Boy, here's a classic case of a book being far better than the ensuing movie. Paige's autobiography was entertaining and both informative and humorous.
This film, thanks to a few things like actors who have no clue how to throw or hit a baseball, make the story lose credibility. Lou Gossett, playing Paige, can't throw which kind of hurts since Paige was a pitcher! Duh!! All-time great Negro League hitter Josh Gibson (Ernie Barnes), the "Babe Ruth" of his league, looks like a Little Leaguer with his horrible swing.
Meanwhile, the romance and the prejudice angles are all way out of proportion to Paige's book. Skip this film; read the book. It's far, far better.
This film, thanks to a few things like actors who have no clue how to throw or hit a baseball, make the story lose credibility. Lou Gossett, playing Paige, can't throw which kind of hurts since Paige was a pitcher! Duh!! All-time great Negro League hitter Josh Gibson (Ernie Barnes), the "Babe Ruth" of his league, looks like a Little Leaguer with his horrible swing.
Meanwhile, the romance and the prejudice angles are all way out of proportion to Paige's book. Skip this film; read the book. It's far, far better.