When We Were Kings (1996)

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

Director:

Leon Gast

Stars:

Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King

Won 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

It's 1974, Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman 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 Seko, 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:

title fight | africa | zaire | boxing | african american | 

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Taglines:

The untold story of the Rumble in the Jungle

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Almost all of the footage was shot in 1974. The film took 23 years to complete because the negatives and rights were caught up in civil suits involving the Liberians who financed it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Muhammad Ali: Yeah, I'm from Africa. Yeah, Africa's my home. Damn America and what America thinks. Yeah, I live in America; but, Africa's the home of the black man. And I was a slave 400 years ago and I'm going back home to fight among my brothers. Yeah!

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Connections

Referenced in Criminal Lovers (1999)

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Soundtracks

When We Were Kings
Written by Andy Marvel, Amy Powers and Arnie Roman
Liedela Music (ASCAP), W&R Group (ASCAP), World of Andy Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
Romanesque, Inc. (ASCAP), Powers That Be Music (ASCAP)
Performed by Brian McKnight and Diana King
Brian McKnight appears courtesy of Mercury Records
Diana King appears courtesy of The Work Group
Produced by Andy Marvel

User Reviews

Clearly deserving of the Oscar it received

I recall attending a closed circuit telecast of the Ali-Foreman fight in Miami in 1974, and when "The Greatest" actually pulled it off - regaining HIS title after the enforced exile - most of the audience went nuts. Rarely have I been in an environment of such absolute joy. This first class documentary leaves me wishing I had been in Zaire to experience that emotion "live". This is terrific film making about one of the most complicated and extraordinary heroes of the twentieth century and is richly deserving of the Academy Award which it received.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

14 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

When We Were Kings

Filming Locations:

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,479, 27 October 1996

Gross USA:

$2,789,985

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,789,985

Company Credits

Production Co:

Das Films, David Sonenberg Production, Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1