The Great White Hope **** (1970, James Earl Jones, Jane Alexander, Lou Gilbert, Hal Holbrook, R G Armstrong, Beah Richards, Chester Morris, Robert Webber, Moses Gunn) – Classic Movie Review 10,400

Director Martin Ritt’s 1970 drama The Great White Hope is an impeccable slice of liberal film-making from a man who came out of that corner fighting more often than most (Ritt), with a knockout performance (reprising his New York stage hit) by James Earl Jones as Jack Johnson (or Jefferson as he is here), the world’s first black heavyweight boxing champion (from 1908 to 1915). He is humiliated by the whites and tormented for having a white fiancée, Eleanor (Jane Alexander) and, facing a prison sentence in America, escapes with Eleanor to Europe.

Human greed, prejudices and violence are exposed along with a contemporary message in the screenplay by Howard Sackler, based on his play. There is a sackful of emotion throughout and a disturbing finale in which Jefferson is forced to pretend that he is defeated by a white boxer. It is Alexander’s film début (she was in the Broadway show too). It was nominated for two Oscars: Best Actor and Best Actress. Jones won the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Male.

Also in the cast are Lou Gilbert, Hal Holbrook, R G Armstrong, Beah Richards, Chester Morris, Robert Webber, Moses Gunn, Joel Fluellen, Lloyd Gough, George Ebeling, Larry Pennell, Marcel Dalio, Rodolfo Acosta, Bill Walker, Scatman Crothers and Basil Dignam.

The Great White Hope is directed by Martin Ritt, runs 102 minutes, is made by 20th Century Fox, is written by Howard Sackler, based on the play by Howard Sackler, is shot by Burnett Guffey, is produced by Lawrence Turman, is scored by Lionel Newman (music supervisor), and is designed by John DeCuir (Production Design) and Jack Martin Smith (Art Direction), with choreography by Donald McKayle

The Great White Hope is directed by Martin Ritt, runs 103 minutes, is made by Lawrence Turman Films, is released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Howard Sackler, based on the play by Howard Sackler, is shot in DeLuxe colour and Panavision by Burnett Guffey, is produced by Lawrence Turman, is scored by Lionel Newman (music supervisor), and is designed by John DeCuir (Production Design) and Jack Martin Smith (Art Direction), with choreography by Donald McKayle

Muhammad Ali visited the set and assisted unofficially on the boxing choreography.

Fifty years on, in 2020, it is still James Earl Jones’s only Oscar nominated performance, though he won an Honorary Award in 2012. He turns 90 on 17 January 2021.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,400

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