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IMDbPro

The Great White Hope

  • 19701970
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope (1970)
A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.
Play trailer2:46
1 Video
42 Photos
DramaRomanceSport
A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
    • Martin Ritt
    • Howard Sackler(play)
  • Stars
    • James Earl Jones
    • Jane Alexander
    • Lou Gilbert
    • Martin Ritt
    • Howard Sackler(play)
  • Stars
    • James Earl Jones
    • Jane Alexander
    • Lou Gilbert
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:46
    Watch Trailer

    Photos42

    James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones at an event for The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones at an event for The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander at an event for The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones at an event for The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones at an event for The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander at an event for The Great White Hope (1970)
    James Earl Jones at an event for The Great White Hope (1970)
    The Great White Hope (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Earl Jones
    James Earl Jones
    • Jack Jefferson
    Jane Alexander
    Jane Alexander
    • Eleanor
    Lou Gilbert
    • Goldie
    Joel Fluellen
    Joel Fluellen
    • Tick
    Chester Morris
    Chester Morris
    • Pop Weaver
    Robert Webber
    Robert Webber
    • Dixon
    Marlene Warfield
    Marlene Warfield
    • Clara
    R.G. Armstrong
    R.G. Armstrong
    • Cap'n Dan
    Hal Holbrook
    Hal Holbrook
    • Cameron
    Beah Richards
    Beah Richards
    • Mama Tiny
    Moses Gunn
    Moses Gunn
    • Scipio
    Lloyd Gough
    Lloyd Gough
    • Smitty
    George Ebeling
    • Fred
    Larry Pennell
    Larry Pennell
    • Brady
    Roy Glenn
    Roy Glenn
    • Pastor
    • (as Roy E. Glenn Sr.)
    Bill Walker
    Bill Walker
    • Deacon
    Marcel Dalio
    Marcel Dalio
    • French Promoter
    Rodolfo Acosta
    Rodolfo Acosta
    • El Jefe
      • Martin Ritt
      • Howard Sackler(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Redd Foxx, who knew former heavyweight champ Jack Johnson, whose career and struggle against racism inspired the original play, turned down a role in the film as he believed it was not a true picture of his old friend.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Reporter: Now you're the first black man in the history of the ring who's ever had a crack at the heavyweight title. Now white folks, of course, are behind Brady. He's the redeemer of the race and so on. But you, Jack Jefferson, are you the black hope?

      Jack Jefferson: Well, I'm black and I'm hopin'.

      Goldie: Answer him straight, Jack.

      Jack Jefferson: Hey, look, man, I ain't fighting for no race, I ain't redeeming nobody. My mama told me *Mr. Lincoln* done that. Ain't that why you shot him?

    • Crazy credits
      Screenplay by Howard Sackler Based on his play
    • Connections
      Edited into Afro Promo (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Let Me Hold You In My Arms Tonight
      Written and Performed by Jesse Fuller

    User reviews36

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    James Earl Jones at his best
    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.
    helpful•44
    3
    • anton_merrick
    • Jun 21, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 1970 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Hungarian
      • German
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Globe, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • Lawrence Turman
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 43 minutes
      • Color

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