The Basketball Fix (1951)

Description

Lured by the temptation of easy cash, promising 'hoops' prospect Johnny Long (Marshall Thompson) follows a path that leads to tragic consequences. This noir-ish film, expertly directed by Felix Feist, documents events that seem commonplace today, but were positively scandalous at the time of the film's original release. Performances to watch for: John Ireland, as Pete Ferreday, the disillusioned sportswriter who first discovered Johnny; William Bishop as Mike Taft, the crime boss who first approaches Johnny, and Vanessa Brown as Pat, Johnny's long suffering girlfriend.