Ripped from the Headlines the Ads used to Say in the Day. This Little B-Movie Capitalized on Just That.
A Real-Life Scandal Shocked College Basketball and its Fans During the Early 50's.
The Sacrosanct Higher-Education System Took a Hit of Sorts as a Light was Shined on some "Dark-Dirty-Play".
Still Alive Today.
The Debate about Big-Money in College Sports as Amateur (by Law) Athletes are Exploited for Their Skills with No Financial Reward.
Sure some of the Top in the Field Get Scholarships Worth Money, but Not All the Player Get a "Full-Ride" and the Inequities are Transparent.
This Movie is Helped by the Versatile John Ireland as a Sports Journalist and Felix Feist, a Workman-Like Director.
Marshall Thompson Plays the B-Ball "Star" who Goes from High-School to College.
Maintaining a "Boy-Scout" Clean-Cut Life Sinking Baskets and Dominating the Game.
He also has Issues at Home Taking Care of a Younger Brother with Little Resources.
So No Christmas Toys for the Kid, and No Money to Solidify His Love with a "Diamond Ring", the "Shooter" Buckles and Deliberately Misses, for a Pay-Day from the "Mob"
Once Hooked, He's in it Forever.
The Production Code No-No's are Avoided and the Story is Told in a Rather White-Washed Display.
But Close Enough for the Strange and Off-Beat Foray into a Touchy Thing that Movies Generally Stayed Clear.
Worth a Watch.