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
From metacritic.com
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Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Muhammad Ali | ... | Himself | |
| George Foreman | ... | Himself | |
| Don King | ... | Himself | |
| James Brown | ... | Himself | |
| B.B. King | ... | Himself | |
 |
Mobutu Sese Seko | ... | Himself (President of Zaire) |
| Spike Lee | ... | Himself | |
| Norman Mailer | ... | Himself - Writer | |
| George Plimpton | ... | Himself - Writer | |
|
|
Thomas Hauser | ... | Himself |
| Malick Bowens | ... | Himself - Artist (as Malik Bowens) | |
|
|
Lloyd Price | ... | Himself - Concert Promoter |
| The Spinners | ... | Themselves | |
| Miriam Makeba | ... | Herself | |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Drew Bundini Brown | ... | Himself - Ali's Ass't Trainer (as Drew 'Bundini' Brown) |
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Plot Summary
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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. Written by Gary Dickerson <slug@mail.utexas.edu>
Plot Keywords:
title fight | africa | championship bout | rumble in the jungle | zaire |Taglines:
The untold story of the Rumble in the JungleMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG for images of violence, brief nudity and some language | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 February 1997 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Amikor királyok voltunk - Muhammad Ali See more »Filming Locations:
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of CongoEdit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$2,666,118, 8 June 1997Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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[...]
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Written by Wayne Henderson
EMI U Catalog Inc. (ASCAP)
Performed by The Crusaders
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Did You Know?
Trivia
When the film won the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary, George Foreman and Muhammad Ali came to the stage with the filmmakers to show they had made peace. Foreman helped Ali, stricken with Parkinson's Disease, climb the steps to the stage. See more »Quotes
Muhammad Ali: It is befitting that I leave the game just like I came in, beating a big bad monster who knocks out everybody and no one can whup him. That's when little Cassius Clay from Louisville, Kentucky, came up to stop Sonny Liston. The man who annihilated Floyd Patterson twice. HE WAS GONNA KILL ME! But he hit harder than George. His reach is longer than George's. He's a better boxer than George. And I'm better now than I was when you saw that 22-years old undeveloped kid running from Sonny Liston. I'm...[...]
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Soundtracks
Young RabbitsWritten by Wayne Henderson
EMI U Catalog Inc. (ASCAP)
Performed by The Crusaders
See more »
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The fight between Muhammad Ali aka Cassius Clay and George Foreman in Zaire. The fight was nicknamed the rumble in the jungle. The documentary follows Ali and Foreman. It also has insight from writers and witnesses, Norman Mailer and George Plimpton, and African American film director, Spike Lee, who later directed the film, "Ali." This documentary is a rare treasure that captures history, culture, and relationships. Ali is the underdog in the ring against Foreman on October 30, 1974. The outcome is remarkable as is the story behind both fighters. Ali is proud of being an African American, honest, opinionated, and vocal about civil rights in America and in Africa. He was proud to see Africans who flew, lived, and governed their own country. Sadly, Ali isn't well with Parkinsons. The disease has crippled his voice but not his message in recent years. The documentary is historical for so many reasons.