Passing Glory (DVD)

This made for TV movie is based on a true story. It's 1965 in New Orleans and St. Augustine's Catholic High School (boys) does an admirable job of educating young men from the black community and preparing them for life ..... in the black community. They know their place and their limitations. They were turned down by a vote of 185-11 to be a member of the Louisiana State High School Athletic Association so they must continue to compete against other black schools. They have never played a white school in their history. They can only wonder how their championship teams would compete against the white champions. This is all about to change when Father Verrett, a black priest from Baltimore is transferred to St. Augustine. He grew up in New Orleans but has tasted freedom in the North. He doesn't have the patience to be passive while the white community decides the fate of the black community. Father Verrett turns the school, students and parents into an activist community that is willing to take on the system, albeit pretty reluctantly, having already experienced the retaliation of some whites. The film builds to a climax of the first ever racially mixed high school basketball game in New Orleans. Another terrific film about the struggle of black Americans for the equal rights guaranteed to all citizens but at that time only available if you had the correct skin color. The acting is excellent and the screenplay was written by an actual member of the 1965 team, veteran actor Harold Sylvester. Magic Johnson was an executive producer. An overlooked TNT gem.

I really enjoyed this movie, mostly because I knew Bob Grant. It was well done and is a fine tribute to him.

If you got a heart, I'm certain this movie will touch it. I got this movie on a whim, mainly because I'm a Daniel Hugh Kelly fan, and it was descently priced. Plus, the storyline seemed pretty good. Boy, was I surprised- it was a whole lot better than I thought. It was packed with a lot of good acting all the around. Based on a true story, where just about everybody pulls together at the end and cheers unitedly and breaks color lines at a time when it seemed impossible, and left you at the end with that good feeling that movies like this sometimes inspires.

Based on a true story, the mixture of morality, sports, and quality acting and directing makes for a winning combination, especially for teenage viewers and the young at heart.

A little amateurish.

This movie produced by Turner was originally made for TV. It has a couple of recognized actors and has a good positive message for kids older than 8 - definitely a "G" movie with a good moral lesson. Now, for the whole truth, my son and I were extras in the movie when it was filmed here in Atlanta and so, it made sence to get a DVD version since we only had a VHS version. You can buy it for not much more than you can rent it for and show it to your kids or grand kids (it's for parents too!)

Top 20 best basketball movies ever

Thought I order a DVD not a used cassette