Ali's biggest match, his fight with the US government. A film about the politics and hubris surrounding the Vietnam War and the revenge exacted on America's greatest sportsman of the 20th century because he refused to fight in that war.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Christopher Plummer | ... |
John Harlan
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| Frank Langella | ... |
Warren Burger
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| Ed Begley Jr. | ... |
Harry Blackmun
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| Peter Gerety | ... |
William Brennan
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| Barry Levinson | ... |
Potter Stewart
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| John Bedford Lloyd | ... |
Byron 'Whizzer' White
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| Fritz Weaver | ... |
Hugo Black
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| Harris Yulin | ... |
William O. Douglas
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| Danny Glover | ... |
Thurgood Marshall
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| Benjamin Walker | ... |
Kevin Connolly
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| Pablo Schreiber | ... |
Covert Becker
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Ben Steinfeld | ... |
Sam Edelstein
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| Dana Ivey | ... |
Mrs. Paige
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| Kathleen Chalfant | ... |
Ethel Harlan
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| Lisa Joyce | ... |
Donna Connolly
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| Peter McRobbie | ... |
Erwin Griswold
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| Damian Young | ... |
Ramsey Clark
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| Chuck Cooper | ... |
Chauncey Eskridge
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| Victor Slezak | ... |
Marshal of the Court
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Allie Woods Jr. | ... |
Petrus, Burger's Valet
(as Allie Woods)
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| Charlie Hewson | ... |
Burger's Clerk
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| Justin Swain | ... |
Burger's Second Clerk
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Max Spitulnik | ... |
Blackmun's Clerk
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| Nate Dern | ... |
Blackmun's Second Clerk
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| James Francis Ginty | ... |
Brennan's Clerk
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Will Cart | ... |
White's Clerk
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| Matt Stadelmann | ... |
Black's Clerk
(as Matthew Stadelmann)
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| Christopher McLinden | ... |
Black's Second Clerk
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| Keith Nobbs | ... |
Douglas's Clerk
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| Drew Gehling | ... |
Marshall's Clerk
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Rachel Claire | ... |
Edelstein's Wife
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| Alex Dreier | ... |
Edelstein's Son
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| Greg Connolly | ... |
Doctor
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| Amy Tribbey | ... |
Nurse
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| Jon Gabrus | ... |
Stoned Clerk
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| Steven Hauck | ... |
Maitre D'
(as Steven Huack)
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Pamela Stewart | ... |
Librarian
(as Pamela Holden Stewart)
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| Kerry Malloy | ... |
Vietnam Vet
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| Ed Jewett | ... |
Tourist
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| Lizan Mitchell | ... |
Housekeeper
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Mark Mulligan | ... |
Court Officer
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| Cameron Taylor | ... |
Black's Secretary
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| John Thomas Waite | ... |
Messenger
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Muhammad Ali | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Woody Allen | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Diane Keaton | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Caroline Christl Long | ... |
Court Librarian
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Andy Volin | ... |
Reporter
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| Robyn Babina | ... |
Supreme Court Librarian (uncredited)
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| Bob Balaban | ... |
Lawyer (uncredited)
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Logan Bennett | ... |
Legal Aide (uncredited)
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Natt Brian | ... |
Press member / tourist (uncredited)
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Ken Bulcroft | ... |
Supreme Court Police Officer (uncredited)
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Jason Cicardo | ... |
Vietnam Veteran (uncredited)
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| Peter Connolly | ... |
Stewart's Clerk (uncredited)
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| Andrew J. Cornelius | ... |
Marshall's Second Clerk (uncredited)
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Scott Danni | ... |
