Fast Break

Fast Break

Year: 1979

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Comedy

David Greene, a New York basketball enthusiast, lands a coaching job at a small Nevada college and assembles an eclectic roster: Swish, a talented girl hidden from the squad; Preacher, a devout player pursued by dangerous foes; D.C., a fugitive; plus a jailbird, a pool‑shark, a muscleman and other oddball talent. Greene molds them into a genuine contender and engineers a high‑stakes game against the nation’s top team led by Bo Winnegar, hoping to earn the squad the respect and exposure they deserve.

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Timeline & Setting – Fast Break (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Fast Break (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1970s

The film is anchored in the late 1970s, an era of streetwise hustle, modest budgets, and road-tripping ambition. It captures the era’s emphasis on grit, quick schemes, and the dream of making it in college basketball. The look and feel reflect the fashion, music, and sporting culture of the period.

Location

Brooklyn, New York, Cadwallader University, Nevada

Brooklyn is shown as a dense, working-class borough where David runs a neighborhood deli and plays pickup basketball. Cadwallader University represents a fictional Nevada college that becomes the focal point for his coaching aspirations. The story moves from gritty city streets to the open desert setting of a cross-country bid to beat a top program.

🏙️ Urban Brooklyn 🥪 Deli life 🏀 Basketball culture

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:28

Main Characters – Fast Break (1979)

Meet the key characters of Fast Break (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

David Greene (Gabe Kaplan)

A basketball-obsessed Brooklyn deli owner and former junior high coach who dreams of making a living coaching basketball. He risks his stable life and marriage to pursue a cross-country coaching opportunity at Cadwallader University. He is resourceful, relentlessly optimistic, and willing to bend rules to assemble a winning team.

🏀 Dreamer 💪 Determined 🧠 Strategist

Hustler (Bernard King)

A talented guard and pool ace whose fortunes sour when his ‘pigeons’ realize they’ve been sharked. He provides street-smart instincts and athletic prowess to the fledgling Cadwallader squad. His loyalty and ball-handling skill help drive the team’s early chemistry.

🏀 Street-smart 🧠 Cunning 💪 Loyal

Preacher (Michael Warren)

A player with a strong basketball instinct who has reasons to escape his circumstances, including a dangerous contract against him. He brings scoring ability and a gritty, determined mindset to the team. His presence adds tension and edge to the squad’s dynamic.

🏀 Defensive 🔥 Rebellious 🧭 Calculated

D.C. (Harold Sylvester)

A former high-school star turned numbers-runner, D.C. brings street-savvy reliability and a wary wisdom to the group. His past as a local standout offers practical leadership and gritty resilience. He becomes a key connector between the team and the outside challenges they face.

🧢 Streetwise 🔒 Secretive 🧭 Loyal

Swish (Mavis Washington)

An extremely talented female finesse player with a killer jump shot who disguises herself as male to join the squad. She adds versatility and flair to Cadwallader’s lineup. Her presence drives the team’s strategy and raises questions about inclusion and boundaries.

🏀 Skilled 🕊️ Versatile ⚡ Quick

Bull (Sam Newton) (Larry Newton)

A muscular, high-energy player nicknamed ‘Bull’ who fills the lane-clearing role. He compensates for limited finesse with sheer power and tenacity. His presence helps balance the team’s lineup and physicality.

💪 Strong 🧱 Physical 🏃‍♂️ Aggressive

Bo Winnegar (Reb Brown)

Head coach of the elite team Cadwallader must beat to validate his job offer, Bo is pragmatic and calculating. He enjoys billiards, which becomes a focal point of a sting operation to secure a game. His dismissal to the challenge tests the Cadwallader crew’s resolve.

🏆 Elite 👔 Calculated 🧭 Pragmatic

Jan (Randee Heller)

David’s long-suffering wife who hopes for stability—owning a home and starting a family—yet faces the strain of his cross-country chase. Her strength and concern ground David’s aspirations in real-life consequences. She embodies the personal cost of chasing a dream.

💒 Supportive 🥲 Wary 💬 Caring

Mom (Connie Sawyer)

David’s mother, a supportive figure who cares about the family’s well-being. She provides emotional ballast amid the turmoil of his pursuit. Her presence underscores the film’s themes of family duty and loyalty.

👩‍👦 Family-first 💪 Supportive 🧶 Nurturing

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:28

Major Themes – Fast Break (1979)

Explore the central themes of Fast Break (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎯 Dream vs Reality

David Greene pursues a dream of coaching a college team, hoping to turn a precarious job into a lasting career. His ambitions collide with financial constraints and the strain on his marriage, forcing him to weigh personal fulfillment against stability. The narrative tests whether determination can outpace practical limits and unexpected obstacles.

🤝 Underdog Teamwork

A mismatched quartet—Hustler, Preacher, D.C., and Swish—joins David to form Cadwallader’s unlikely squad. They overcome cultural differences and leverage clever tactics to become contenders. The team’s cohesion depends on trust, leadership, and a shared goal of proving themselves against tougher opponents.

🎭 Identity & Deception

Swish’s decision to pose as a male to join the team tests boundaries of gender and role within the squad. The deception creates tension around loyalty, honesty, and the pursuit of glory. The narrative uses this twist to explore how identity shapes trust and team dynamics.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:28

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about building an underdog team like Fast Break

Where an inspirational leader assembles a ragtag group of misfits into champions.If you enjoyed watching David Greene assemble his eclectic squad in Fast Break, you'll love these movies about quirky team builders. This thread features feel-good stories where an inspirational leader gathers a group of misfits and molds them into champions, perfect for fans of underdog sports comedies and similar team-building narratives.

underdogfeel-goodupliftingteamworkquirkyoptimistictriumphantenergetic

Narrative Summary

These stories follow a clear, satisfying arc: a protagonist with a dream or a challenge must recruit a team of unlikely and unconventional talents. The middle act involves training, bonding, and overcoming internal and external obstacles, building towards a climactic test where the team proves its worth, not just through skill, but through heart and unity.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on the process of team formation and the uplifting vibe of turning outsiders into a family. They blend light comedy with steady-paced, straightforward narratives, culminating in a happy, feel-good ending that celebrates collective achievement over individual glory.

Movies with clever, lighthearted schemers like in Fast Break

Stories where charming characters use wit and clever plans to beat the odds.Fans of the clever recruitment tactics and the pool-hall sting in Fast Break will enjoy these movies featuring lighthearted schemers. These stories focus on charismatic characters who use their wits and unconventional plans to achieve their goals, offering a similar mix of steady pacing, medium intensity, and feel-good comedy.

clevercharmingplayfulwittyschemingoptimisticenergeticfeel-good

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist facing a superior opponent or a difficult system. Instead of a direct confrontation, they devise an elaborate, often humorous, plan or series of cons to level the playing field. The journey is as much about the clever execution of the scheme as it is about the final outcome, emphasizing ingenuity and charm.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific vibe: a blend of medium-intensity challenges solved with cleverness and humor, resulting in a light emotional weight. The pacing is steady as the plan unfolds, and the tone remains optimistic, ensuring the scheming feels like a delightful game rather than a desperate gamble.

Unlock the Full Story of Fast Break

Don't stop at just watching — explore Fast Break in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Fast Break is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Fast Break Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Fast Break, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Fast Break Summary

Fast Break Timeline

Track the full timeline of Fast Break with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Fast Break Timeline

Fast Break Spoiler-Free Summary

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Fast Break Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Fast Break

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Fast Break: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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