I saw the film(I have a taped copy). It probably could have been better, but that's the fault of the film company, when Gordon Parks was in the middle of the production the company management changed.
Since this movie was intitiated under the former regime, the new bosses decided not give it the support it deserved. It's not a bad movie, it's just not a great movie.

I knew Art to talk to around the Village, we didn't get to be tight friends. I see him every once in a while second billed in movies but I haven't talked to him in over 35 years.

Mark Ross