The Fireball

The Fireball is a 1950 American drama film starring Mickey Rooney and Pat O'Brien, and directed by Tay Garnett. The cast also includes Beverly Tyler and one of the first screen appearances of Marilyn Monroe.

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

 * Mickey Rooney as Johnny Casar
 * Pat O'Brien as Father O'Hara
 * Beverly Tyler as Mary Reeves
 * James Brown as Allen
 * Ralph Dumke as Bruno Crystal
 * Milburn Stone as Jeff Davis
 * Bert Begley as Shilling
 * Marilyn Monroe as Polly
 * Sam Flint as Dr. Barton
 * Glen Corbett as Mack Miller
 * John Hedloe as Ullman
 * Marilyn Monroe as Polly