78-02-A1

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Big Mo

Transcript Quite a long time back on one of these broadcasts I talked about a great pro-basketball star named Maurie Stokes. To all the N.B.A. fans he was known as Big Mo. At the very height of his career he was struck down by a rare--almost unheard of--disease. One of his teammates, Jack Twyman, accompanied him to the hospital because, as he later said to his wife, "It didn't seem right to let him go by himself." That was the start of one of the truly great stories of friendship between two strong men. That story caught the attention of a fine Hollywood screenwriter, Doug Morrow, who had also written the story of Monte Stratton, the baseball pitcher who lost his leg in a hunting accident and fought his way back to be a starting pitcher in the big leagues. Jimmy Stewart, you may remember, played Stratton in what was one of Hollywood's finer movies. It was only natural that Doug Morrow would see the epic quality and the drama in the real life stories of Big Mo and Jack Twyman. With Big Mo gone Jack Twyman set the rule that the story would have to be the truth, the whole truth and, so help me, no artificial "tinsel town" gimmicks added. Those conditions didn't bother Morrow--that's the way he wanted to do it. He wrote the story and co-produced the picture with Frank Ross, producer of the epic, "The Robe". They made this motion picture the way pictures used to be made. More important it was a picture that everyone should see; a picture about the indomitable human spirit that has raised us above the primeval swamp. Against the competitive background of big time pro basketball "Big Mo" is a story with heart, humor, excitement and suspense. And you can have a family night with a picture the kids should see and you won't have to pretend you didn't hear certain words. In today's world here is a story about man's humanity to man. One of our biggest army training centers has made this picture a part of recruit indoctrination and credits it with unifying our young men and binding them together in a common cause. The first time I saw it I called it a picture all America should see. You'll see courage and compassion, brotherly love without mawkishness and a story that will hold your attention. And every minute of it is a true life story that really happened. I know I sound like a commercial, but I mean every word of it. If you liked the story of Brian Piccolo, you'll love "Big Mo" on C.B.S. Friday Night. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 78-02-A1 Production Date 01/27/1978 Book/Page N/A Audio Youtube? No
		Added Notes Note from script: (MUST air before 2/17/78)