The Greatest (1977 film)
- Muhammad Ali: He himself
- Ernest Borgnine: Angelo Dundee
- John Marley: Dr. Ferdie Pacheco
- Lloyd Haynes: Herbert Muhammad
- Malachi Throne: Payton Jory
- Lucille Benson: Mrs. Fairlie
- Teddy Wilson: John The Gardener
- Annazette Chase: Belinda Ali
- Mira Waters: Ruby Sanderson
- Chip McAllister: Cassius Clay with 18
- Drew Bundini Brown: He himself
- Robert Duvall: Bill McDonald
- David Huddleston: Cruikshank
- Ben Johnson: Hollis
- James Earl Jones: Malcolm X
- Dina Merrill: Velvet Green
- Roger E. Mosley: Sonny Liston
- Paul Winfield: Draft Lawyer
- Paul Mantee: Carrara
- Skip Homeier: Major
- David Clennon: Captain
- James Gammon: Mr. Harry
- Sally Bondi: Bess
I am the greatest ( Original title: The Greatest ). 's An American biopic about the boxer Muhammad Ali in the year 1977 was directed by Tom Gries and Monte Hellman, and written by Ring Lardner Jr. based on the book The Greatest: My Own Story Muhammad Ali.
Action
The boxer Muhammad Ali is sponsored by some rich people, to which he is a master. His agent negotiates hard financial terms of the participation in the fighting. He argues that most African-American boxer poor would later what Ali should not happen.
Muhammad Ali converted to Islam. Later, he rejects the participation from the Vietnam War. That affects his career and leads to the lawsuit, the Ali wins. The film ends with the obtained by Ali fighting George Foreman, in which Ali his opponent can get tired first before giving him out beats.
Reviews
The lexicon of international film evaluates the film as " unsuccessful attempt " a biography of Muhammad Ali. He let " the social environment of Boxstars largely from " and roam only " important dates and stages of his life ." The built-in " short excerpts from famous battles " would " very unsatisfactory " the boxing fans.
The magazine TV Direct criticized the film as " bleak ". His " cardinal sin " is that the fight scenes shown were too short, what the fans disappoint.
Awards
The film received in 1990 the Film and Television Music Award of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Background
The film was made under other in Atlanta, Houston and Miami. Director Gries died during the filming, so that the film had to be finished by his colleagues Hellman.