Wilma
by Bud Greenspan
from S'More
At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome Wilma Rudolph stunned the world by becoming the first woman to win 3 consecutive gold medals in Track & Field. But the most amazing part of this true story is that Wilma (Shirley Jo Finney) was afflicted by the crippling disease polio a disease she conquered on her way to becoming one of America's greatest athletes. The story begins with Wilma's childhood in rural Tennessee when her parents first learn she had contracted this horrendous disease. Her mother (Cicely Tyson) does everything in her power to bolster Wilma's self confidence and help her triumph over the handicap. Her ceaseless determination pays off as Wilma develops her strength speed and agility. But her greatest triumph comes at the 1960 Olympics where her astounding physical abilities and determination make her the darling of the Games.System Requirements:Running Time: 147 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 089353701925 Manufacturer No: SMO7019DVD
Wilma
Endurance
This film about Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrsellasie, who won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and is considered one of the greatest runners of all time, is a dramatization that often appears to be a documentary. Beautifully photographed, the footage shot in Haile's native land is often spectacular enough to make you think you're watching a National Geographic special. Haile's young life, such as a scene when his family is listening to a news report about warfare in Ethiopia and a report comes on about the 1980 Olympics, is portrayed with apparent accuracy, but not without a great deal of drama. There are many scenes of Haile running, past wildlife in the countryside or through crowded city slums, and while this gives what must be an accurate idea of him developing his athletic regimen, this is also not terribly dramatic on camera. Eventually, Haile is shown racing in Atlanta, valiantly overtaking all competition; his family back in Ethiopia is shown gathered around a television set, jubilantly watching his triumph. And while there's no denying that this is a touching and inspiring human story, the slow pace of the presentation tends to work against the inherent drama. --Robert J. McNamara
+++
