The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)

Tired of the slave-like treatment of his team's owner, charismatic star Negro League pitcher Bingo Long takes to the road with his band of barnstormers through the small towns of the Midwest in the 1930's.

Director:

John Badham

Writers:

William Brashler (based on the novel by), Hal Barwood (screenplay)

Stars:

Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Richard Pryor

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Dee Williams	...	Bingo Long (P)
James Earl Jones	...	Leon Carter, All-Star (C)
Richard Pryor	...	Charlie Snow, All-Star (RF)
Rico Dawson	...	Willie Lee Shively, All-Star (RF)
Sam 'Birmingham' Brison	...	Louis Keystone - All-Star - SS (as 'Birmingham' Sam Brison)
Jophery C. Brown	...	Emory 'Champ' Chambers, All-Star (3B) (as Jophery Brown)
Leon Wagner	...	Fat Sam Popper, All-Star (1B)
Tony Burton	...	Issac, All-Star (CF)(C)
John McCurry	...	Walter Murchman, All-Star (LF)
Stan Shaw	...	Esquire Joe Callaway, All-Star (CF)
Otis Day	...	Rainbow, All-Star (bat boy) (as DeWayne Jessie)
Ted Ross	...	Sallison 'Sallie' Potter, Owner of Ebony Aces
Mabel King	...	Bertha Dewitt, Owner of Charcoal Kings
Sam Laws	...	Henry Dunbar, Owner of Baltimore Elite Giants
Alvin Childress	...	Horace Quigley, Owner of Atlanta Black Crackers

Storyline

Tired of being treated like a slave by team owner Sallison Potter (Ted Ross), charismatic star pitcher Bingo Long (Billy Dee Williams) steals a bunch of Negro League players away from their teams, including catcher/slugger Leon Carter (James Earl Jones) and Charlie Snow (Richard Pryor), a player forever scheming to break into the segregated Major League Baseball of the 1930s by masquerading as first a Cuban ("Carlos Nevada"), then a Native American ("Chief Takahoma"). They take to the road, barnstorming through small Midwestern towns, playing the local teams to make ends meet. One of the opposing players, 'Esquire' Joe Calloway (Stan Shaw), is so good that they recruit him. Bingo's team becomes so outlandishly entertaining and successful, it begins to cut into the attendance of the established Negro League teams. Finally, Bingo's nemesis Potter is forced to propose a winner-take-all game: if Bingo's team can beat a bunch of all-stars, it can join the league, but if it loses, the ...

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | baseball movie | african american | negro league baseball | baseball | 

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Taglines:

In 1939, to laugh, you listened to the radio, to cry, you went to the movies, for excitement, you went to the ballgame. But if you wanted all three, there was only Bingo Long.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 July 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bingo

Filming Locations:

Monticello, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Motown Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

In the newsreel that opens the movie, Leon Carter's team is identified as the Baltimore Elite ("e-leet") Giants. A team by that name existed, but its name was pronounced "e-light."

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Quotes

Leon Carter, All-Star: [after Esquire Joe bowls him over with a slide at the plate] Say, boy - does you do this constantly?
Esquire Joe Callaway, All-Star: No, suh. I does it all the time.

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Crazy Credits

The movie begins with an older version of the Universal Studios logo, as part of the opening news reel.

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Connections

Edited into Afro Promo (1997)

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Soundtracks

Razzle Dazzle
Music by William Goldstein
Lyrics by Ronald Miller
Performed by Thelma Houston

User Reviews

Excellent film and good acting all around.

They just don't make `em like this anymore. James Earl Jones, Billy Dewilliams, Richard Prior and Stan Shaw play their parts to perfection. The music is excellent, capturing the flavor of the times. There are some huge belly-laughs and the plot keeps one interested throughout. Great sports movie.