When We Were Kings (1996)

A documentary of the 1974 heavyweight championship bout in Zaire between champion George Foreman and underdog challenger Muhammad Ali.

Director:

Leon Gast

Stars:

Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Muhammad Ali	...	Himself
George Foreman	...	Himself
Don King	...	Himself
James Brown	...	Himself
B.B. King	...	Himself
Mobutu Sese Seko	...	Himself (President of Zaire)
Spike Lee	...	Himself
Norman Mailer	...	Himself - Writer
George Plimpton	...	Himself - Writer
Thomas Hauser	...	Himself
Malick Bowens	...	Himself - Artist (as Malik Bowens)
Lloyd Price	...	Himself - Concert Promoter
The Spinners	...	Themselves
Miriam Makeba	...	Herself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Drew Bundini Brown	...	Himself - Ali's Ass't Trainer (as Drew 'Bundini' Brown)

Storyline

It's 1974, Muhammed Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Forman is ten years younger and the Heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set. A musical festival, featuring the America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King, is also planned.

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Plot Keywords:

zaire | muhammad ali | underdog | sympathy | sweat | 

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Taglines:

The untold story of the Rumble in the Jungle

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Genres:

Documentary | History | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for images of violence, brief nudity and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amikor királyok voltunk - Muhammad Ali

Box Office

Gross:

$2,666,118 (USA) (6 June 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Das Films, David Sonenberg Production, Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Though almost all of the footage in this documentary was shot by producer/director Leon Gast in 1974, one reason it took 23 years to complete was because the negative and rights to the film were entangled in civil suits involving the Liberians who financed the movie's making.

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Quotes

Malik Bowens: Muhammad Ali, he was like a sleeping elephant. You can do whatever you want around a sleeping elephant; whatever you want. But when he wakes up, he tramples everything.

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Connections

Referenced in Soul Power (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Gonna Have A Funky Good Time"
Written by James Brown
Fort Knox Music Inc. (BMI) / Trio Music Co. (BMI)
Performed by James Brown

User Reviews

a great documentary

This film won a slew of critical praise (as well as quite a few awards) and it deserves all of them. Muhammad Ali is the most amazing athelete of the twentieth century and perhaps the most beloved boxer of all time. A public poll once showed that people all over the world recognized him more then the President of the United States. Maybe its because he is such an ill, tragic figure today that this film is so important because it shows him in all his glory when he was not just a magnificent boxer but a ringing voice of social conscience as well. This film shows him again in all his glory when he took on the seemingly invincible giant George Foreman. George is such a beloved figure now that people have forgotten that when he first won the Heavywieght Crown from Joe Frazier in 1973, that he was as dreaded and feared as Sonny Liston was in his heyday. Howard Cosell was one of Ali's most ardent supporters (he was one of the first to call him by that name and support him in his opposition of the draft) and yet even Cosell said that he didn't think that Ali could beat George Foreman. Ali had lost to Joe Frazier and Ken Norton and had barely won rematches with them, and Foreman knocked both of them silly in less then two rounds. Ali was almost 33 years old and considered all washed up and yet he showed no fear against this man. He told the public "You think you were shocked when Nixon resigned, wait till I whip George Foreman's behind!!!" This film brings that time and place in Zaire, Africa to life. Don King is a despicable character and yet he was a genius in promoting this fight in Africa. He said it was like from slaveship to championship. The symbolism was just tremendous. Norman Mailer and the late George Plimpton are two of the writers who most observed Ali and they both offer wonderful insights during the course of this film. They are especially good when they talk about the fight itself and how they both had a ringside seat. George Plimpton saw Bobby Kennedy shot and yet I don't think he was much more astounded when he saw what happened in that ring when Ali pulled off an amazing upset and knocked out Foreman to begin another glorious championship rein. It is almost comical when they show their shocked faces as Ali delivered the knockout blow. The best part of the film is where they play the song "When We Were Kings" at the end and show a montage of Ali's fights during his amazing career. You will look at these and realize how awesome this man truly was!!!