NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (August 2021): Indicator have transferred John Badham's The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings to Blu-ray. Typical of Indicator this is on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate. The image quality is superb - a healthy thickness, fine grain textures, a richness to primary colors and pleasing contrast. Aside from the first few minutes being more faint the overall 1080P image is impressive. This is a naturalistic film-like presentation and a world-wide premier on Blu-ray.

NOTE: The movie begins with an older version of the Universal Studios logo, as part of the opening news reel featuring Adolph Hitler, Czechoslovakian President Emil Hácha, an American man who performs unusual, self destructive, tricks, and Negro league baseball.

NOTE: We have added 54 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings has plenty of effects from baseball games with cheering crowds, lively nightclubs and some violence. They come through authentically flat but with a modicum of buoyancy. The score is by William Goldstein that includes Berry Gordy's (Producer of the film) The Bingo Long Song (Steal On Home) and Goldstein's Razzle Dazzle both performed by Thelma Houston. The one channel accentuates the time period of the 1930s. Indicator offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers the 2007 commentary by John Badham. He gives insights in to the film and much of the history behind the Negro baseball leagues. He has a good voice - and it's clear and descriptive. Being the director, he gives impressions and memories that relate directly to the production, who the characters represent and his intent bringing the story to the big screen. One of the best extras I've seen in a while is the 1983 hour-long documentary There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues that chronicles the history of Negro Leagues baseball by using rare historical footage and interviews with black baseball greats utilizing archival footage of Cool Papa Bell, Chet Brewer, Jimmie Crutchfield, Bob Feller, Buck Leonard and other - it is narrated by James Earl Jones. It was very enjoyable and educational and puts into context much of The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings. There is also a theatrical trailer, a John Badham trailer commentary from 2013, ten radio spots and Indicator's usual image gallery of promotional and publicity material. The package has a limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet featuring a 1978 retrospective article on the film by Michele Russell, an archival report on a promotional baseball match between the casts of The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings and The Bad News Bears, an archival interview with actor Billy Dee Williams, an overview of contemporary critical responses, new writing on There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace, and film credits.

John Badham's The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings is joyful, heartwarming, historical, funny and it has great wardrobe (uniforms), sets, art direction - highlighted by the HD transfer. We see the injustices in the era of racial segregation. I love that some characters and situations are loosely based upon real-life people and incidents... and trying to guess who is supposed to be who. Ex. Bingo's stunt referencing one by "Satchel" Paige (calling in his outfield while leading in the ninth inning,) Leon Carter as Josh Gibson etc. The entertaining Harlem Globetrotter-esque fielding plays are classic. It's a wonderful film - looking and sounding authentic on the Indicator Blu-ray that includes a revealing director commentary and the hour documentary - essential to baseball fans plus another of their great limited edition booklets. Our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze