Soul of the Game (1996)
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67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(98 ratings)
This original HBO production documents, in dramatic form, the rivalry between Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson to see who would be the first African-American to play Major League Baseball. Paige (played by Delroy Lindo) and Gibson (Mykelti Williamson) are more aggressive about seizing… More This original HBO production documents, in dramatic form, the rivalry between Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson to see who would be the first African-American to play Major League Baseball. Paige (played by Delroy Lindo) and Gibson (Mykelti Williamson) are more aggressive about seizing the opportunity that arose in the mid-'40s with the death of baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who had publicly avowed that the color line in baseball would never be broken. Branch Rickey (Edward Herrmann), the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is the first to seize that opportunity, sending his scouts to check out all the stars of the Negro Leagues. He narrows his choice down to Robinson, in part because of Paige's age (he was around 40) and Gibson's health (he behaved erratically in public, though it rarely affected his game). Rickey was looking for a player with the talent to compete in the big leagues and the character not to allow the inevitable harassment that would come his way to get to him. Robinson was signed in October 1945 and made his big-league debut in April 1947. Paige made it to the big leagues in 1948; Gibson died at the age of 36 in 1947 of a brain tumor. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi
- Directed By
- Kevin Rodney Sullivan
- Written By
- David Himmelstein
- Genres
- Drama
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Apr 20, 1996 Wide
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Akin to a bloop single: it's not pretty but it gets the job done, even if only for a little bit.
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Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
A great story told in a great way.
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John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
Baseball fans will appreciate it far more than non-fans, and it's worth a look for the history despite the awkwardly forced cinematic moments
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Delroy Lindo
as Satchel Paige
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Mykelti Williamson
as Josh Gibson
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Blair Underwood
as Jackie Robinson
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Edward Herrmann
as Branch Rickey
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R. Lee Ermey
as Wilkie
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Gina Ravera
as Grace
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Obba Babatundé
as Cum Posey
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Joe Banks
as Link Rudolph
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Paul Bates
as Orderly #1
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Guy Boyd
as Clark Griffith
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Gregg Burge
as Bill Robinson
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Ed Cambridge
as Bellhop
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Cylk Cozart
as Zo Perry
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Zaid Farid
as Clerk
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Edith Fields
as Nurse
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Jesse D. Goins
as John Givens Reporter
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Jerry Hardin
as Happy Chandler
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Brent Jennings
as Frank Duncan
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C. David Johnson
as Roy Campanella
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Lou Richards
as Radio Announcer
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Salli Richardson
as Lahoma
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Richard Riehle
as Peter Harmon
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Bob Minor
as Goon #2
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Oscar Williams
as Grays Manager
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Bruce Beatty
as Reporter
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J.D. Hall
as Gus Greenlee
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Kevin Sifuentes
as Waiter
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Isaiah Washington
as Adult Willie Mays
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Terrence Riggins
as Orderly #2
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Erika Flores
as Girl
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Joseph Latimore
as Jesse Williams
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Charles Stevenson
as Supervisor
- Armand Asselin
- Joey Banks
- Salli Richardson-Whitfield
