The Great White Hope (film)
- James Earl Jones: Jack Jefferson
- Jane Alexander: Eleanor Backman
- Lou Gilbert: Goldie
- Joel Fluellen: Tick
- Chester Morris: Pop Weaver
- Marlene Warfield: Clara
- R. G. Armstrong: Cap'n Dan
- Hal Holbrook: Al Cameron
- Beah Richards: Mom Tiny
- Moses Gunn: Scipio
- Lloyd Gough: Smith " Smitty ( reporter of the Evening Mirror"
- George Ebeling: Fred
- Larry Pennell: Frank Brady (Boxer)
- Roy Glenn: Pastor
The Great White Hope is a film drama directed by Martin Ritt from 1970 after winning the Pulitzer Prize for drama eponymous play by Howard Sackler about the life of boxer Jack Johnson, who became in 1908 the first color heavyweight boxing champion. Chester Morris had his last appearance in the film and died shortly after completion of the film from an overdose of sleeping pills.
Action
Jack Jefferson is a boxer who has to deal with the racism and hatred against colored in the embossed by whites United States in the early 20th century. He is not only the first black heavyweight challenger, but also in love with a white woman. Jefferson has to deal not only with the hatred of the whites, but also with the condemnation by some of the black community representatives who believe that Jefferson would have sold. As colored boxing champion he must learn and his white accompaniment to survive because the white leadership of the Boxorganisationen looking for ways to turn it off.
Awards
At the Academy Awards in 1971 both James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander was nominated for an Oscar for best actor and best actress.
Jones was awarded the Golden Globe for best young actor and was also nominated for a Golden Globe for best actor in a drama, while Jane Alexander was nominated also for a Golden Globe and a Laurel Award for Best Young Actress ( Female Star of Tomorrow ).
Finally, the Writers Guild of America Howard Sackler nominated for best adapted screenplay.
Criticism
The lexicon of the International film called The Great White Hope a " acting superb cast [n ] suspense film, which deals with the racial problem with a predominantly emotional and melodramatic means, the socio-political backgrounds are neglected. "