Story: ABC’s Wide World of Sports was a television staple for decade after decade, spanning the globe, as they often said, in search of interesting sports content. You could see Muhammad Ali give a charismatic speech or Evel Knieval promote an upcoming stunt or even listen to Richard Petty’s thoughts on NASCAR, with every sport in between explored as well. The show would travel all over the world to find events to broadcast, some as maintsream as the Kentucky Derby and others much more obscure or regional in nature. You could see historic moments unfold and records shattered, all on your television with a slick, enjoyable presentation. In 40 Years of Glory, we’re taken inside this legendary series to learn about the first four decades of Wide World of Sports.

Entertainment Value: I wouldn’t call myself a sports fan in the usual sense, but I do have some memories of Wide World of Sports, as the show covered such a wide scope of events. I hoped this documentary would go behind the scenes to tell the story of the series itself, how it started, the toughest assignments, and stories of meeting these unique athletes, but sadly, that wasn’t so much the case. There are scenes where the focus in on how the show was produced and those involved, which prove to be the most interesting elements, but for the most part, the film leans on clips from high profile stories. That means the content is still engaging and includes a wealth of historical moments, so sports fans or pop culture history buffs can find a lot to like here. I just wouldn’t have minded more new interviews or behind the scenes footage or stories, but in the end, 40 Years of Glory is a brisk and worthwhile journey into the past of the sporting world.

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