Top 10 Boxing Movies

[oogiebe]

I hope this is appropriate for Boxing History, but what are your top 10 boxing movie of all time?

[oogiebe]

Mine, not in order (too hard):

Body & Soul 1947 - John Garfield
Kid Galahad 1937 - Edward G. Robinson
Creed
Cinderella Man
Southpaw
The Harder They Fall 1956 - Humphrey Bogart
Journeyman 2017
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Champion 1949 - Kirk Douglas
Somebody Up There Likes Me

Honorable mention: Facing Ali (more documentary than movie, but I could watch it time and time again, especially Lyle, Cooper, and Chuvalo)

[writehooks]

1) Fat City
2) The Harder They Fall
3) Requiem for a Heavyweight
4) The Set-Up
5) Body and Soul (Garfield version)
6) Right Cross
7) Champion (Douglas version)
8) Kid Galahad (Robinson version)
9) Rocky Balboa
10) Circle Man

[oogiebe]

1) Fat City
2) The Harder They Fall
3) Requiem for a Heavyweight
4) The Set-Up
5) Body and Soul (Garfield version)
6) Right Cross
7) Champion (Douglas version)
8) Kid Galahad (Robinson version)
9) Rocky Balboa
10) Circle Man

See? I do this to find more boxing movies to watch in case I didn't know about them...Thanks so much! Are these in order or just like mine...as they came to mind?

[Ade L]

My faves ...

1. Risen
2. The Fighter
3. Raging Bull
4. Rocky IV
5. The Hurricane
6. Cinderella Man
7. Bleed For This
8. Phantom Punch
9. Undisputed
10. Don King: Only in America

[oogiebe]

My faves ...

1. Risen
2. The Fighter
3. Raging Bull
4. Rocky IV
5. The Hurricane
6. Cinderella Man
7. Bleed For This
8. Phantom Punch
9. Undisputed
10. Don King: Only in America

Damn! I forgot Undisputed, one of my all-time faves! Didn't really care for "Bleed for This," thought it wasn't too well done, but the actual story is one for the ages. Thanks!

[tiny_acres]

My faves ...

1. Risen
2. The Fighter
3. Raging Bull
4. Rocky IV
5. The Hurricane
6. Cinderella Man
7. Bleed For This
8. Phantom Punch
9. Undisputed
10. Don King: Only in America

I never understood the love people had for Rocky IV. I thought it was the worst of the Rocky franchise. And I'm a huge Rocky fan

[oogiebe]

My faves ...

1. Risen
2. The Fighter
3. Raging Bull
4. Rocky IV
5. The Hurricane
6. Cinderella Man
7. Bleed For This
8. Phantom Punch
9. Undisputed
10. Don King: Only in America

I never understood the love people had for Rocky IV. I thought it was the worst of the Rocky franchise. And I'm a huge Rocky fan

I'll watch it when it's on. Not great but it had its moments. I still can't believe I left Undisputed off my list. It was much harder than I anticipated.

[littlepug]

Others to consider,
Midnight sting
Gladiator
Streets of gold
The champ
The calcium kid

[oogiebe]

Good calls...which Champ version?

[oogiebe]

Good calls...which Champ version?

Also, you got me on some of them I've haven't heard of.

[APerno]

Best Fight Films (Not in any particular order)

1. Fat City (Sad and depressing, but honest)
2. Raging Bull (Everyone on this board has seen it; everyone has his own opinion)
3. Rocky (The first one only; the classic boxing story done well)
4. The Harder They Fall (Important for its time)
5. Requiem for a Heavyweight (Sad and depressing, but again honest)
6. Cinderella Man (Wronged Max Bear, but still a good film)
7. The Great White Hope (Almost historically accurate, with great local color)
8. Palooka 1934 version (With Jimmy Durante as ‘Knobby Walsh’- the definitive/cliche fight manager – lots of fun)
9. Gentleman Jim (Recreation of the fight on the barge makes it worth the watch; Ward Bond’s interpretation of the Great John L is over the top, but fun)
10. The Great White Hype (Only fight fans can truly appreciate the innuendos)

[oogiebe]

Best Fight Films (Not in any particular order)

