The Greatest: Muhammad Ali (1977)

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(152 ratings)

With Muhammad Ali cast as himself, The Greatest covers Ali's life from his "Cassius Clay" days to the celebrated Ali/George Foreman bout. Along the way, the film focuses on Ali's conversion to Islam and his potentially career-breaking decision not to serve in the Army. Ernest Borgnine palys Ali's… More With Muhammad Ali cast as himself, The Greatest covers Ali's life from his "Cassius Clay" days to the celebrated Ali/George Foreman bout. Along the way, the film focuses on Ali's conversion to Islam and his potentially career-breaking decision not to serve in the Army. Ernest Borgnine palys Ali's first trainer Angelo Dundee, while Roger E. Mosley shows up as Sonny Liston. The Greatest was the final directorial effort from the late Tom Gries. The same subject would later be covered in Michael Mann's Ali, starring Will Smith as the champ. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Monte Hellman, Tom Gries
Written By: Ring Lardner
Genres: Drama

On DVD: Dec 11, 2001

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Featured Audience Ratings

Panta O

In this movie you can see the story told by the man himself... and played by him as well! Following young Cassius Clay`s struggle against prejudice and discrimanation from his Olympic cold win to the famous Rumble in the Jungle, the fight against George Foreman! Muhammad Ali is a… More
In this movie you can see the story told by the man himself... and played by him as well! Following young Cassius Clay`s struggle against prejudice and discrimanation from his Olympic cold win to the famous Rumble in the Jungle, the fight against George Foreman! Muhammad Ali is a natural performer and in this film he is managing not to go overboard! The best part of the script is that just concentrates itself with hard facts . I'll have to say that without Ali we would never know about him turning up at Sonny Liston`s house at the dead of night to throw insults... and that is the advantage of this movie! It is like some kind of documentary reconstruction of a remarkable life... and it`s all true! I'll have to say that I enjoyed the performance of Phillip MacAllister playing the young Cassius Clay Jr displaying the engaging affrontery of a young talent so sure of himself that discretion in self-description knows no bounds... real Ali's characteristics which will later refine through formal discipline, professional conflicts and the controversial refusal to be inducted in the US Army. Movie with a message... and important part of a history story which should be told!

Cast

            Muhammad Ali as Muhammad Ali

            Ernest Borgnine as Angelo Dundee

            John Marley as Dr. Ferdie Pacheco

            Lloyd Haynes as Herbert

            Robert Duvall as Bill McDonald

            David Huddleston as Cruikshank

            Ben Johnson as Hollis

            James Earl Jones as Malcolm X

            Dina Merrill as Velvet Green

            Roger E. Mosley as Sonny Liston

            Paul Winfield as Lawyer

            Annazette Chase as Belinda Ali

            Mira Waters as Ruby Sanderson

            Phillip MacAllister as Young Cassius Clay. Jr.

            Dorothy Meyer as Odessa Clay

            Lucille Benson as Mrs. Fairlie

            Theodore Wilson as Gardener

            Skip Homeier as Major

            Sally Gries as Sponsor's Wife

            Arthur Adams as Cassius Clay Sr.

            Nai Bonet as Suzie Gomez

            Drew Bundi Brown
            
            David Clennon as Captain

            Harold Conrad as Himself

            Toni Crabtree as Hooker

            Don Dunphy as Commentator

            James Gammon as "Mr. Harry"

            Ray Holland as Reporter

            Paul Mantee as Carrara

            Alberto Martin as Doctor

            Philip McAllister as Cassius Clay

            Ben Medina as Ronnie

            Pat Patterson
            
            Stack Pierce as Johnson

            Malachi Throne as Payton Jory

            Richard Venture as Colonel

            Ernie Wheelwright as Bossman Jones

            Elizabeth Marshall as Sponsor's Wife

            George Cooper as Lawyer

            Howard Bingham
            
            Rahaman Ali
            
            Richard Gullage
            
            Sally Bondi
            
            W. Youngblood Muhammad
            
See full cast