Mohamed ali biography filmography leonardo

Following the sad death of Muhammad Ali, here's Empire's pick of the many excellent films to have celebrated his extraordinary life.

Ali The Fighter (1971)

A film focused on Ali’s first attempt to regain his professional boxing heavyweight title: the build-up to the first of Ali’s three epic fights with Joe Frazier is documented here.

Mohamed ali biography filmography leonardo

Director William Greaves had studied at the Actor’s Studio alongside Marlon Brando, but had become disillusioned with the stereotyped parts he was being offered, and moved into TV news journalism, serving for three years as executive producer of PBS’ Black Journal.

When he left to pursue filmmaking, this was the first result: the director’s eye for a news story and strong narrative serving Ali well. But it’s no hagiography. Frazier had supported Ali throughout his years of political protest.

Ali’s relentless taunting of Frazier in the weeks prior to the fight is therefore the source of some friction..