Soul of the Game (1996)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(82 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Written By: David Himmelstein
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Apr 20, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jan 23, 2001
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

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.
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
A great story told in a great way.
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

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Cast

            Delroy Lindo as Satchel Paige

            Mykelti Williamson as Josh Gibson

            Blair Underwood as Jackie Robinson

            Edward Herrmann as Branch Rickey

            R. Lee Ermey as Wilkie

            Gina Ravera as Grace

            Obba Babatundé as Cum Posey

            Joe Banks as Link Rudolph

            Paul Bates as Orderly #1

            Guy Boyd as Clark Griffith

            Gregg Burge as Bill Robinson

            Ed Cambridge as Bellhop

            Cylk Cozart as Zo Perry

            Zaid Farid as Clerk

            Edith Fields as Nurse

            Jesse D. Goins as John Givens Reporter

            Jerry Hardin as Happy Chandler

            Brent Jennings as Frank Duncan

            C. David Johnson as Roy Campanella

            Lou Richards as Radio Announcer

            Salli Richardson as Lahoma

            Richard Riehle as Peter Harmon

            Bob Minor as Goon #2

            Oscar Williams as Grays Manager

            Bruce Beatty as Reporter

            J.D. Hall as Gus Greenlee

            Kevin Sifuentes as Waiter

            Isaiah Washington as Adult Willie Mays

            Terrence Riggins as Orderly #2

            Erika Flores as Girl

            Joseph Latimore as Jesse Williams

            Charles Stevenson as Supervisor

            Armand Asselin
            
            Joey Banks
            
            Salli Richardson-Whitfield
            
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