À toi de jouer, petit

My review was written in September 1991 after watching the movie on SVS video cassette.

Quality throwback to family filmmaking, "The Pistol" is an entertaining and informative biopic of the late basketball star Pete Maravich. Pic has been playing regionally since January and will appeal to general tv and video audiences.

Theatrical release was underwritten by a fast-food chain (Chick-Fil-A), a laudable effort to counter trends and back G-rated material.

Film wisely focuses on a single year in Maravich's life, 1959, when the 13-year-old basketball phenom got a break and made varsity at his Louisiana high school. Encouraged by his visionary college coach dad, little Pete's misadventures as odd man out among older teammates are well-directed by Frank Schroeder.

What gives the indie film oomph is casting of young Adam Guier as the hero. His precocious skill with a basketball is amply displayed in training and game footage, and the tyro actor gives a sympathetic performance. Film climaxes with his team finally pulling together and beating an all-black high school team in a non-sanctioned contest (during this segregated era).

Millie Perkins and Nick Benedict are solid as Pete's parents while Boots garland (who also supervised the basketball scenes) avoids cliches in portraying the old-fashioned coach. He initially scoffs at Maravich's moves, saying "That's all right for the Globetrotters", but ultimately acquiesces while stressing fundamentals.

Pic is obviously a labor of love dedicated to the memory of Maravich, who died in 1988 with the record as all-time college scoring champ. Younger viewers will learn a lot about the early crossover of playing styles now taken for granted in both pro and amateur ranks.

The movie, Pistol: The Birth of a Legend, is an excellent movie. It isn't the #1 hit at the box office type, nor does it have expensive great special effects, like many of the movies of today have. It is simply a story of Pete Maravich, a young boy who's whole life is about basketball. He is inspired by his father who seems to be the only one with faith in him. I am a basketball player and ever since I was a young child going to basketball camp our coach would play this movie every year. It motivates us. To this day we love it when Coach says we are going to watch it. We know every line and appreciate the movie. It is a great motivational movie, I definitely recommend it!

The guy from Chicago doesn't know what he's talking about. He is probably looking for special effects and watches too many star wars flicks. The movie is a great family film and I was captivated from beginning to end. The young Pete has a lot of talent too. The movie should motivate kids to shoot for the impossible and dreams can be realized as well. The movie was heartwarming and I liked the characters very much. The DVD also contains actual clips when he was a player and also has Pete's testimony as a born again Christian. He shares his faith and this is what is important to him. There are many other clips or extra's that give you a feel for what the man has accomplished and to understand how great an athlete he was.

This film is one of the few & best movies made to portray any type of sporting legend! The Pistol follows the dreams, struggles & inspirations of a young Pete Maravich growing up to eventually become the master showman and basketball legend we all know him by today. As a kid myself (at the time i first saw this film) living in Australia who loved and played a lot of basketball, i was totally unaware that Pete Maravich even existed. After watching the film with all its captivating drills and challenges between Pete and his father, i was not only glad to have been introduced to Pete's story, but i will never want to forget it. With the films dazzling basketball scenes of a young pistol (played by Adam Guier) out-training and out-performing everyone in the basketball community, this movie carries a simple and memorable message of following ones dreams with the guidance of those closest to you. As a well travelled basketball player in Australia, i was surprised that many of the country's young and elite talents have not heard of Pete Maravich. This is unfortunate, as his real life story portrayed in this film is really inspirational and shows the appreciation Pete played in the history and shaping of todays game - worldwide. Perhaps a little conversation as well as some recommended viewing of the released DVD on my part will hopefully shed some light on the Pistol Pete story! or at least here downunder. I definitely recommend this film to anyone who has an interest in basketball and everyone else due to its family orientation as well. 10 OUT OF 10

The one-line summary above is not meant as a pun (he died of a heart condition), but is a true assessment of Pete's feeling for the game. This is a must-see movie for anyone who was a fan of basketball in the 70's. For anyone who wants to be inspired to use their god-given talents to the fullest - then, again, this is a must see movie.