MUHAMMAD ALI’S GREATEST FIGHT
US, 2013, 97 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Plummer, Frank Langella, Ed Begley Jr, Peter Gerety, Barry Levinson, John Bedford Lloyd, Fritz Weaver, Harris Yulin, Danny Glover, Benjamin Walker, Dana Ivey, Kathleen Chalfant.
Directed by Stephen Frears.
Muhammed Ali’s Greatest Fight is a very interesting film, directed by Britain’s Stephen Frears who over more than 40 years has had a considerable career both in the UK and in the United States, ranging from such films as Dangerous Liaisons and The Grifters to more recent films like Cheri and Philomena.
Older audiences will have strong memories of Cassius Clay in the 1960s, his rather boastful claims that he was the greatest, his skill in boxing, his conversion to Islam, his refusal to be drafted for service in Vietnam and the years when he was in the wilderness, financially, career-wise, and an object of scorn by many Americans. He made appeals and his case went to the Supreme Court where it was thrown out but a second opportunity arose for an appeal. This film is about the appeal.
One of the main advantages of this film is that it uses a considerable amount of film and television stock footage which is inserted throughout the film making Ali quite a personality and, therefore, a character in this drama without resource to using an actor. (He had appeared in the 1970s film, The Greatest, and Will Smith had played him in Ali.)
While this Muhammad Ali’s greatest fight, the focus is also on the members of the Supreme Court, the eight judges in Washington. In 1970, when the appeal takes place, they are elderly men, led by Nixon appointee, Warren Burger, played with assurance by Frank Langella. His co-judge and friend, John Harlan, is played to great effect by Christopher Plummer. Other judges include Ed Begley Jr as another of Nixon appointee, film director Barry Levinson, the elderly Fritz Weaver, John Bedford Lloyd as the loyal conservative, Brennan, Peter Gerety, as the shrewd game-player Judge White, Harris Yulan as the Texan judge, with Danny Glover as Thurgood Marshall, the only black member of the bench. There are no women.
A younger generation is represented by Benjamin Walker as Kevin Connolly, hired by Harlan and working along with a group of young staffers who write reports for the judges.
The film has several meetings, glimpses of the processes of decision-making by the judges as well as a sitting of the Supreme Court and the final moves and machinations which led to a unanimous decision to throw out the case against Mohammed Ali.
1. An American story? Issues of race, sport, politics, war, Justice?
2. The dramatisation of an episode in 1970, the Supreme Court, the judges of their staffs? Lawyers, presentations, appeals?
3. Muhammad Ali as a character, the extensive use of television and film footage, the insertion throughout the film, Ali as a character, audience interest in him, sympathy? His character, fighting with Sonny Liston and, with George Frazier, the fight footage, his explanation of his foot moves? His claims, joking and political language? His conversion to Islam? Refusal to go to Vietnam, his reasons, no Viet Cong insulting him? Public opinion about him? His losses, financial, being banned, his titles withdrawn? Standing on his principles? American reaction?
4. The image of the court, the eight judges, their age, men? One black? Republicans and Democrats? No women? The meetings, discussions, their votes, the bargaining, the sittings and the hearings?
5. Warren Burger, Frank Langella, age, experience, the Chief, his room and his designs for a bigger room, taking his status seriously? A Nixon appointment, the phone calls with Nixon? John Harlan as his friend? Harry Blackmun and his nomination? His suspicions of Judge Brennan and his tactics? Staff, organisation, secretary? His expectations of himself? influence, decisions about the cases, anti-Ali?
6. John Harlan, Christopher Plummer, age and experience, his secretary and her concern, the men on his staff, young? The interview with Kevin Connelly, Connelly showing off? Hiring him, the discussions? The dinner for Kevin and his wife, John’s wife and her dementia and his handling of it? His ailments, his back, tablets, doctor, health in general? The votes, his presence at the discussions, getting Kevin to write the response, his reaction?
7. Harry Blackmun, recently appointed, friends with the Chief, on his side?
8. Hugo, his age, hearing, alertness, anti-all wars, yet voting against the hearing?
9. Thurgood Marshall, Danny Glover, the only black member of the Supreme Court, his manner, watching television, arriving late, yet his shrewd observations?
10. White, Conservative, voting with the Chief?
11. Douglas, Texas, his reactions, discussions, his new wife?
12. Judge Brennan, his liberal stances, his shrewdness, in favour of a hearing for Ali, getting an equal vote? Losing the vote about the hearing?
13. The staffers, young, Kevin, his wife and her pregnancy, the test with John, the interview, the dinner? The bets about the judges and their decisions? Conservative and progressive staffers? The chat? Kevin to write the response for John? Advice, research, getting the precedent, working all night, giving the response to John?
14. The next morning, Kevin and his letter of resignation, John changing his mind, praising Kevin for his work? Kevin and his discussions with Warren, Warren feeling offended, John working out a way to persuade Warren, to have a unanimous decision, the repercussions for the reputation of the court?
15. The various judges in their responses, Brennan and his excitement? The reaction of the young assistants?
16. The importance of the decision, in 1970, in the political climate, in the era of change of legislation for race relationships?
17. The significance for Muhammad Ali, his balanced comments about the judges in the previous decision, the times and conditiions, the repercussions for himself – and his subsequent career, and the glimpse of the Rumble in the Jungle?
