Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee (1969)
"Muhammad Ali, the Greatest" (original title)

Director:

William Klein

Writer:

William Klein

Stars:

Muhammad Ali, Sonny Liston, Angelo Dundee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Muhammad Ali	...	Himself
Sonny Liston	...	Himself
Angelo Dundee	...	Himself
Jack Nilon	...	Himself
Chris Dundee	...	Himself
Finlay Campbell	...	Himself
James X	...	Himself
Malcolm X	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jersey Joe Walcott	...	Himself
Jimmy Braddock	...	Himself (as James J. Braddock)
Floyd Patterson	...	Himself
Norman Mailer	...	Himself - in crowd
Stepin Fetchit	...	Himself
Sam X	...	Himself
George Foreman	...	Himself

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

george harrison | boxing champion | norman mailer | the beatles | boxing manager | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

8 February 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$488 (USA) (2 May 2003)

Gross:

$20,073 (USA) (8 August 2003)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Includes rare footage of The Beatles cavorting in a training-camp gym with publicity-savvy young Muhammad Ali (then called Cassius Clay) in 1964.

User Reviews

greatest tribute to Ali the Great

I didn't want to write about this documentary, but reading the only other commentary that says it is not a 100% satisfying movie, I'd like to say my word. Yes, there is no fighting. Well quite : a few is shown as still photography : William Klein is one of the greatest photo-reporters of the 20th century, I guess he didn't use his "motion picture camera" during the fights, I guess the reasons are, then, professional : Klein's still pictures made his living, I'm not sure that his films did. Anyways : no fight ? Sure. This was not the point anyways. William Klein was fascinating by the rise of the black-american consciensiousness during the 60s and the 70s. He followed Elridge Cleaver (Black Panthers), Little Richard, and of Course Cassius Clay/Mohamed Ali. This is not quick documentary, Klein takes time to get things. Just picture the southern white "owners" of Cassius Clay explaining the boxer is nothing without their support, and one telling : "my mother's family name was Clay, maybe Cassius Clay's grandparents were owned by mine"... This is great cinema, and when Clay becomes Mohammed Ali and turns his back to his managers, no one is surprised, this is the story of a lot of black americans. It is rare to watch a documentary that really has something to tell. This one does. Don't miss it.