1. Fat City (Sad and depressing, but honest)
2. Raging Bull (Everyone on this board has seen it; everyone has his own opinion)
3. Rocky (The first one only; the classic boxing story done well)
4. The Harder They Fall (Important for its time)
5. Requiem for a Heavyweight (Sad and depressing, but again honest)
6. Cinderella Man (Wronged Max Bear, but still a good film)
7. The Great White Hope (Almost historically accurate, with great local color)
8. Palooka 1934 version (With Jimmy Durante as ‘Knobby Walsh’- the definitive/cliche fight manager – lots of fun)
9. Gentleman Jim (Recreation of the fight on the barge makes it worth the watch; Ward Bond’s interpretation of the Great John L is over the top, but fun)
10. The Great White Hype (Only fight fans can truly appreciate the innuendos)

UGH!!! Gentleman Jim!!! (love Alexis Smith), and I forgot Great White Hope!!! (very real). Should've made it top 20!

[APerno]

Best Fight Films (Not in any particular order)

1. Fat City (Sad and depressing, but honest)
2. Raging Bull (Everyone on this board has seen it; everyone has his own opinion)
3. Rocky (The first one only; the classic boxing story done well)
4. The Harder They Fall (Important for its time)
5. Requiem for a Heavyweight (Sad and depressing, but again honest)
6. Cinderella Man (Wronged Max Bear, but still a good film)
7. The Great White Hope (Almost historically accurate, with great local color)
8. Palooka 1934 version (With Jimmy Durante as ‘Knobby Walsh’- the definitive/cliche fight manager – lots of fun)
9. Gentleman Jim (Recreation of the fight on the barge makes it worth the watch; Ward Bond’s interpretation of the Great John L is over the top, but fun)
10. The Great White Hype (Only fight fans can truly appreciate the innuendos)

UGH!!! Gentleman Jim!!! (love Alexis Smith), and I forgot Great White Hope!!! (very real). Should've made it top 20!

Ah! don't poo-poo Gentleman Jim. Pop history, besides being fun, can have a subtle way of bringing out the culture of the time.

The importance of Sports Clubs on the growth of the game; the importance of side-bets and how fights got financed; Women's fringe role to the game; John L.'s swagger and fan adulation; recreations of the fighters' vaudeville acts***; and, I repeat the recreation of the fight on the barge is worth the watch.

*** In the film they have the Great John L. performing in Honest Hearts and Willing Hands where he has to (by some strange plot logic) save the damsel in distress by chopping in half a log faster than his opponent. The actual John L. use to climax the play by sawing a log in half, with shirt off of course. Swinging an ax was probably a bit too dangerous to do night after night.

[oogiebe]

Best Fight Films (Not in any particular order)

1. Fat City (Sad and depressing, but honest)
2. Raging Bull (Everyone on this board has seen it; everyone has his own opinion)
3. Rocky (The first one only; the classic boxing story done well)
4. The Harder They Fall (Important for its time)
5. Requiem for a Heavyweight (Sad and depressing, but again honest)
6. Cinderella Man (Wronged Max Bear, but still a good film)
7. The Great White Hope (Almost historically accurate, with great local color)
8. Palooka 1934 version (With Jimmy Durante as ‘Knobby Walsh’- the definitive/cliche fight manager – lots of fun)
9. Gentleman Jim (Recreation of the fight on the barge makes it worth the watch; Ward Bond’s interpretation of the Great John L is over the top, but fun)
10. The Great White Hype (Only fight fans can truly appreciate the innuendos)

UGH!!! Gentleman Jim!!! (love Alexis Smith), and I forgot Great White Hope!!! (very real). Should've made it top 20!

Ah! don't poo-poo Gentleman Jim. Pop history, besides being fun, can have a subtle way of bringing out the culture of the time.

The importance of Sports Clubs on the growth of the game; the importance of side-bets and how fights got financed; Women's fringe role to the game; John L.'s swagger and fan adulation; recreations of the fighters' vaudeville acts***; and, I repeat the recreation of the fight on the barge is worth the watch.

*** In the film they have the Great John L. performing in Honest Hearts and Willing Hands where he has to (by some strange plot logic) save the damsel in distress by chopping in half a log faster than his opponent. The actual John L. use to climax the play by sawing a log in half, with shirt off of course. Swinging an ax was probably a bit too dangerous to do night after night.