Lawyer (uncredited)
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Alan Davis | ... |
Supreme Court Tourist (uncredited)
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Jacob Devik | ... |
Vietnam Veteran (uncredited)
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Chris Dieman | ... |
Lawyer (uncredited)
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| Robert Firth | ... |
N Y Ring Announcer (uncredited) (voice)
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Sam Fleming | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Les Gardonyi | ... |
Advocate (uncredited)
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Hollis Gilstrap | ... |
Protester (uncredited)
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Sean Grady | ... |
Marshall's Third Clerk (uncredited)
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| Ken Holmes | ... |
Protester (uncredited)
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| Rosemary Howard | ... |
Supreme Court Secretary (uncredited)
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Cristina J. Huie | ... |
Beth Female Racist (uncredited)
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Andrew J. Lonsdale | ... |
Judge White's 2nd Clerk (uncredited)
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| Pete Maddocks | ... |
Courtroom Official (uncredited)
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| Andy Maycock | ... |
Bus Station Traveler (uncredited)
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Chap Melford | ... |
Clerk to Judge White (uncredited)
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| Frank L. Messina | ... |
Court Officer (uncredited)
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| Nick Nappy | ... |
Attorney (uncredited)
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Andrew Oppenheim | ... |
Douglas's Second Clerk (uncredited)
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Ken Ray | ... |
Justice Harlins Driver-Paul (uncredited)
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R.J. Reed | ... |
Justice Potter Stewart's Clerk (uncredited)
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Aaron J. Savage | ... |
Vietnam Vet (uncredited)
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| George Signoriello | ... |
Supreme Court Spectator (uncredited)
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Sean Simpson | ... |
Vietnam Vet (uncredited)
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| Jay Storey | ... |
Supreme Court Justice (uncredited)
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Mark Vogt | ... |
Law Professor (uncredited)
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Colin Michael Walker | ... |
Brennan's Clerk (uncredited)
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Ted Yudain | ... |
Assistant Solicitor General (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Stephen Frears | ||
Written by
| Howard L. Bingham | ... | (based on the book by) |
| Shawn Slovo | ... | (written by) |
| Mark Wallace | ... | (based on the book by) |
Produced by
| Jonathan Cameron | ... | executive producer |
| Frank Doelger | ... | executive producer |
| Scott Ferguson | ... | producer |
| Tracey Scoffield | ... | executive producer |
| David Tanner | ... | co-producer |
Music by
| George Fenton | ||
Cinematography by
| Jim Denault | ||
Editing by
| Mick Audsley | ||
Editorial Department
| Aggela Despotidou | ... | assistant editor |
| Paul Ensby | ... | colorist |
| Dave Francis | ... | colorist: dailies |
| Pete Oldham | ... | post-production coordinator |
| Siôn Penny | ... | hd conforming (as Sion Penny) |
| Pani Scott | ... | first assistant editor (as Pani Ahmadi-Moore) |
| Anna Broke | ... | post-production assistant (uncredited) |
| Tom Sainty | ... | trainee assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Jonathan Sykes | ... | digital intermediate data management (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Kathleen Chopin | ||
Production Design by
| Dan Davis | ||
Art Direction by
| Michael Ahern | ||
Set Decoration by
| Andrew Baseman | ||
Costume Design by
| Molly Maginnis | ||
Makeup Department
| Judy Chin | ... | makeup department head |
| Angel De Angelis | ... | key hair stylist |
| Marjorie Durand | ... | key makeup artist |
| Christopher Fulton | ... | hair stylist / personal wig dresser: Mr. Langella |
| Lisa Hazell | ... | hair stylist |
| Julia Lallas | ... | additional make-up artist |
| Theresa Marra-Siliceo | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Amanda Miller | ... | wig maker |
| Eve Morrow | ... | makeup artist |
| Colleen Wheeler | ... | assistant hair stylist |
Production Management
| Phil Brown | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Scott Ferguson | ... | unit production manager |
| Emma Hulme | ... | digital intermediate post producer |
| Erica Kay | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Nancy Herrmann | ... | second assistant director |
| Josh Muzaffer | ... | dga trainee |
| Ellen Parnett | ... | second second assistant director |
| Michael E. Steele | ... | first assistant director (as Michael Steele) |
Art Department
| Clayton Beisner | ... | art department production assistant |
| Sarah Bricker | ... | props |
| Anna Butwell | ... | assistant property master |
| Katherine Cartusciello | ... | art department assistant |
| Doug Cluff | ... | charge scenic artist |
| David Cooney | ... | storyboard artist |
| Bianca Siu Davies | ... | art production assistant |
