IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
In the fall of 1950, Nat 'Sweetwater' Clifton makes history in his journey to become the first African American to sign an NBA contract, forever changing the game of basketball.In the fall of 1950, Nat 'Sweetwater' Clifton makes history in his journey to become the first African American to sign an NBA contract, forever changing the game of basketball.In the fall of 1950, Nat 'Sweetwater' Clifton makes history in his journey to become the first African American to sign an NBA contract, forever changing the game of basketball.
- Awards
- 5 wins & 3 nominations
Herbert 'Flight Time' Lang
- Babe
- (as Herbert Lang)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter decades of failed attempts, thanks to efforts by the Naismith Hall of Fame and writer-Director Martin Guigui, in 2014 Sweetwater Clifton was finally inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. At the press conference, Sweetwater's daughter Jataun Robinson accepted on her deceased Father's behalf and said "It's truly an honor, and it's about time."
- GoofsWhile a player on the Globetrotters is tying his shoe, another player on his team comes to grab the ball directly from the distracted opposing inbounder, only to go ahead towards the basket for an easy lay-up.
As this is happening, the referee does not blow his whistle to stop the play and call a violation, and instead appears to let the lay-up count for the Globetrotters.
According to the NBA's rules, a defender cannot cross the plane of the boundary line and touch the ball until it is released from the inbounders hands.
- Quotes
Mrs. Lapchick: Look at me. You are Joe Lapchick. You don't have to break through a wall. You just go get Sweetwater, and you climb over that wall with him.
Featured review
pretty ok biopic
A sports writer climbs into a Chicago taxi cab gushing about Michael Jordan. Little does he know that the driver is groundbreaking negro basketball player Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton (Everett Osborne). In 1949, Nat and his Harlem Globetrotters teammates beat the all-white NBA champs, The Minneapolis Lakers. They are led by team owner and coach Abe Saperstein (Kevin Pollak). New York Knickerbockers coach Joe Lapchick (Jeremy Piven) is desperate to get Nat on his team and break the color barrier. He convinces his boss Ned Irish (Cary Elwes).
This needs a singular villain character. Sure, the villain is general racism which comes up everywhere and from all directions. The movie needs one character to encapsulate all that evil. It has elements of a good biopic, but it doesn't have the bite. It introduces the style of play argument a little too late. For me, it came out of nowhere although I guess there is that discussion in the taxi cab. It needs that childhood memory a lot sooner. It's a great story that needs to be told. Abe is a complicated personality in the story of basketball and I'm glad that the movie didn't make him too one-sided. It is still a simplistic portrayal. All in all, I love the true history aspect. The movie is pretty ok. It's an underdog sports biopic.
This needs a singular villain character. Sure, the villain is general racism which comes up everywhere and from all directions. The movie needs one character to encapsulate all that evil. It has elements of a good biopic, but it doesn't have the bite. It introduces the style of play argument a little too late. For me, it came out of nowhere although I guess there is that discussion in the taxi cab. It needs that childhood memory a lot sooner. It's a great story that needs to be told. Abe is a complicated personality in the story of basketball and I'm glad that the movie didn't make him too one-sided. It is still a simplistic portrayal. All in all, I love the true history aspect. The movie is pretty ok. It's an underdog sports biopic.
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- SnoopyStyle
- Dec 30, 2023
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Свитуотер
- Filming locations
- Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Stage 14 -Madison Square Garden- plus various exteriors and interiors in the backlot)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $8,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $541,633
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $351,010
- Apr 16, 2023
- Gross worldwide
- $541,633
- Runtime1 hour 58 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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