. He made some mistakes. 1960 -- it was a big mistake. But he, he wasn't a Republican. He was an independent. And he felt that African-Americans had to have a voice in both parties. Yes, because we always read that he supported Richard Nixon. Is that what you're talking about when you say a mistake.</s>S. ROBINSON: That's what I was talking about. I was ten years old. And I begged him to change. I had to go to school and say my dad was supporting Nixon. And it wasn't pleasant. But, you know, later acknowledged that he read the signs wrong.</s>COSTELLO: Thank you both for being with us. Jackie Robinson's kids -- Sharon and David. We'll be right back. This is my family. This is Joe.