| Sean Doyle | ... | set dresser |
| Rob Fiks | ... | prop assistant: Washington D.C. |
| Gerard Fiore | ... | best boy construction grip |
| Sean Hawk | ... | carpenter |
| Julia G. Hickman | ... | art department coordinator |
| Dan-ah Kim | ... | graphic artist |
| Jeff Kujan | ... | construction production assistant |
| Lance Littlefield | ... | scenic artist |
| John F. McHugh | ... | key carpenter |
| Valerie Nolan | ... | assistant set decorator |
| Ian O'Neill | ... | construction grip |
| Justin Pineo | ... | set dresser |
| Courtney Schmidt | ... | property master |
| Casey Smith | ... | assistant art director |
| Michael Sheridan Smith | ... | scenic |
| Joseph Sorelle | ... | on set dresser |
| Randy L. Parisian | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Mark DeSimone | ... | adr mixer |
| Mike Dowson | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Arthur Graley | ... | foley editor |
| Juraj Mravec | ... | adr recordist |
| Becki Ponting | ... | supervising adr and dialogue editor |
| Schavaria Reeves | ... | sound utility |
| William Sarokin | ... | sound mixer |
| Ric Schnupp | ... | adr recordist |
| Jack Whittaker | ... | supervising sound editor |
Visual Effects by
| John Bair | ... | visual effects supervisor |
| Gary J. Brown | ... | visual effects artist |
| Vivian Connolly | ... | visual effects executive producer |
| Venancio David | ... | flame artist |
| Alexis Haggar | ... | title effects supervisor |
| Tara Marie Jacobson | ... | visual effects artist |
| Christian Lowe | ... | lead digital compositor |
| Lea Prainsack | ... | visual effects producer: Phosphene |
| Greg Radcliffe | ... | digital compositor |
| Aaron Raff | ... | additional visual effects supervisor / lead digital compositor |
| Pani Scott | ... | vfx editor (as Pani Ahmadi-Moore) |
| Matt Stroub | ... | visual effects artist |
| Tim Van Horn | ... | digital compositor |
| Guido Wilden | ... | workflow consultant |
| Scott Winston | ... | lead digital compositor |
| Kylie Stanton | ... | digital artist: Lexhag (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Scott Burik | ... | stunt performer |
| Tim Gallin | ... | stunt performer |
| Donald John Hewitt | ... | stunt performer (as Don Hewitt) |
| Pete Klein | ... | stunt performer (as Peter Klein) |
| Stephen A. Pope | ... | stunt coordinator (as Stephen Pope) |
| Akos Schenek | ... | stunt performer |
| Brett G. Smith | ... | stunt performer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| George Bianchini | ... | steadicam operator |
| Mike Bicknell | ... | electrician |
| Matt Blades | ... | key grip |
| Kai Wai Cheng | ... | company grip |
| Tim Davies | ... | best boy rigging grip |
| Robert K. Feldmann | ... | key rigging grip |
| Ted Goodwin | ... | electrician |
| Andrew Greve | ... | rigging electric best boy |
| Christopher D. Jones | ... | dolly grip: b camera |
| Kevin Kasarda | ... | second assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Jonathan Kealey | ... | best boy electric |
| John Krause | ... | "a" camera dolly grip |
| Bruce MacCallum | ... | camera operator: "a" camera |
| James Robert McNeal | ... | light board programmer |
| Somer Stamps Mojica | ... | camera pa (as Somer Stamps) |
| Kenneth Morton | ... | dolly grip: D.C. unit |
| Ian O'Neill | ... | rigging grip |
| Alan Pierce | ... | camera operator: "b" camera |
| John Pirozzi | ... | camera operator: "c" camera |
| Jim Powers | ... | camera production assistant / camera utility |
| Craig Pressgrove | ... | "a" camera first assistant |
| Dave Samuel | ... | gaffer |
| Lowell Schulman | ... | construction electric |
| Emily Schuman | ... | camera production assistant (as Emily Miller) |
| Eve Strickman | ... | second assistant camera: "b" camera |
| Waris Supanpong | ... | c camera first assistant |
| JoJo Whilden | ... | still photographer |
Casting Department
| Jolanda Anthony | ... | extras casting associate |
| Rori Bergman | ... | casting associate |
| Melcher Fabi | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Grant Wilfley | ... | extras casting |
| Jamie Jacobson | ... | child extras casting (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Kevin P. Faherty | ... | costumer |
| Eleni Goros | ... | costume assistant |
| Jimmy Hang | ... | costume assistant |
| Leonard Logsdail | ... | costumer |
| Carol McLennan | ... | set costumer |
| Minerva Diann Savoy | ... | tailor |
| Samantha L. Seda | ... | costume assistant |
| Michael Sharpe | ... | first assistant costume designer |
| Nick Snyder | ... | costume assistant |
| Malik Summers | ... | set costumer |
| Lawrence Tarzy | ... | costumer |
| Jason Viarengo | ... | costumer (as Jason Adam V) |
| Patrick Wiley | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Susan J. Wright | ... | costume supervisor |
Location Management
| Jordan M. Bowes | ... | location assistant |
| Michael J. Camoin | ... | location scout: Albany |
| Tim Chung | ... | location assistant |
| Jeff Cossaboom | ... | location coordinator |
| Stuart Nicolai | ... | location manager |
| Tim Pisarik | ... | location assistant |
| Thomas R. Polleri | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| John Barrett | ... | score pro tools engineer |
| Mark Berrow | ... | musician: violin |
| Daniel Bhattacharya | ... | musician |
| Evyen Klean | ... | music supervisor (as Evyen J. Klean) |
| Jeremy Murphy | ... | recordist |
| Samuel Pegg | ... | music programming |
| Steve Price | ... | music engineer |
| Simon Rhodes | ... | score recorded and mixed by |
