United States

HE FOUND HIMSELF IN A CORNER, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE RING!
One of the greatest boxing movies of all time, based on the life of Jack Johnson (James Earl Jones), the first black man to become heavy-weight champion of the world and who was hounded by a racially intolerant press and public and eventually forced to take a dive to a man he could easily have defeated in a fixed championship fight. The blood lust of the fight fans, the corruption and scheming of the promoters and journalists, and racial prejudice are all examined in this dramatic story that earned both James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander (as his white mistress) best actor and actress Oscar nominations. Packed with brilliantly edited boxing sequences and directed by Martin Ritt, the film is based on the celebrated Broadway play by Howard Sackler.