THE FABULOUS HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

Year Published: 1956

Format: 16mm

Description: Made in 1956 by Castle Films, this movie "The Fabulous Harlem Globetrotters" was originally sold for the home market in camera and department stores and via mail order. We haven't been able to confirm it, but we believe this film includes Clarence Wilson, George "Meadowlark" Lemon, Charlie Hoxie, Roman Turmon, Andy Johnson, Woodrow "Woody" Sauldsberry, Carl Green, Leon Hillard, Willie Gardner, and others. The famed Washington Generals are also shown in the exhibition match that occurs about halfway through the film. The Harlem Globetrotters are arguably one of the most famous teams in the history of professional basketball. Originating in the South Side of Chicago and eventually moving to New York City, the Globetrotters were and still are an exhibition basketball team who combine athleticism, comedy, and theater in their style of play. Shortly before this newsreel was released, the team had reached new heights of popularity stemming from their big win against the Minneapolis Lakers (now Los Angeles Lakers) at the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1948. Produced by Castle Films, a film company founded by former newsreel cameraman Eugene W. Castle, the film highlights the profound skill set of the team both in regards to basketball and comedy. The film starts by capturing the Harlem Globetrotters as they do warm-up drills and later follows the team as they play and beat an opposing team in a basketball game. Opening title: "The Fabulous Harlem Globetrotters" with animated figures of players (0:13). Harlem Globetrotters players doing warm -up exercise of dribbling wearing Chuck Taylor All-Star or Converse All-Star sneakers (0:24). Close-up of player getting ready to take a shot with Tony Hinkle model basketball (0:31). Players practicing slam-dunks (0:28). Players taking practice shots and making baskets (0:31). Players standing in famous warm-up circle (0:42). Slow motion shot of players’ ball handling skills (0:53). Close-up of player 36, Meadowlark Lemon, who was given the moniker "The Original Sticky Fingers" (1:30). Practice game amongst players (1:54). Player 12 pivoting trick, perhaps player Wilt Chamberlain (2:34). Opposing player standing in disappointment after not blocking a shot (2:53). Harlem Globetrotters running into packed stadium wearing warm-up track suit (2:55). Harlem Globetrotters standing shoulder to shoulder facing opposing team (3:09). Scanning shot of game spectators (3:12). Players in track suits in the warm-up circle (3:18). Players shooting warm-up baskets (3:48). Harlem Globetrotters in face-off with opposing team (3:54). Harlem Globetrotters immediately score a basket (3:58). Montage of various plays where Harlem Globetrotters continually shoot and make baskets and clips of spectators enjoying themselves (4:06). Globetrotter’s famous comedy routine for shooting fouls (4:17). Globetrotters getting ball back from opponents (4:31). Center player #36 hiding ball under his shirt (4:45). Harlem Globetrotters getting ball back from opponents once again (4:55). Players not cooperating with referee and keeping the ball away from him (5:15). Spectators standing to get a better view of player’s trickery (5:23). Player returns to court with one of the spectators’ hats doing tricks with the hat (5:26). Player 32, Leon Hillard, exemplifying master dribbling skills (6:14). Harlem Globetrotter’s conferencing on the sidelines with the team’s owner, manager, and founder Abe Saferstein (6:47). Injured player 36 going back into game to take foul shot (6:55). Trick shot using rubber-band ball (7:14). Another trick shot using jumping bean ball (7:40). Last chance at foul shot for player 36 (7:57). Referee in the face of player Meadowlark Lemon out of frustration (8:08). Final montage of the team’s comedic playing skills (8:21). Meadowlark Lemon played for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1955-1980 before leaving to form his own team. For the 22 years Lemon played for the team he was called the "Clown Prince." Tony Hinkle was an American baseball, basketball, and football player, coach, and college athletic administrator. In the late 1950s he introduced the orange basketball that is in use today. Prior to this basketballs were generally dark brown. Abe Saperstein was the founder, owner, and earliest coach of the Harlem Globetrotters. He was a leading figure in black basketball and baseball from the 1920s through the 1950s.

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Transcription

[Music] the harlem globetrotters basketball wizards extraordinary their patented blend of brilliant play and zany capers has made them the most popular team in the history of the sport going backstage to a rehearsal session you see the superb skill that makes their amazing pranks possible comedy on the court is their business so a serious rehearsal has got to be hilarious in the famous warm-up circle no one knows what's coming next it's all ad-lib and anything for a laugh even in slow motion their magical hands fool you do here's the team's handyman the original mr sticky fingers what's the man say play ball okay shake on it so there you are and here we are in a practice game the boys in white jerseys know all the trotter's tricks they've seen them time and again and they're still fooled by them every time what you do in a case like this man lies down on the job so take the ball away not a chance chum all you do is get him mad see what you get two points for the globetrotters that's the way it goes clowning is good for laughs and it really sets up those baskets when the pivot man turns on that magic the other team hasn't got a chance man they're out of this world now let's see what happens when they play for keeps you know basketball is the most popular spectator sport in america perhaps in the whole world and this unbelievable group has done more to keep it tops than any other team in 30 years they've played all over the world and played before the largest crowds in the history of the sport it's their own peculiar brand of basketball based on fantastic talent and technique they seldom lose a game and they always win the crowd these pregame shenanigans not only break up the fans but laughter they break down the other team with amazement how do they do it they ask and they find out the hard way [Music] [Applause] so the teams face off here's the tap up and out of nowhere a basket you figure it out it's basketball with a touch of magic fast action and always the unexpected [Music] [Applause] oh oh there's a foul and here's one of the globetrotters famous comedy routines they get a free shot but they try for a field goal sometimes the opponents get possession but never for long that's when the trotters really go into high gear the center has the ball and hey where'd it go oh there it is again the other team gets possession much good it does them finesse or flamboyance whichever is needed these court magicians have it a foul is called and the referee wants the ball so they give him the business nothing sacred they're very cooperative like this penalty isn't in the books but maybe it fits the crime [Music] but the globetrotters are irrepressible he's back but what about that hat keep an eye on this fella and there's the topper hats off to the globetrotters for that one [Music] the opponent shoot miss and that's all the trotters whip down the court and anything can happen again the hat trick he was just warming up before watch this superb ball handling is the secret the key to their game [Music] [Applause] watch how a master of the art of dribbling outfoxes the man guarding you [Music] [Music] there's another foul and time is called a man seems to be injured [Music] there's a brief conference on the sidelines with the team's owner manager abe saperstein the man who founded the team and guided it to fame and the hurt man goes back into the game to take his free shot but no one takes this brave scene too seriously no monkey shines warns the referee ready set he shoots how's that for a snappy comeback but the official doesn't go along with the gang angry orders and a not very chastened globetrotter trades in his rubber band ball for a regulation model watch out for tricks no straight see but he looks too innocent this time jumping beanball [Music] and that's why referees grow gray one more chance and no gimmicks i promise so who needs a trick ball with hands like his it's moments like this that have brought the harlem globetrotters their fame in every country of the civilized world they performed and with their comedy won new friends they're living proof that laughter makes the whole world kin brilliant basketball players that can't help playing it for laughs and you can't help laughing with them the one and only harlem globetrotter you

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