| Graham Sutton | ... | music editor |
| Warren Zielinski | ... | musician: violin |
| Rachel Bolt | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Steve Mair | ... | musician: double bass (uncredited) |
| Allen Walley | ... | musician: double bass (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Andrea Ulrich | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Maurice Cabrera | ... | transportation coordinator |
| David Conelli | ... | camera car driver |
| Jacqueline L. Hurd | ... | picture car coordinator: Washington, DC |
Additional Crew
| Anna Bosco | ... | production accountant |
| Garf Brown | ... | scenic foreman |
| Harold Bryant | ... | production assistant |
| Jay Bush II | ... | photo double: Christopher Plummer |
| Cristal Calderon | ... | production assistant |
| Morgan P. Collins | ... | production assistant (as Morgan Collins) |
| Lauren Cozzens | ... | assistant: Stephen Frears and Scott Ferguson |
| Samantha Dyer | ... | asst. production coordinator (as Samantha Kreitzer) |
| Maggie Engelhardt | ... | production coordinator |
| Lisa Fozzati | ... | assistant production supervisor |
| Sal Fusco | ... | production assistant |
| Megan Gagnon | ... | assistant: Benjamin Walker, Christopher Plummer and Frank Langella |
| Niko Godfrey | ... | second assistant accountant (as Niko Bommer) |
| Chel Hathaway | ... | researcher (as Ráchel Lowery) |
| Bradley Dean Jones | ... | stand-in: John Bedford Lloyd |
| Kelly Mahoney | ... | staff production assistant: background |
| Taylor McNulty | ... | production assistant |
| Mark Meloccaro | ... | clearance supervisor |
| Richard Morrison | ... | main title sequence designed by |
| Ginny Nugent | ... | production executive |
| Steve Powers | ... | production assistant |
| Deborah Ricketts | ... | archive researcher |
| Olimpia T. Rinaldi | ... | first assistant accountant |
| Dannielle Rose | ... | stand-in |
| Corey Schuler | ... | production assistant |
| Scott Shouldis | ... | office production assistant |
| Kati Sklut | ... | production secretary |
| Hunter Valentino | ... | accounting clerk (as Hunter Olmeda) |
| Lauren Vanderschuur | ... | unit production assistant |
| Dean Wares | ... | main title sequence designed by |
| Andrew J. Lonsdale | ... | utility stand-in: Frank Langella (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Home Box Office (HBO) (2013) (United States) (tv)
- Sky Atlantic HD (2014) (Germany) (tv)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland (2014) (Finland) (DVD)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2015) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
- Lexhag VFX (main titles and graphics)
- Phosphene
Other Companies
- ARRI / Camera Service Center (camera equipment provided by)
- ARRI / Camera Service Center (grip and lighting equipment)
- Boom (adr services)
- Isobel Griffiths Limited (orchestra contractor)
- Munky (visual effects)
- Soundtrack New York (ADR Facility)
- The Morrison Studio (main title sequence by)
- Truck Brokers (logistics management)
- Wildfire Studios (ADR Recording Facility)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In 1964, world champion boxer Muhammad Ali requested exemption from the military draft based on his religious beliefs. His request was denied and when he refused induction into the army, he was convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. His case eventually worked its way up to the Supreme Court. In their first conference after the case is presented, the justices decide by majority vote to uphold the conviction and Justice John Harlan is tasked with preparing the majority opinion. He assigns one of his clerks, Kevin Connolly, to prepare a first draft but try as he might he believes that decision was wrong. His draft argues for overturning the conviction and Harlan agrees with him. The justice must now find a way to convince his colleagues. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Some fights are bigger than the ring. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Robert Firth, who provides the voice for the New York City Ring Announcer, was delighted to have had an opportunity to work with the legendary filmmaker Stephen Frears. During their ADR session, when Firth recorded the character's voice for the film's crucial Ali victory, he and Frears spent a great deal of time searching for just the right regional accent - to help capture the proper tone and manner for that period of time in American culture. Firth was taken aback by Frears' meticulous attention to detail, and Frears was intrigued by Firth's seemingly endless options he was offering to the director - so much so, that when he was leaving, a somewhat curious Frears asked the actor for his last name. He replied, "It's Firth, like Colin Firth, but without all those awards." See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards (2014). See more » |
| Soundtracks | We Came in Chains See more » |
| Quotes |
Justice Potter Stewart:
You okay, Harry? Justice Harry Blackmun: I know you're all concerned with what you perceive as my indecisiveness, you think I can't make up my mind. It's not that, it really isn't. It's that the issues in this case are so grave, you answer one question, even tentatively you think you're safe, then two more questions appear on the horizon. As I see it, I can't make a final judgement until all the facts are in. Until all the arguments have been analyzed. Justice Potter Stewart: But it's not a math problem, Harry. You wanna find out one answer. Doesn't work that way. See more » |