Zeus

The Bob Mathias Story (1954)

• Director
  • Francis D. Lyon
• Writer
  • Richard Collins
• Stars
  • Bob Mathias
  • Ward Bond
  • Melba Mathias

  Taking into consideration the success of the 1953 biopic Crazylegs, Allied Artists cooked up its own sports biography in the form of The Bob Mathias Story. Olympic decathalon winner (and future Wheaties spokesman) Bob Mathias plays himself, and quite well indeed. The film begins with the 17-year-old Mathias distinguishing himself at the Wembley athletic competition in 1949, then recounts his years at Stanford University. There's a modicum of suspense when Mathias' decision to marry his childhood sweetheart Melba (likewise played by herself) may prevent him from entering the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, even though the whole world knows the outcome. "Acting relief" is provided by Ann Doran and Howard Petrie as Bob's parents, and by Ward Bond as his high school coach.