The life and career of Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis, who held the title for 12 years--longer than any other boxer in history--and who had to not only battle opponents inside the ring and racism outside it.
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Title: The Joe Louis Story (1953)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Coley Wallace | ... | Joe Louis |
| Paul Stewart | ... | Tad McGeehan | |
| Hilda Simms | ... | Marva Louis | |
| James Edwards | ... | 'Chappie' Blackburn | |
| John Marley | ... | Mannie Seamon | |
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Dots Johnson | ... | Julian Black (as Dotts Johnson) |
| Evelyn Ellis | ... | Mrs. Barrows | |
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Carl 'Rocky' Latimer | ... | Arthur Pine |
| John Marriott | ... | Sam Langford | |
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Ike Jones | ... | Johnny Kingston (as Isaac Jones) |
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P. Jay Sidney | ... | John Roxborough |
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Royal Beal | ... | Mike Jacobs |
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Herbert Ratner | ... | Newspaper man (as Herb Ratner) |
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Ruby Goldstein | ... | Ruby Goldstein |
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Norman Rose | ... | Lieutenant |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
The life and career of Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis, who held the title for 12 years--longer than any other boxer in history--and who had to not only battle opponents inside the ring and racism outside it.
Plot Keywords:
character name as title | joe louis character | four word title | racism | ring |Taglines:
POWERFUL... as his battering fists! THRILLING... as his fighting heart! GREAT... as his never-to-be-forgotten story!Parents Guide:
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Newspaper man: Tad, you missed the greatest fight of the year. This Marciano's another Dempsy. Louis is through for real now. He should've quit while he was ahead. What are you doing here? I thought you were goin' home. Well, Rocky almost knocked him out of the ring. The kid's got a punch like a ten-ton truck! He'll be the next champ for sure. Well, I'd better go write my story.
Tad McGeehan: Lou... I'll write the story.
Newspaper man: But you didn't see the fight.
Tad McGeehan: I'll write the real story.
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by Alec Wilder
Sung by Anita Ellis accompanied by Ellis Larkins Trio
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Wladimir Klitschko surpassed Louis's title length in 2015 and as of 2019 holds the record for being the heavyweight champ the longest at just over 12 years while Louis's held if for 11.7 years. See more »Goofs
When Joe is sending a telegram to Marva in Chicago, the address he gives the Western Union is 5220 Congress Street, but when she receives the telegram, the address reads 60 East 47th Street. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Newspaper man: Tad, you missed the greatest fight of the year. This Marciano's another Dempsy. Louis is through for real now. He should've quit while he was ahead. What are you doing here? I thought you were goin' home. Well, Rocky almost knocked him out of the ring. The kid's got a punch like a ten-ton truck! He'll be the next champ for sure. Well, I'd better go write my story.
Tad McGeehan: Lou... I'll write the story.
Newspaper man: But you didn't see the fight.
Tad McGeehan: I'll write the real story.
See more »
Soundtracks
I'll Be Aroundby Alec Wilder
Sung by Anita Ellis accompanied by Ellis Larkins Trio
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
18 September 1953 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A História de Joe Louis See more »Company Credits
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I really enjoyed this film. Coley Wallace does a real good job as Louis. I am glad to see it made it to DVD. Coley Wallace was a terrific boxer himself & the only person ever to beat Rocky Maricano. My only one complaint is the director Robert Gordon, who made some good westerns, rushed this movie a bit, especially the last half. Other than that it's a good movie for boxing history.