By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
It was a historic moment in Del Rio’s San Felipe neighborhood Good Friday afternoon.
Cast and crew from the movie, “The Long Game,” based on the book, “Mustang Miracle” by San Felipe High School graduate Humberto Garcia, answered questions in front of the old San Felipe High School after community members watched the movie for the first time.
The movie told how the San Felipe High School golf team fought against all odds and snagged a state championship in 1957. It was an era when the golfers weren’t exactly revered, but reviled in some circles, for their racial-busting accomplishments.
However, on Friday, they were revered as the City of Del Rio blocked traffic in front of the old San Felipe High School where Howmet Aerospace set up a stage and nearly 150 people turned out, mostly wearing Mustang Purple, highlighting the team’s accomplishments.
Sitting on the stage was “The Long Game” Director Julio Quintana, actor Julian Works, who portrays golfer Joe Trevino; actor Christian Gallegos, who portrays golfer Mario Lomas; Garcia, Eagle Pass native Paco Farias, screenwriter who helped turned the book into a movie, and former Mustang golfer Lupe Felan.
The 830 Times’ Brian Argabright anchored the 25-minute question and answer session, introducing the team to the crowd and each of the six was able to answer a question or two.
Farias said the project was not an overnight success. “It took us four years to turn ‘Mustang Miracle’ into a screenplay,” he said. “It was a long hard journey, but in the end, I think we got it right.”
However, the San Felipe audience felt like they’d missed the mark with a few parts, and those questions went to Quintana.
“Why wasn’t more of the movie filmed in Del Rio,” Argabright asked him.
Quintana said the movie was on a tight budget and they did much of the filming in Smithton, Texas because the community was less impacted by technology. “In Smithton, you don’t have the signs and technology evident you have here,” he said, motioning down Garza Street. “However, I feel like we captured the essence of the story, even if there was a lot more green in the movie than there is here.”
Portions were also filmed in the country of Colombia.
The one part the purple-wearing audience felt like really missed the mark was the golfers in the movie wore red.
Quintana said that many elements went into that decision but if they’d gone with purple, many of the elements of the movie would had to have been reset.
However, many probably agreed the movie was great, but wasn’t perfect, but those from San Felipe appreciated being highlighted.
Griselda L. Martinez, who graduated from San Felipe High School in 1972, appreciated the movie and felt like it hit the mark. “Every time I’ve seen the movie, it emotionally moves me. Unless someone went through that time, they won’t get it,” she said.
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The writer can be reached at JoelALangton@gmail.com .
