the bingo long traveling all-stars & motor kings (john badham, 1976)

An entertaining film about a barnstorming team of African-American baseball players in the 1930s, when the Major Leagues still wouldn't allow black ballplayers. The cast is very engaging, with Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones in the leads. Richard Pryor has a big part, and the supporting cast includes people like Leon "Daddy Wags" Wagner, who played for the Giants in their first season in San Francisco, and DeWayne Jessie ("Otis Day" from Animal House).

The film shows the ways black players had to relate to white fans, basically by clowning. It doesn't press too hard on this, but we are made aware of how the players are aware that the clowning is beneath their abilities, and ultimately demeaning. In truth, it could have pressed harder on this point. Instead, the actors and their antics are so entertaining, the film inches towards the same minstrel show presentation it is supposedly condemning. 

The performances are good enough to pull everything off, and if this isn't a classic, it's still enjoyable. The first feature from director John Badhan, after years of work in television ... his next film was Saturday Night Fever.