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Glory Road, the opening credits inform us, is "based on the story of the team that changed everything." The film recounts the tale of the all-black Texas Western Miners, who defeated the all-white Kentucky Wildcats (and legendary "coach of the century" Adolph Rupp) for the 1966 NCAA Championship, a momentous upset that, indeed, significantly changed the racial landscape of college basketball. The feat makes for a slam-dunk sports movie, expertly brought to the screen by director James Gartner and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who helmed the similarly inspiring Remember the Titans. Josh Charles stars as Don Haskins, an unknown girl's basketball coach who eagerly accepts the chance to coach the Division 1 Miners. When the premier white players balk at playing for a coach with such slender credentials, he recruits overlooked black players. As the season progresses, Haskins ignores the "unwritten rules" that severely limit the number of black players in a team's lineup (one at home games, two on the road). By the time of the epic showdown with Kentucky, Haskins is putting five black starters on the court, a breakthrough of Jackie Robinson proportions. A documentary approach might have been truer to the facts, but Glory Road scores by following the tried-and-true Hollywood playbook, pitting feisty underdogs against seemingly overwhelming odds. The superb cast, including an understated Jon Voight as Rupp -- who initially patronizes Haskins and realizes too late that history is being made at his expense -- help make the clichés go down easier. The moving end credits fill us in on the lives of the men who brought about a new era on the hardwood. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

A true-life story of a basketball team who broke down barriers while racking up victories is the basis for this sports drama. Don Haskins (Josh Lucas) was a high school and college basketball star who, after six years of working with high school teams, became the head coach at Texas Western University in 1962. At that time, Texas Western's basketball program was not well respected, but Haskins was determined to change that, and in 1966 Haskins assembled what he was certain was a winning team. However, Haskins' starting lineup was comprised entirely of African-American athletes at a time when racially integrated teams were still a novelty in the South and West. Despite generating a firestorm of controversy, Haskins and his players showed they could succeed where it counted -- on the court. In post-season play Haskins and the Texas Western team found themselves competing for the NCAA championship against the University of Kentucky's all-white team, lead by legendary coach Adolph Rupp (Jon Voight). Glory Road also stars Derek Luke, Alphonso McAuley, Mehcad Brooks, Al Shearer, Damaine Radcliff, Sam Jones III, and Schin S. Kerr as members of Haskins' winning team. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 786936723779
• Source: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
• Region Code: A
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Subtitled, Dubbed
• Time: 1:58:00
• Sales Rank: 23,108

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