AMERICAN STORYTELLERS: RALPH ELLISON'S KING OF THE BINGO GAME (TV)
Summary
One in this occasional series of programs that illustrates the stories of various American writers. This episode, based on Ralph Ellison's short story "King of the Bingo Game," features a troubled young husband named Sonny. The action centers in a movie house, where Sonny finds himself one afternoon with just enough money for a double feature and a bingo game. Sonny explains that he misses the South, where the woman eating peanuts and the men taking swigs from a bottle would offer him some if he asked. During the feature, Sonny reveals through a flashback that his wife Laura is pregnant. He erupts with frustration at his lack of money and employment when he finds his wife sewing at home for money. Sonny next participates in the bingo game, at which one of his cards wins. He proceeds to the stage with trepidation, and the white emcee verifies his numbers with the help of an African-American attendant. Sonny then has to push a button to spin the bingo wheel in order to win the jackpot, but built-up fear sends him into a trance. The story climaxes as Sonny realizes that as long as he holds the button, the possibility to win the money remains. Sonny therefore refuses to stop the wheel, which visibly illustrates all his fears. As tension between the emcee and Sonny builds, the African-American attendant tries to help him. The mood of the crowd in the theater alternates between pity for, and disgust at, Sonny. The story ends as police intervene. This program is closed-captioned.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 2000.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 21, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 0:27:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:60164
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: African- Americans (See Blacks); Bingo - Drama; Blacks - Social conditions - Drama; African-American Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1998-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Elise Robertson … Executive Producer, Director, Writer
- Charlie Schroder … Executive Producer
- Brad Marshland … Assistant Director
- Ralph Ellison … Writer
- Marcus Shelby … Music by
- Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra … Music (Misc. credits), Music Performed by
- Colman Domingo … Cast, Sonny
- Benny Lewis … Cast, George
- Earl L. Robertson … Cast, Leroy
- Rashida Clendening … Cast, Woman Eating Peanuts
- Peter Mason … Cast, Film Noir Hero
- Anika Noni Rose … Cast, Film Noir Female
- June Lomena … Cast, Laura
- Finn Curtain … Cast, Emcee
- Johnnie Burrell … Cast, Attendant