WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Bingo Long Traveling All Stars and Motor Kings, The
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 22 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Richard Pryor.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 2.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals
Includes the theatrical trailer.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MCA/Universal Home Video
(Catalog Number): 42931
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 111
(Color Type): Color With Black & White Sequences
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1976
(LD Release Date): 9/9/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): John Badham
(Screenplay/Written By): Hal Barwood & Matthew Robbins
(Story): NA
(Music): William Goldstein
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Lawrence G. Paull
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): David Rawlins
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Berry Gordy
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Rob Cohen

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
“The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings” blends comedy with baseball skills during the days of “color barriers” in the major leagues. From William Brashler’s novel of the same name, it is a celebration of the amazing athletes of the 1930s, a decade before Jackie Robinson crossed the “color line.” Bingo Long (Williams), Leon Carter (Jones) and Charlie Snow (Pryor) are all star players who break away from their bosses in the Negro National League. Forming their own razzle-dazzle team, they take on local teams of all sizes and colors across the Depression-era Midwest. Mixed with fact, fiction and bright humor, it is a wonderfully entertaining story about baseball, American dreams, prejudice and pain.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture is sharp and detailed with natural fleshtones and deep solid blacks. The rich and warm colors are not always consistently hued. While slight noise is apparent there are no artifacts. The picture’s aspect ratio is 1.85:1.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Disappointingly, with such great music, the soundtrack is undistinguished mono.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
No
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: