Bill Russell Movies
Spike Lee's documentary on the football star, movie actor, and social activist is a no-frills examination of a man who has rarely been out of the public spotlight for over 45 years. Jim Brown talks about the various phases of his life, from his boyhood in the all-black community of St. Simons Island, GA; to his adolescence on Long Island, where he became a multi-sport star athlete; to his college days at Syracuse University; to his nine-year career as the NFL's leading running back with the Cleveland Browns; to his days as an action star in Hollywood films; to his work with various social programs, many designed to help inner city youth. Among the many interview subjects are Art Modell, the onetime owner of the Browns; former Cleveland Brown teammates Dick Schafrath, John Wooten, Bobby Mitchell, Paul Warfield, and Walter Beach; filmmaking colleagues Fred Williamson and Bernie Casey (both football players turned actors), Raquel Welch, Oliver Stone, James Toback, Melvin Van Peebles, and Stella Stevens; Kim Brown and James Brown Jr., two of Brown's children from his first marriage; and Rockhead Johnson, a former Los Angeles gang leader and officer of Brown's Amer-I-Can organization. Lee does address Brown's ongoing legal problems over various assault charges, many of them involving women, and he tracks down a onetime Brown lover who in the mid-'60s wound up in the hospital after an incident at his Los Angeles home. Brown appeared in a supporting role in Lee's film He Got Game. This film, co-produced by HBO's sports division, was released theatrically for a limited run; a version running 114 minutes premiered on HBO several months later. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jim Brown, Dr. Walter Beach, (more)
- 1988
This instructional video features five of baseball's most accomplished players. It features former L.A. Dodger's coach Tommy Lasorda, who demonstrates and discusses some of the game's most important playing skills. Don Sutton, elected to the Hall of Fame in the late '90s, shares important pitching hints while Eric David demonstrates some critical outfield techniques. Wally Joyner, who played for both the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, shows viewers some strategic batting skills. Bill Russell explains how players can master the infield position, and the Dodgers' Steve Yeager shows how the ball can be caught under a variety of challenging circumstances. ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi
- 1979
This 1979 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Bill Russell and features musical guest Chicago. ~ Skyler Miller, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bill Russell, Chicago, (more)
