Product Description

A look at the life and career of Muhammed Ali from his first amateur fight right through to 'Rumble In The Jungle'. Also features archive footage and interviews.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16214 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-04-12
• Rating: Exempt
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 94 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A 75-minute documentary covering the career of the greatest sporting personality of the 20th century, Muhammad Ali--The Greatest adds little or nothing in the way of footage or insight unavailable elsewhere. However, it certainly provides an adequate summary of a much-told tale and makes for a good potted introduction to Ali, his sensational conquest of Sonny Liston, his conversion to the Nation of Islam, his exile from boxing following his anti-war stance and return to perform his own "personal age of miracles".

The fight footage here is mostly recycled from Bill Cayton and Jim Jacobs' vast stock of film as opposed to telecasts. Here again, then, are the grainy, quicksilver images of the skinny young Ali bamboozling ponderous journeymen Tunney Hunsaker in his debut fight; of the never adequately explained "phantom punch" against Liston in their second fight; of the dancing demolition job he performed on Cleveland Williams in 1967, perhaps the three most awesome, albeit one-sided rounds of heavyweight boxing ever. There are occasional excerpts of Ali running his mouth outside the ring, but these are too few and too familiar. Ian Darke of Sky TV provides a professionally glossy narration that's just about the right side of glib, but the budget doesn't really extend to much beyond cut and pasted footage (with only stills shots of his knockout of George Foreman) spliced with interviews with the likes of Henry Cooper, Ali's old Doctor Angelo and trainer Angelo Dundee who explains, for perhaps the hundredth time to camera, that he thought "Muslim" was a piece of cloth.

The essence of Ali's story is certainly encapsulated here, though those looking for more offbeat or in-depth material are advised to check out Champions Forever, When We Were Kings or AKA Cassius Clay. Or read Thomas Hauser's biography. --David Stubbs

From the Back Cover
Charting the life and times of Muhammad Ali, this documentary begins in Louisville, Kentucky, the birthplace of the future World Heavyweight Champion and follws his career from his first amateur fight against Ronnie O'Keefe (for which he was paid the princely sum of $4.00) to the most infamous fights of his life: "The Rumble in the Jungle" and "The Thrilla in Manila".

Featuring classic footage from legendary fights, as well as interviews with his trainer Angelo Dundee and contributions from Henry Cooper, Joe Bugner, and George Foreman, this comprehensive guide to Alis' life and times pays tribute to this unique, warm, effesrvescent and charismatic character that took the boxing world by storm.

Highlights include:
Professional debut fight against Tunney Hunsaker, first Olympic Gold Medal fight and World Championship Title fights against Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Sonny Liston and many, many more.
A full history of Muhammed Ali's boxing career: who he fought, when, where, and the results.

Customer Reviews

The Greatest
He was - and evidenced by this marvellous collection of fights, interviews and interesting information - and always will be the Greatest. Excellent purchase

the greatest
really good, if you like to watch Ali's fights.
too bad it only shows pictures of his fight with Foreman in Zaire. besides this little upset, the doc. is great.
much better then the crappy, a.k.a Cassius Clay.

The greatest ...
This DVD is just right for a documentary to cover the life of the master...From humble background, first amateaur fights and signs of potential genius...to the greatest media spectacles of all - classic footage from the 'Rumble and the Thrilla'...all the great fights...Oh this is a night in to rember! Enjoy...