Poo Poo??? Gentleman Jim should've been at the top of my list. I was so hard at thought I forgot one of my all-time favorite movies...and yes...the ole' days!!!! LOVED IT!!!!

[SenorPipino]

Cassius Clay makes his Hollywood debut at the beginning of 1962's Requiem for a Heavyweight.

Clay dishes out a whupping to Mountain Rivera and sends the aging fighter into a forced retirement.

Always my favorite boxing film.

[oogiebe]

Cassius Clay makes his Hollywood debut at the beginning of 1962's Requiem for a Heavyweight.

Clay dishes out a whupping to Mountain Rivera and sends the aging fighter into a forced retirement.

Always my favorite boxing film.

I loved it too. I think Jackie Gleason was Eddie Hearn.

[SenorPipino]

Gleason was Maish, Rivera's somewhat weasly gambling driven manager who actually cared somewhat about his battered fighter, but cared about himself a whole lot more.

Eddie Hearn? The British promoter?

[oogiebe]

Gleason was Maish, Rivera's somewhat weasly gambling driven manager who actually cared somewhat about his battered fighter, but cared about himself a whole lot more.

Eddie Hearn? The British promoter?

Just the way Gleason, while feeling for Mountain, sold him out. I'll take any knock on Hearn. I liked Gleason in serious roles. He was awesome in The Hustler and actually did his own shots! (Glorious results of a misspent youth). Great cast! MIckey Rooney was fantastic.

[APerno]

Playhouse 90 did a TV version of the Rod Sterling play, with a good cast. I got to watch it once. Possible it was done live (but I am not sure).

Playhouse 90 Cast

Jack Palance ... Harlan 'Mountain' McClintock
Keenan Wynn ... Maish Rennick
Kim Hunter ... Grace Carney
Ed Wynn ... Army
Max Baer ... Mike
Maxie Rosenbloom ... Steve (billed as Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom)


But better yet, how about Sean Connery as Mountain McClintock?

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: (1957) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1117708/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2


For the 1962 film they had to get away fro the Scotch-Irish 'McClintock' for the Latino 'Rivera' to suit Anthony Quinn's look.

[oogiebe]

Playhouse 90 did a TV version of the Rod Sterling play, with a good cast. I got to watch it once. Possible it was done live (but I am not sure).

Playhouse 90 Cast

Jack Palance ... Harlan 'Mountain' McClintock
Keenan Wynn ... Maish Rennick
Kim Hunter ... Grace Carney
Ed Wynn ... Army
Max Baer ... Mike
Maxie Rosenbloom ... Steve (billed as Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom)


But better yet, how about Sean Connery as Mountain McClintock?

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: (1957) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1117708/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2


For the 1962 film they had to get away fro the Scotch-Irish 'McClintock' for the Latino 'Rivera' to suit Anthony Quinn's look.

That is amazing! Never knew any of it. Jack Palance would be an interesting Mountain, but Connery!? Absolutely.

[BoxBuzz]

No Love for the comedy "The Hammer" ?

[tiny_acres]

No Love for the comedy "The Hammer" ?

Never seen that one. I'll have to check it out

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

- Not to disparage previous selections, but let's get real now. There is only the one and the onliest of its kind, the March 17, 1897 title fight between JJCorbett and Bobby Fitz.

The Blow by blow every rd was telegraphed from Reno to the eastern metros that were reenacted by college profs in packed theaters.

One month later the first ever full length film was released that became an international blockbuster that became the working business model for cinemas earliest efforts.

Gentleman Jim was a dashing, loose lipped undefeated lightning reflexed boxer with Fitz as the plodding, pressuring slugger each with a title claim 73 yrs before Ali and Frazier became an item.

Fitz and Corbett each made about 25000 on their % and the fight made a profit of 120000 that was many years in the making before being surpassed.

Sadly Hollywood has never owned up to their history but I like to think I played a minor role in getting the fight placed in the National Film Registry when I emailed boxing senators John McCain and Harry Reid and the NFR asking how such a historical artifact had been so neglected when they have that clown Rocky in their archives.

Prob only 30% of the film survives and the incredible plot lines of Thomas Edison and the fighters in that seminal moment have been dustbinned.

Only in Hollywood and America could such gross insouciance occur.

[Duran1970]

Joe and Max is awesome... highly underated.