Maurie
Encyclopedia
Maurie is a 1973 American semi-biographical feature film directed by Daniel Mann
. Distributed by National General Pictures, the film covers the lives and relationship of two NBA
Hall of fame basketball players, the forward Jack Twyman
, and his teammate the forward Maurice Stokes
.
during the 1950s (during which time the team located to Cincinnati). Stokes fell ill three days after the last game of the 1957-58 NBA season, in Minneapolis. Stokes drove to the basket, drew contact and fell to the floor, hit his head, and was knocked unconscious. He was revived with smelling salts
, and he returned to the game.
Three days later, after an opening-round playoff game against the Detroit Pistons
, Stokes became ill during the team's flight back to Cincinnati, suffered a seizure and fell into a coma to awaken in a Cincinnati hospital three weeks later. Stokes never fully recovered from the brain injury, and he was left permanently paralyzed. He would be confined to bed or a wheelchair as an almost completely paralyzed quadraplegic, and would need constant nursing care.
Twyman offered his friendship and continuous moral support and financial aid to Stokes and his family (even legally adopting him), who were saddled with the difficult task of caring for the virtually invalid Stokes, up until Stokes's death from a heart attack in 1970.
(also a former NFL player) as Stokes, and the Swedish actor Bo Svenson
as Twyman.
and Maidie Norman as Maurice's parents; Janet MacLachlan played Stokes's college girlfriend, Dorothy (Stokes was carrying a diamond ring in his pocket, all set to propose to her, when he had the seizure on the plane); and the now veteran character actor Ji-Tu Cumbuka
portrayed Oscar Robertson
.
Daniel Mann
Daniel Mann, also known as Daniel Chugerman , was an American film and television director.Daniel Mann was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was a stage actor since childhood, and attended Erasmus Hall High School, New York's Professional Children's School and the Neighborhood Playhouse...
. Distributed by National General Pictures, the film covers the lives and relationship of two NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
Hall of fame basketball players, the forward Jack Twyman
Jack Twyman
John Kennedy "Jack" Twyman is an American former professional basketball player and sports broadcaster.-Playing career:...
, and his teammate the forward Maurice Stokes
Maurice Stokes
Maurice Stokes was an American professional basketball player in the 1950s, whose career was cut short by a debilitating injury...
.
Plot summary
The film chronicles Tywmans's and Stokes' relationship from Stokes's rookie year in the NBA up until his death. Stokes and Twyman were teammates on the Rochester RoyalsRochester Royals
The franchise that would become the Sacramento Kings initially started in the city of Rochester, New York, as the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League....
during the 1950s (during which time the team located to Cincinnati). Stokes fell ill three days after the last game of the 1957-58 NBA season, in Minneapolis. Stokes drove to the basket, drew contact and fell to the floor, hit his head, and was knocked unconscious. He was revived with smelling salts
Smelling salts
Smelling salts, also known as spirit of hartshorn or sal volatile, are chemical compounds used for arousing consciousness. The usual active compound is ammonium carbonate, a colorless-to-white, crystalline solid...
, and he returned to the game.
Three days later, after an opening-round playoff game against the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, Stokes became ill during the team's flight back to Cincinnati, suffered a seizure and fell into a coma to awaken in a Cincinnati hospital three weeks later. Stokes never fully recovered from the brain injury, and he was left permanently paralyzed. He would be confined to bed or a wheelchair as an almost completely paralyzed quadraplegic, and would need constant nursing care.
Twyman offered his friendship and continuous moral support and financial aid to Stokes and his family (even legally adopting him), who were saddled with the difficult task of caring for the virtually invalid Stokes, up until Stokes's death from a heart attack in 1970.
Cast
The film starred then-newcomer actor Bernie CaseyBernie Casey
Bernard Terry "Bernie" Casey is a professional actor who initially had a career as an interscholastic, intercollegiate and professional football player. Casey was also a record-breaking track and field athlete for Bowling Green State University...
(also a former NFL player) as Stokes, and the Swedish actor Bo Svenson
Bo Svenson
Bo Svenson is a Swedish-born American actor, known for his roles in American genre films of the 1970s and 1980s.-Early life:...
as Twyman.
Supporting cast
The cast included distinguished veteran black actors Bill WalkerWilliam Walker (US actor)
William Franklin Walker was an American television and film actor. Walker is best remembered for his role as Reverend Sykes in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird.-Career:...
and Maidie Norman as Maurice's parents; Janet MacLachlan played Stokes's college girlfriend, Dorothy (Stokes was carrying a diamond ring in his pocket, all set to propose to her, when he had the seizure on the plane); and the now veteran character actor Ji-Tu Cumbuka
Ji-Tu Cumbuka
Ji-Tu Cumbuka is an American veteran stage and screen actor.-Career Biography:...
portrayed Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
.