75-11-A4
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Big Mo
TranscriptSomething happened a few weeks ago that gave me a better feeling about the movies than I got from the Oscar night. I'll be right back. I suppose you could say that what I'm doing for the next few minutes is a commercial and maybe so because I'm going to try to sell you tickets to a movie. On April 22nd the Southern California Motion Picture Council presented an award to producer Frank Ross, co-producer and author Douglas Morrow and director Daniel Mann for a picture called "Big Mo." All three have considerable stature in the movie world. Among their credits, Frank produced "The Robe," Doug wrote "The Stratton Story," and the film biography of Jim Thorpe and Danny Mann has directed dozens of Hollywood's top films. "Big Mo" was the nickname of a great pro basketball player, the late Maurie Stokes. The movie was released sometime back under the title "Maurie." It didn't sell. Whether it was the title, the distributing company (now out of business) or what, it was not a box office success, but those who did see it raved about it. Now the producers could have just written it off as another picture that didn't make it and gone on to other things, but they didn't. For one thing, making it had been a labor of love. They believed in it and so did virtually everyone who saw it. Cards were left in the lobbies of theaters and 99 percent of the people, old and young, who filled them out said more pictures like this should be made. So those of you who missed it will have another chance. It's being reissued under the new title, "Big Mo." It's a true story of two pro basketball players, Maurie Stokes and Jack Twyman. At the height of his career, Maurie was suddenly stricken with a rare disability that left him totally paralyzed. Jack his teammate, couldn't stand the idea that Maurie would have to live out his life a physical vegetable, his mind active and alert but unable to even speak. Under Jack's insistent probing and questioning a doctor finally said that with years of therapy, at a cost of at least $100,000 a year, possibly, just possibly, Maurie might regain some ability to move and maybe speak. Jack said, okay begin. That was quite an undertaking for a basketball player who had a wife and child and another on the way and who only made $15,000 a year, but he took it on. For 11 years he went on playing basketball with Cincinnati, supporting his family and raising one way or another a $100,000 a year for therapy that gradually brought Big Mo to where he could speak and sit in a wheelchair. Now that's all I'm going to tell you about the story because I want you to go see it. This is a picture that had to be made. We need it now more than at any other time. The acting is, in my opinion, outstanding. There is suspense, humor and deeply moving scenes that will make you realize once more that man has an indomitable spirit, that we do have a spark of the divine and we're capable of noble deeds and great love. Take the family, nothing in that picture would embarrass you but your children will be better off for having seen it, and so will you. In fact, you will come out of the theater feeling as tall as Jack and Maury and they're six feet seven. Watch for it. Big Mo a true story. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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