| boxing movies, A-Z |
The movies selected for this Boxing Film Festival include dramatic feature films, documentary
shorts & features, and video & DVD box set collections, plus a few books on the subject.
Selected Boxing Movies, A to Z
Professional Boxing category posters at AllPosters.com
browse movies & documentary films on boxing on DVD at Amazon
  | "Great Boxing Movies" on DVD [2001]
B.F.S. Ent. b&w DVD set [3/2001] out of prodn/used contains 2 feature films – "The Fighter" [1952] starring Richard Conte, Vanessa Brown & Lee J. Cobb and "The Joe Louis Story" [1953] – and one half-hour TV episode: "Fight For The Title" [1957] starring George Brenlin & Michael Landon |
"Against The Ropes" []
starring Meg Ryan, Omar Epps, Charles S. Dutton & Tony Shalhoub
"Ali" []
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Ali-Collection/dp/B000NVT0TS/
http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-Ali-Greatest-Collection/dp/B00005RY9R/
"Ali The Fighter" [] docu
http://www.amazon.com/When-Were-Kings-Muhammad-Ali/dp/B00007ELEK/
"Ali Rap" []
Starring Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Adam Carolla, et al. (2010)
http://www.amazon.com/Ali-Rap-Muhammad/dp/B002WNUVG6/
"Ali's Dozen" []
Starring Muhammad Ali, George Chuvalo, George Forman and Bob Goodman (2010)
http://www.amazon.com/Alis-Dozen-Muhammad-Ali/dp/B002WNUVH0/
"Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight" [H.B.O. Films 2012?] 
Announced 2/2012: Oscar-nominee Christopher Plummer is signed, to be directed by Stephen Frears, also
starring Frank Langella; story details the legal fight between Ali and the U.S. government when Ali became
a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War • latest info at IMDb
"The All-American Boy" []
Starring Jon Voight and E.J. Peaker
http://www.amazon.com/All-American-Boy-Jon-Voight/dp/B0049IHWWS/
"Black Cloud" [Oct 2004] /tt0363475/
A young Navajo trains for the Olympic boxing team
"The Bleeder" [2012?] 
Announced 5/2011: The life story of New Jersey heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, who once went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali and also inspired Sylvester Stallone to write the inspirational underdog classic "Rocky", will star Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber & Christina Hendricks; co-written & to be directed by Jeff Feuerzeig; co-written by Jerry Stahl
"Body & Soul" [1947] starring John Garfield
"Body & Soul" remake [1981]
"The Boxer" []
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Daragh Donnelly, Frank Coughlan
http://www.amazon.com/Boxer-Collectors-Daniel-Day-Lewis/dp/0783227329/
"Breakdown" [1951]
Dir. Edmund Angelo - 76m Adapted by Robert Abel from his own play, THE SAMSON SLASHER, BREAKDOWN tells the tale of an amateur boxer (William Bishop) sprung from prison who falls in love with the niece of the hanging judge who sentenced him, with bleak results. Of particular note is the climactic boxing match, surely one of the most relentless in screen history, and the supporting cast (particularly Wally Cassel as a clearly gay, and spurned, boxing trainer) is excellent. This was the sole cinematic effort from stage director Angelo, who also produced, and cast his wife, Ann Richards.
"The Challenger" [indep 2012?] 
