‘He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.’ – Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is often considered the world’s greatest champion; an icon in sporting history that many have yet to surpass. At the age off twenty-two he became the heavyweight champion of the world winning a total of fifty-six fights during his boxing career. Since 1984, Ali has been fighting Parkinson’s disease; an illness that was said to be induced as a result of his 1980 fight with fellow boxer Larry Holmes.
Boxing has become a predominant and fundamental skill in, not just the field of sport, but in cinema. Over the years we have seen some of the world’s greatest films explore this harrowing and violent sport. Through a variety of films, a number of unforgettable characters have been produced and remain iconic in the world of cinema. Many people presume boxing films to be purely about fighting; they’re about fighting all right but maybe not in the most palpable way. Ali himself has been depicted on screen in films like Ali (2001) and explored in documentaries like When We Were Kings (1996).
Watch the trailer for I Am Ali here
This week marks the release of intriguing documentary I Am Ali which allows audiences to take an exclusive insight to the personal archives of ‘the world’s greatest.’ To celebrate, we take an in depth look at our top ten boxing films of all time. Let’s start with round one:
Champion (1949) Dir. Mark Robson
‘It’s like any other business, only here the blood shows.
Champion was one of the first Hollywood films to explore boxing during the Golden Era. Audiences were used to seeing the sport in a comical sense in films like City Lights (1931) or even in short, experimental films but Champion was one of the first to explore it in a bad light. Champion stars Kirk Douglas as successful boxer, Midge Kelly, who uses his fame and talent to get to the top; hurting everyone in the process. The violence in the film is quite upsetting and, at times, shocking for 1940s cinema. Douglas received his first and only Oscar nomination for the role of Midge Kelly and demonstrated his coarse and eerie acting abilities. Champion is not a nice film. In fact, it is a harrowing film that deconstructs the stereotypical ‘champion’ exposing the gritty and inhumane side of the sport.
Somebody up There Likes Me (1956) Dir. Robert Wise
‘I like the way you hit, kid. And I’d like to handle ya!’
Paul Newman stars in his first major movie role as Rocky Graziano in Robert Wise’ American drama Somebody Up There Likes Me. The role was originally intended for James Dean but his subsequent death left an opening for the part. The film focuses on twenty-something Rocky who’s life of petty crime winds him in the jailhouse. Having been beaten by his father and raised in a poor environment, Rocky had never felt common affection which subsequently leads him to boxing. The character of Rocky is very complex but ultimately connotes the longing for acceptance. An early scene shows Rocky boxing with his dad who, after punching inaccurately, hits him in the face. Somebody up There Likes Me ignites the ultimate message that the apple doesn’t always far from the tree; there is a way out. Somebody up There Likes Me won two Oscars leading Paul Newman to Hollywood success. We guess somebody up there did like him.
The Harder They Fall (1956) Dir. Mark Robson
‘There’s no real fighters anymore. The best showman becomes the champ!’
The Harder They Fall was the second Hollywood movie released that year that explored the sport of boxing. Humphrey Bogart stars in his final screen performance as sports reporter Eddie Willis who, after being made redundant, is employed by his dodgy boxing promoter, Nick Benko (Rod Steiger). Willis is then made to publicize his new and inadequate boxer purely for financial gain. The Harder They Fall examines the gritty setting of the 1950s corporate world epitomising that desperate times call for desperate measures. The performances in the film are staggering although you can truly see the pain that Bogart was in during filming. The Oscar-winning icon died just fifteen months later with The Harder They Fall capturing one of the finest final performances in Hollywood.
Fat City (1972) Dir. John Huston
‘If you don’t have confidence in yourself, you’re never gonna get anywhere.’
Fat City was directed by visionary auteur John Huston in 1972. Even during the fifth decade of his career, Huston proved to be more poignant than ever. The film stars Stacy Keach as ‘has-been’ boxer Billy Tully who soon meets 18-year-old aspiring boxer Ernie (Jeff Bridges) and agrees to train him. However, personalities clash and the two end up uncovering the wool from each other’s eyes; each facing the forthcoming penalties of life. Huston continued his fascination with the underdog in a contemporary and compelling way. Fat City is a very honest film portraying candid people in a very desolate world. The title itself suggests a world full of big egos surrounded by great solitude. With remarkable performances, and a poignant soundtrack from Kris Kristofferson, Fat City is a predominantly underrated film in the boxing genre and, although may not be as well know as many others, is still a champion in cinema.