Boxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.Boxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.Boxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 12 wins & 5 nominations total
- Self - Artist
- (as Malik Bowens)
- Self - Ali's Ass't Trainer
- (as Drew 'Bundini' Brown)
- Self
- (as The Crusaders)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen the film won the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary, George Foreman and Muhammad Ali came to the stage with the filmmakers to show they had made peace. Foreman helped Ali, stricken with Parkinson's Disease, climb the steps to the stage.
- Quotes
Muhammad Ali: It is befitting that I leave the game just like I came in, beating a big bad monster who knocks out everybody and no one can whup him. That's when little Cassius Clay from Louisville, Kentucky, came up to stop Sonny Liston. The man who annihilated Floyd Patterson twice. HE WAS GONNA KILL ME! But he hit harder than George. His reach is longer than George's. He's a better boxer than George. And I'm better now than I was when you saw that 22-years old undeveloped kid running from Sonny Liston. I'm experienced now, professional. Jaws been broke, been knocked down a couple of times, I'm bad! Been chopping trees. I done something new for this fight. I done wrestled with an alligator. That's right. I have wrestled with an alligator. I done tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail. That's bad! Only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick! I'm so mean I make medicine sick!
Don King: Bad dude!
Muhammad Ali: Bad, fast! Fast! Fast! Last night I cut the light off in my bedroom, hit the switch and was in the bed before the room was dark.
- ConnectionsEdited from The Rumble in the Jungle (1974)
Directed by Leon Gast, it may have taken him 22 years to bring this documentary to cinematic life but it still packs a hard-hitting knockout punch that can floor its viewers. The film not only takes into account the preparation of both fighters but also delves into Ali's beliefs, political stance & powerful connection with the African crowd before heading into the memorable match that left the world shell-shocked to its core.
It also provides a brief overview of Congo's (then known as Zaire) history, its ruthless dictator, its music & rich culture. Also present are many interviews with reporters or journalists who had rather strong opinions about Ali. The fight in itself, though not shown in its entirety, is riveting from start to finish. It shows how quick, tactical & inventive Ali was with both his hands & his mind as he takes on a younger, unbeaten champion in his prime.
Overall, When We Were Kings is one of the best sports documentaries out there, and certainly makes for a welcome tribute to the Greatest whose cocky attitude, larger-than-life aura, strong voice & gifted in-ring ability made him an enduring icon of the sport with a legacy that still has no equals. Packed with adrenaline & burning with passion, this Academy Award-winning documentary is entertaining, inspiring & rewarding in more ways than one and comes highly recommended.
- CinemaClown
- Jun 20, 2020
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Kelebek Gibi Uçar Ari Gibi Sokarım
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,789,985
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $12,479
- Oct 27, 1996
- Gross worldwide
- $2,789,985
- Runtime1 hour 28 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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