The Great White Hope

1970
AA
1h 43m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

2.9K

YOUR RATING

James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope (1970)

A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.

Play trailer2:46

1 Video

51 Photos

Tragedy Drama Romance Sport

A Black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.A Black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.A Black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

2.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 2 wins & 8 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 2:46

Trailer

Photos51

+ 44

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Redd Foxx, who knew former heavyweight champ Jack Johnson, whose career and struggle against racism inspired the original play, turned down a role in the film as he believed it was not a true picture of his old friend.

Goofs
In the first scene in which we see Jefferson practicing, the sweat on his shirt changes from shot to shot in a way that wouldn't be predicted by evaporation.

Quotes
Reporter: Now you're the first Black man in the history of the ring who's ever had a crack at the heavyweight title. Now white folks, of course, are behind Brady. He's the redeemer of the race and so on. But you, Jack Jefferson, are you the Black hope?
Jack Jefferson: Well, I'm Black and I'm hopin'.
Goldie: Answer him straight, Jack.
Jack Jefferson: Hey, look, man, I ain't fighting for no race, I ain't redeeming nobody. My mama told me *Mr. Lincoln* done that. Ain't that why you shot him?

Crazy credits
The 20th Century Fox logo appears without the fanfare.

Connections
Edited into The Loving Story (2011)

Soundtracks
Let Me Hold You In My Arms Tonight
Written and Performed by Jesse Fuller

User reviews39

Review

Featured review

10/10

Brilliant film.

Before I fully begin, let me make one thing clear: The emphasis in this film is not boxing, but the life of a boxer (Jack Johnson) played by James Earl Jones (Darth Vader).

In telling the tale of Johnson's life this movie depicts the racial boundaries going on in America in the early 20th century. Unlike many films which tell a tale of racial injustice, this film manages to do it:

a) Without sugar coating anything. b) Without being over-dramatic.

I saw it today on television and I didn't know what to expect before it started. I was interested to see it because I've heard references made to it in the past and was curious. I can say for certain that giving this film a chance, and watching it beginning to end, is the best movie-related decision I've made in a long time (at least ten-thousand times better than deciding to rent Resident Evil 2).

In watching this I got a deep sense of reality. A big reason for this is a simply phenomenal performance by James Earl Jones, as well as solid acting on the part of Jane Alexander and many of the supporting cast members.

I couldn't believe that IMDb only has 8 reviews of this movie (at least at the time of me writing this), and due to some folks totally missing the point of it, it has a somewhat sad rating.

SEE this film if you are into compelling stories about interesting people which are well written and acted.

DON'T see this film if you expect Rocky III.

There are a lot of good movies out there and I enjoy all manner of cinema, but I can say without a doubt in my mind that The Great White Hope has made it into the realm of my favorites.

10 out of 10