Some of our reviewers don't really "get" this film. It's not really a comedy, but rather pathos. Yes, there are laughs here, but perhaps the best description in serio-comic. It's about the abuse of Black baseball players by white people. It's about criminal activity within Black baseball. And it's about camaraderie among men in sports.
I remembered this well from when it came out in 1976, and I enjoyed it just as much now in 2018. One little error -- most of it was filmed in Georgia, and in one scene that is supposed to be outside of St. Louis, there's moss in the trees!
Billy Dee Williams was cast perfectly here as Bingo Long...suave, sophisticated, and that drawl. James Earl Jones may have overacted a bit...or was this just exactly how he wanted to play the character. Richard Pryor was good here, although he was better in other films. Stan Shaw was excellent as a young baseball player. Ted Ross is notably menacing as "the bad guy", and Mabel King is comical as his fellow-owner nemesis.
The funny thing is, I'm not much of a sports fan and almost never watch baseball on television or in person. But I tend to like many (though not all) baseball movies. And I really like this one. It's just downright entertaining, and while you'll laugh...it's not really a comedy.
I remembered this well from when it came out in 1976, and I enjoyed it just as much now in 2018. One little error -- most of it was filmed in Georgia, and in one scene that is supposed to be outside of St. Louis, there's moss in the trees!
Billy Dee Williams was cast perfectly here as Bingo Long...suave, sophisticated, and that drawl. James Earl Jones may have overacted a bit...or was this just exactly how he wanted to play the character. Richard Pryor was good here, although he was better in other films. Stan Shaw was excellent as a young baseball player. Ted Ross is notably menacing as "the bad guy", and Mabel King is comical as his fellow-owner nemesis.
The funny thing is, I'm not much of a sports fan and almost never watch baseball on television or in person. But I tend to like many (though not all) baseball movies. And I really like this one. It's just downright entertaining, and while you'll laugh...it's not really a comedy.