Transferring a play for the stage to television is a risky proposition, made all the more difficult when the play is a one man affair. HBO’s Thurgood, written by George Stevens Jr., benefits from a stellar performance by Laurence Fishburne. Captured during the plays run at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Fishburne chronicles Marshall’s life in an unforgettable fashion.

ThurgoodTold in the first person, Marshall shares his life story. Born in Baltimore, the future Supreme Court Justice and grandson of former slaves was often sent by his teacher to the school furnace room with a copy of the U.S. Constitution to read as punishment for various disciplinary issues. It was those sessions in the furnace room that helped stoke Marshall’s interest in a law career.

After graduating from Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University, he earned his law degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. The play takes place with the aging Marshall having returned to Howard to talk to the students about his life and lessons learned. In this case, the “students” are the audience at The Kennedy Center.

Fishburne doesn’t simply recite lines of dialogue; at times he seems to become Thurgood Marshall. Fishburne leaves few stones unturned as discusses his tenure as chief counsel for the N.A.A.C.P., where he worked to challenge the separate-but-equal doctrine used to justify racial segregation in the decision of Plessy v. Ferguson. Later, he takes us through the difficulties and the triumph of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark desegregation case in 1954 that made Marshall one of the most important lawyers of the civil rights movement.

I only know Thurgood Marshall through television interviews, clips and history books, but after watching Thurgood I feel like I know him on a personal level. The play (and Fishburne) offer a real sense of intimacy. For nearly two hours, Fishburne recites dialogue added only by a table, chair, podium, pitcher of water and a couple of smaller props to tell one of the amazing stories of one of America’s historically important men. Thurgood is televised legal drama at its finest.

Shown in 1.78:1, this 1080p transfer displays amazing clarity. While The Kennedy Center stage is largely dark aside from the lights, the blue of Fishburne’s suit is vibrant. Detail is wonderful, as nearly every crevice in Fishburne’s face is visible. No digital anomalies are worth noting.

The English DTS HD soundtrack delivers the dialogue perfectly, with no noticeable distortion.

English, French, and Spanish subtitles are included.

There are no special features.