Announced 3/2012: Written & directed by & starring Kent Moran; starring Michael Clarke Duncan,
S. Epatha Meckerson, Ernie Sabella, Justin Hartley •
latest info at IMDb
      | "The Champ"  [M.G.M. Nov 1931]
Co-produced & directed by King Vidor [1894-1982]; script by Frances Marion [1886-1973]; starring Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, Irene Rich & Roscoe Ates; won Oscars for Best Actor (Beery) & Best Original Script, nominated for Best Picture & Best Director • full credits from IMDb |
    | "Champion" [Republic 1949] Maybe the most brutal and uncompromising boxing film ever made; volcanic & megalomaniacal fighter Midge Kelly bullies anyone who gets in the way of his quest for the title; the brilliant editing has influenced virtually every boxing film made since 1949. Directed by Mark Robson; editing by Harry Gerstad {won Oscar}; starring Kirk Douglas {Oscar nom}, Arthur Kennedy, Ruth Roman & Paul Stewart |
"Cinderella Man"  [2005] /tt0352248/
Directed by Ron Howard; starring Russell Crowe & Renee Zellweger
http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Man-Widescreen-Russell-Crowe/dp/B000ARTN3I/
http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Man-Blu-ray-Russell-Crowe/dp/B001YV5036/
"Cinderella Man: The James J. Braddock Story" [June 2005] by Michael DeLisa
http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Man-James-Braddock-Story/dp/1903854377/
http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Man-Marc-Cerasini/dp/0060779586/
Cinderella Man: James Braddock, Max Baer, and the Greatest Upset in Boxing History (May 2005) by Jeremy Schaap
http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Man-Braddock-Greatest-History/dp/0618551174/
"Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight" [Veriscope 1897]
the first filmed prizefight
"The Crowd Roars" (1938)
Robert Taylor (Actor), Maureen O'Sullivan (Actor)
http://www.amazon.com/Crowd-Roars-Robert-Taylor/dp/B00478ED8Q/
"Diggstown" (1992)
"Fat City"  [1972]
Directed by John Huston; /tt0068575/
http://www.amazon.com/Fat-City-Stacy-Keach/dp/B00006SFJS/
"Fight For The Title" [1957 TV episode] /tt0251084/
27-minute episode from TV series "Star For Today", starring George Brenlin & Michael Landon
available on "Great Boxing Movies" DVD above
"The Fighter" [1952] /tt0044614/
based on Jack London's short story "The Mexican"; starring Richard Conte, Vanessa Brown & Lee J. Cobb
http://www.amazon.com/Fighter-Richard-Conte/dp/B003GOOYPE/
http://www.amazon.com/Fighter-Richard-Conte-Vanessa-Brown/dp/B004HKIVU0/
"The Fighter" [2010]
David O. Russell’s bio pic of fighter Mickey Ward,
starring Mark Wahlberg & Christian Bale
http://www.amazon.com/Fighter-Christian-Bale/dp/B003UESJHO/
"Fighters" TV docu (1991) /tt1346966/
"Fighting Tommy Riley" [2005]
Eddie Jones (Actor), Paul Raci (Actor), Eddie O'Flaherty (Director)
http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Tommy-Riley-Eddie-Jones/dp/B002WG8U8Y/
"Gladiator" (1992)
"Glory Alley" [1952] Directed by Raoul Walsh /tt0044665/
"The Gloves" docufilm [2008] /tt1260666/
http://www.amazon.com/Gloves-Matt-Mochary/dp/B003YHB7JY/
"Golden Boy" (1939) /tt0031377/
"The Great White Hope" [1970] (also afro)
"The Greatest" (1977) /tt0076111/
"The Hammer" boxing comedy []
Starring: Adam Carolla, Oswaldo Castillo
"Hands of Stone" [2013?]  
Co-produced, written & directed by Venezuelan Jonathan Jakubowicz; starring Gael Garcia Bernal as five-time world boxing champ Roberto Duran of Panama; actor Oscar Jaenada is attached, and possibly Al Pacino as trainer Ray Arcel; added 3/2012: Usher has been training in London for the role of boxer Sugar Ray Leonard •
latest info at IMDb
"Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran" (Jan 2007) by Christian Giudice
http://www.amazon.com/Hands-Stone-Legend-Roberto-Duran/dp/1903854555/
"Hard Times" starring Charles Bronson /0767824555/
"The Harder They Fall"  [Columbia 1956]
In this adaptation of Budd Schulberg’s controversial bestseller, Humphrey Bogart plays burned-out sportswriter Eddie Willis, employed by a crooked promoter (Rod Steiger) to sell his freakish heavyweight as a legitimate contender. Based on the true story of boxer Primo Carnera, director Mark Robson crafts an oddly fitting finale to Bogart’s legendary career, and lands a few devastating shots at the reputation of the 'Sweet Science'.
