PRODUCT INDEX

"BINGO LONG AND THE TRAVELING ALL STAR KINGS"

FROM THE COLLECTION OF MARCIA MCBROOM who plays a small role opposite Billy Dee Williams.


 

This enjoyable 1976 film by John Badham (Saturday Night Fever) concerns the efforts of a barnstorming baseball team of African American players to work around the dominance of the Negro National League. Set in 1939, the swift, impressive, and entertaining troupe of personality-rich athletes easily make the viewer wistful for this level of spiritedness on a green field. While the story is a bit halting, the script intelligently reflects some of the difficulties and requirements of black players at that time to find success in the game. The excellent cast includes Billy Dee Williams, whose character is based on Satchel Paige, and James Earl Jones, whose part is suggestive of the tragic Josh Gibson, as well as Richard Pryor, Ted Ross, DeWayne Jessie, and Stan Shaw. Produced by Motown's old film division, the musical score, not surprisingly, is highly memorable.
 

Steven Spielberg was initially very interesting in directing, but the massive success of Jaws (1975) meant that he was able to get any project of his own off the ground, and decided to make Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) instead.

Director John Badham made this is a great tribute to the "Negro League" players. Overcoming racism and hustling owners, forced them to defend themselves from both worlds and still achieve their goals. James Earl Jones and Billy Dee Williams each give great performances, but Richard Pryor with his Ricky Ricardo take, steals the show. A great look into the history of the Negro Leagues and makes a very uplifting fact based portrayal.

DVDS and CDS from the collective works of LORELEI, DURGA, MARCIA, DANA MCBROOM, PAUL LITTERAL and other favorites we recommend