Breaking off from the monopolistic Negro League in the 1930s, a team of disgruntled baseball players led by the charming Bingo Long (Billy Dee Williams) and brash Leon Carter (James Earl Jones) barnstorms its way across the Midwest, playing hastily arranged games against white players and entertaining small-town crowds with showbiz-inspired antics. In his 1976 feature debut, John Badham (Saturday Night Fever) aims for humor over homilies when dealing with race and segregation. But the middling story too often relies on stereotypical behavior for easy laughs; plus, the dialogue is rife with the colloquial use of the n-word. Despite a fine cast that includes Richard Pryor, this is only a base hit not a home run. A strong optional purchase. (T. Rich)
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Universal, 111 min., PG, DVD: $19.98 Volume 17, Issue 3
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
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