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The Greatest
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- 1977
- Tom Gries
- 97 mins
- PG
Summary
Biographical drama starring Muhammad Ali and Ernest Borgnine. Ali plays himself in dramatised reconstructions of key moments in his career, including his friendship with Malcolm X, his conversion to Islam, his refusal to fight in Vietnam and his famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight with George Foreman.
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Review
A star rating of 3 out of 5.
Adrian Turner
Who else but Muhammad Ali could have starred in this biopic? The charismatic boxer takes to the screen with ease, dancing through his early life as Cassius Clay before reliving the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" when he regained his world heavyweight title by defeating George Foreman. Ali's induction into the Nation of Islam, his controversial evasion of the Vietnam draft and his subsequent ban from the ring is also given lengthy, if not particularly objective treatment. There is strong support from Ernest Borgnine, Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones as Malcolm X - not that Ali needs it - and rather than restaging the fights, the film sensibly uses archive footage.
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5.9/10
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Credits
Cast
rolenameMuhammad AliMuhammad AliAngelo DundeeErnest BorgnineDr PachecoJohn MarleyHerbert MuhammadLloyd HaynesBill McDonaldRobert DuvallCruikshankDavid HuddlestonHollisBen Johnson (1)Malcolm XJames Earl Jones
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Crew
rolenameDirectorTom Gries
Details
Theatrical distributor
Columbia-Warner Dists
Languages
English
Available on
video and DVD
Formats
Colour
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