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The Great White Hope (1970)

 -  Drama | Romance | Sport  -  16 October 1970 (USA)
6.9
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Ratings: 6.9/10 from 1,396 users  
Reviews: 24 user | 13 critic

A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.

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(play), (screenplay)
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Title: The Great White Hope (1970)

The Great White Hope (1970) on IMDb 6.9/10

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Test your knowledge of The Great White Hope.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 5 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Jack Jefferson
...
Eleanor
Lou Gilbert ...
Goldie
Joel Fluellen ...
Tick
...
...
Dixon
Marlene Warfield ...
Clara
...
Cap'n Dan
...
Cameron
...
Mama Tiny
...
Scipio
Lloyd Gough ...
Smitty
George Ebeling ...
Fred
...
Brady
Roy Glenn ...
Pastor (as Roy E. Glenn Sr.)
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Storyline

Boxer Jack Jefferson (James Earl Jones) is the world's reigning heavyweight boxing champion. There's just one problem, he is also the first black heavyweight champion, and that bothers a lot of people. Jack's celebration is cut short, as Jack is framed for crossing a state line with Eleanor, his white fiancé (Jane Alexander in her first film role), a violation of the Mann Act. Facing a prison sentence, Jack escapes to Europe, with Eleanor in tow, encountering problems in England, and then France, and eventually landing in Cuba. In Havana, Jack agrees to enter the boxing ring for what might be the bout of his life. Both Jones and Alexander were nominated for Oscars. Written by trivwhiz

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

boxer | boxing | love | racism | champion | See more »

Taglines:

He could beat any white man in the world. He just couldn't beat all of them. See more »

Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, and for language including racist dialogue | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

| | |

Release Date:

16 October 1970 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

L'insurgĂ©  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Fictionalized version of true events. See more »

Goofs

In the first scene in which we see Jefferson practicing, the sweat on his shirt changes from shot to shot in a way that wouldn't be predicted by evaporation. See more »

Quotes

Eleanor Backman: You have to stop it, Jack.
Jack Jefferson: All I got to do is to be black and die, lady.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Screenplay by Howard Sackler Based on his play See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Jeffersons: Homecoming: Part 2 (1978) See more »

Soundtracks

"Let Me Hold You In My Arms Tonight"
Written and Performed by Jesse Fuller
See more »

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User Reviews

 
James Earl Jones at his best
21 June 2004 | by (D.C.) – See all my reviews

It's criminal that this movie doesn't get the type of attention or respect it deserves. Great White Hope chronicles the life of Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion, and his bouts with the racism of the 1900s. Before this movie, I never understood where James Earl Jones got his reputation from. Clearly it's from this. He commands all of the scenes he's shot in, demonstrating a mastery of his craft that I've rarely with any other actor. Jones rages and roars through the movie, conveying a mixture of pride and frailty that is simply not to be missed.

At the risk of being redundant: don't sleep on this movie. It's James Earl Jones at his best.


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