Wilma (1977 TV Movie) User Reviews

Wonderful Wilma

[view_and_review · 7/10 · 30 January 2020]

I love track and field. I watch it every chance I get because you always see some amazing accomplishments and hear some amazing stories. You see records broken--personal, national, meet, and world records--you see underdogs win, favorites shine, and everything else.

Wilma Rudolph, played by Shirley Jo Finney, was exceptional enough to win three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. This was 28 years before Flo Jo would burn up the track in Seoul.

I think the production could've been better. The lighting was poor as was the sound which detracted from the viewing pleasure. It was still a good movie about an exceptional woman who should be recognized.

Denzel Washington's first role. He was fine, the rest bland

[ProfessorSmashmouth · 5/10 · 13 March 2023]

I remember seeing this as a kid on a hotel TV with my dad along with my brothers when we were traveling. My dad explained how she was a big deal at the Olympics in 1960. I remember being more fascinated by her than the actual story itself but I thought of it the other day and watched it on Youtube. It did not live up to my memories. The biggest surprise for me was to learn I had seen Denzel Washington's debut and did not realize that he was a star in the making obviously. He is as likeable and charismatic here as he always is. What struck me most was that the 1956 Olmypics which should be a big deal -hey you made the Olympic team!! - is totally overlooked. They go from poor sickly girl who starts to get good and then hey, you went to the Olympics and got a bronze in a line but they show none of that and instead concentrate on the 1960 Olympics because she had a baby between 56 and 60 and won three gold medals at the 60 Olympics so they thought that was more dramatic, yet somehow they make all of that boring. The most interesting part is actually the original footage of the 1960 Olympics spliced into the film. The sound editing was pretty bad too. You also learn the dad backstory at the end and his relationship with her which I think should have been played up at the beginning. Seemed like a student project or maybe a first time director project. C+.