That will be the moment he learns how to swat his own flies in this terrific TV movie that focuses on the tragic car accident of baseball hero Roy Campanella (Paul Winfield) and how he learned to cope with his situation thanks to the wonderful people around him. But most of all with his attendant, Louis Gossett Jr., he begins to gain some hope and in the process reconnect with his wonderful wife Ruby Dee who had to readjust her life, having been tired of being a baseball wife.
Flashbacks early in the film shows his dealing with the issue of being a mixed-race kid with a black mother (Ketty Lester) and Italian-American father (Joe De Santis), and the only real Glimpse you get into his baseball career is the fact that the Dodgers are getting ready to move to Los Angeles which occurs before his accident. Ty Henderson plays his young son, devoted to his mother throughout, hurt by the fact that his father won't see him. Falling in with a bad crowd doesn't help the situation any, but it's obvious that he wasn't a willing party to what transpired. His breakdown when he finally sees his father is a tear jerking moment.
The persona of Campanella shows him to be a basically shy man, becoming angry over his situation and having many explosions as he tries and fails to make adjustments. Winfield, already a legendary actor by this time, adds another sensational performance to his roster of major league acting roles, and Gossett, an actor rising with respect in the field, is sensational, giving his character humor and heart, and showing the power as an angel in human form who doesn't give up when helping others.
DeSantis and Lester are terrific as his parents, and Lloyd Gough is also very good as the surgeon. His scene explaining the situation to Ruby Dee is a to the specially by the great writing which is consistent in the film that draws you into this family's situation. Ramon Bieri plays the agent who stood by him through thick and thin. This is a tender look at an American hero, fallen from grace due to a situation beyond his control, but forced to wake up and find life again. This is a joyful film that moves beyond the tragedy, and if you have to get it a nickname, that nickname would be Hope.
Flashbacks early in the film shows his dealing with the issue of being a mixed-race kid with a black mother (Ketty Lester) and Italian-American father (Joe De Santis), and the only real Glimpse you get into his baseball career is the fact that the Dodgers are getting ready to move to Los Angeles which occurs before his accident. Ty Henderson plays his young son, devoted to his mother throughout, hurt by the fact that his father won't see him. Falling in with a bad crowd doesn't help the situation any, but it's obvious that he wasn't a willing party to what transpired. His breakdown when he finally sees his father is a tear jerking moment.
The persona of Campanella shows him to be a basically shy man, becoming angry over his situation and having many explosions as he tries and fails to make adjustments. Winfield, already a legendary actor by this time, adds another sensational performance to his roster of major league acting roles, and Gossett, an actor rising with respect in the field, is sensational, giving his character humor and heart, and showing the power as an angel in human form who doesn't give up when helping others.
DeSantis and Lester are terrific as his parents, and Lloyd Gough is also very good as the surgeon. His scene explaining the situation to Ruby Dee is a to the specially by the great writing which is consistent in the film that draws you into this family's situation. Ramon Bieri plays the agent who stood by him through thick and thin. This is a tender look at an American hero, fallen from grace due to a situation beyond his control, but forced to wake up and find life again. This is a joyful film that moves beyond the tragedy, and if you have to get it a nickname, that nickname would be Hope.