Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story
VHS cover
GenreBiography
Drama
Sport
Written byFred Johnson
Screenplay byFred Johnson
Don Enright
Ed Fields
Story byFred Johnson
Directed byCharles Braverman
StarringVictor Love[1]
Duane Davis
George Kennedy
Nell Carter
Sam Hennings
Music byStanley Clarke
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerRussell Vreeland
ProducersDon Enright
Les Alexander
James P. McGillen[2]
Joe Lunne (associate producer)
Production locationsLos Angeles
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[3]
Santa Monica, California
CinematographyStephen Blake
Running time92 minutes
Production companiesMcGillen Entertainment
Alexander, Enright & Associates
Tribune Entertainment[4]
Budget$3 million[5]
Original release
NetworkFirst-run syndication[6][7]
ReleaseMarch 29, 1992 (1992-03-29)

Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story is an American 1992 sports drama biography television film[8] about the life of Loyola Marymount basketball player Eric "Hank" Gathers, written for Tribune Entertainment by Fred Johnson, Don Enright and Ed Fields, and directed by Charles Braverman.[9][10][11][12][13]

Synopsis

This film follows the life of basketball legend Eric "Hank" Gathers, from his growing up in the ghettos of Philadelphia to his freshman year at USC through his brief career playing basketball for Loyola Marymount University, where he collapsed during a game and died of a heart ailment.[10]

Partial cast

Production

Casting began in late 1991,[14] with a television debut slated for March 1992.[15] The project was filmed in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; as well as in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, California.[11]

Reception

Entertainment Weekly wrote that the film "does a decent job of showing us the person inside the uniform," but felt that the film is overall "too sketchily told to be truly satisfying."[16]

Dallas Morning News felt that the film went beyond disappointing to become "an insult -- not for what it focuses on, but for what it leaves out." The reviewer felt that the film fell "in line with many TV projects based on real-life people by reducing its subject to sterotypes."[17]

Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that film suffered in its dwelling less on the formative events of Gathers' life to concentrate too much upon his basketball career.[13]

Conversely, San Diego Union-Tribune felt the film was a fitting tribute to Hank Gathers' memory.[18]

Variety wrote that while some of the scenes were awkward, the film "sets a fine example of what a youth under pressure in North Philly can accomplish." They wrote that it is the growing relation of Hank Gathers with his college teammate Bo Kimble as friends and players that holds the viewer's interest, while making note that Gathers' off-court life remains "shadowy and vague".[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Weaver, Maurice (April 5, 1992). "HANK GATHERS STORY". Chicago Tribune.
  2. ↑ Herbert, Steven (April 19, 1992). "The Pride of the Lions : Film follows the life of Loyola's Hank Gathers until his 'Final Shot' two years ago". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ Prouty (April 22, 1992). "Variety TV REV 1991-92 17". Variety. ISBN 9780824037963.
  4. ↑ Rosenberg, Howard (April 22, 1992). "TV REVIEW : 'Final Shot' Misses Basket". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ↑ Blystone, Ryan T. (March 26, 1992). "'Final Shot' profiles life and death of Gathers" (PDF). California State University, Fullerton Daily Titan.
  6. ↑ Hiltbrand, David (March 30, 1992). "Picks and Pans Review: Final Shot: the Hank Gathers Story". People.
  7. ↑ "WGN Presents". epguides.com.
  8. ↑ "Have Cheetah, Will View #170 – "Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story" (1992)". THE INNER CIRCLE. March 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ Hal Erickson (2007). "Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story (1992)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  10. 1 2 Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (2007). Historical dictionary of African-American television. Historical dictionaries of literature and the arts. Vol. 7 (illustrated ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 31, 68, 141, 262, 277, 356, 377. ISBN 978-0-8108-5335-5.
  11. 1 2 3 Scott, Tony (1994). Prouty (ed.). VARIETY TV REV 1991-92 17. Variety and Daily Variety Television Reviews. Vol. 17 (illustrated ed.). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-8240-3796-0.
  12. ↑ "Coming home for Hank". Philadelphia Inquirer. April 1, 1992. p. E01. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  13. 1 2 "TV Portrait of Gathers simply spares too much". Philadelphia Inquirer. April 1, 1992. p. E01. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  14. ↑ "Putting Stalin in his place". Long Beach Press Telegram. November 10, 1991. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  15. ↑ Hudson, Maryann (December 6, 1991). "Gathers Trial Set to Begin Feb. 24 in Torrance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  16. ↑ Slauter, Michael (March 12, 1993). "review: Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  17. ↑ Perkins, Parrish (March 28, 1992). "Final Shot': just an air ball. Hank Gathers story becomes misleading made-for-TV movie". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  18. ↑ Freeman, John (April 19, 1992). "'Final Shot' scores as fitting TV tribute to Hank Gathers' memory". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
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