Follow the Sun

I was impressed that this movie stuck to the facts, rather than played fast and loose with them, as do so many Hollywood biopics. I admit I had to check the facts tom find out, as before watching this, I had never heard of Ben Hogan!

Now that I have, I know he was a man to be admired, determined to overcome his injuries and not let any disabilities keep him from playing golf. And he sure kept to it, with all the championships he won, after that near fatal car accident! (Did he actually drive in all that fog, or was that just put in for dramatic effect?)

Glenn Ford was his usual outstanding self as golf champion Ben Hogan, a man who was introverted and didn't know how to talk to the press and charm the fans, the opposite of fellow player Chuck Williams (Dennis O'Keefe), who goes too far in the other direction.

He was misunderstood by the public (who thought him cold and unfriendly) and he in turn misunderstood them, not realizing until after the accident that people cared. As he said, he had to learn to take his eye off the golf ball and look at people once in a while.

Anne Baxter was also good as Ben's wife (and biggest fan), Valerie, as was June Havoc, who played Chuck's wife, Norma.

I saw a familiar face from TV; Larry Keating (best known as Harry Morton on "Burns and Allen") played sportswriter Jay Dexter, who could have used a better attitude.

There were also appearances of real-life golf pros: Sam Snead, Cary Middlecoff, and jimmy Demaret (whom I remember from an "I Love Lucy" episode).

Even if you're not a golf fan, it's still a movie worth watching.