"The Joe Louis Story" [United Artists 1953]
starring Coley Wallace /tt0045936/
"The Main Event"  [First Artists/Warner Bros. 1979] /tt0079510/
starring Barbra Streisand & Ryan O'Neal
http://www.amazon.com/Main-Event-Barbra-Streisand/dp/B00006FDCE/
"Getting In Shape For The Main Event" (1979) (TV) /tt0260925/
"The Milky Way" []
Directed by Leo McCarey; starring Harold Lloyd, Adolphe Menjou
http://www.amazon.com/Milky-Way-Harold-Lloyd/dp/B003AILWUQ/
  "Million Dollar Baby" [2004]
Directed by Clint Eastwood;
full credits from IMDb
"Monkey On My Back" [1957]
"More Than Famous" [2003]
http://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Famous-Carlos-Hernandez/dp/B004LVTT9M/
"Paz" [Verdi Prodns 2013?] 
Announced 1/2012: Ben Younger has just signed on to direct the script by Angelo Pizzo; film will follow the true-life
tale of pugilist Vinny Pazienza, who broke his neck in a car accident and was told he’d never walk again; he refused to
give into that prognosis, and ended up winning three more world titles despite his injury •
latest info at IMDb
"The Prizefighter and The Lady"
[M.G.M./Loew's Nov 1933]
Produced & directed by W.S. Van Dyke; co-written by Frances Marion [1886-1973]; starring Myrna Loy,
Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Jack Dempsey, Walter Huston & Otto Kruger; Oscar nomination for Best Original Script
full credits from IMDb
"Raging Bull" [1980] /tt0081398/
Directed by Martin Scorsese;
http://www.allposters.com/-st/Raging-Bull-Posters_c1982_s503_.htm
Raging Bull: My Story" (Aug 22, 1997) by Jake La Motta, Joseph Carter, Peter Savage & Nick Tosches
http://www.amazon.com/Raging-Bull-Story-Jake-Motta/dp/0306808080/
Magic Lantern's Rocky Balboa Page
"Rocky Marciano" [1998]
"The Set-Up" [R.K.O. March 1949]
  | An aging but optimistic boxer is caught between a loving wife who wants him to quit the ring and a manager who has taken money from a tough gambler for the boxer to take a 'dive' – without telling the boxer.
Directed by Robert Wise; cinematography by Milton R. Krasner; starring Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias, Alan Baxter, Wallace Ford, Percy Helton, Hal Baylor & Darryl Hickman
Turner b&w DVD [7/2004] for $17.99 Warner b&w VHS [11/2001] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Somebody Up There Likes Me" (1956)
starring Paul Newman /tt0049778/
"Southpaw" [MGM/Sony 2013? release] 
Announced 10/2010: DreamWorks put the script into turnaround in August, M.G.M. snapped it up, with
distribution by Sony. 'A gritty boxing drama' directed by Antoine Fuqua, co-written by Eminem & Kurt Sutter;
starring rapper Eminem •
latest info at IMDb
"Spirit of Youth" []
Joe Louis (Actor), Clarence Muse (Actor), Harry L. Fraser (Director)
http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Youth-Joe-Louis/dp/B004H1UAB2/
The story of the rise of boxer Joe Thomas, which parallels the life of Joe Louis.
"Title Shot" []
Starring Tony Curtis and Michael Wincott
"Tyson" docu [2009] Directed by James Toback
"Undefeated" [TV 2003] /tt0327951/
"Whiplash" [Warner Bros. 1948]
Dir. Lewis Seiler. An artist who falls for a mystery woman, pursues her to the Big Apple, and ends up fighting for the Middleweight Championship! Pugnacious Dane Clark is artist/boxer Mike Angelo (get it?), Alexis Smith is his sexy siren, Eve Arden the sassy girlfriend, Douglas Kennedy the scar-faced gunsel, and best of all, Zachary Scott as a sadistic wheelchair-bound fight manager! "Whiplash" is what you'll get keeping up with the plot, which culminates in a smashing finale! Actresses Barbara Billingsly and Gigi Perreau
Books About Boxing & Movies
  | "The Greatest Boxing Stories Ever Told: Thirty-Six Incredible Tales From The Ring" [2002] Edited by Jeff Silverman 36 short stories by Nellie Bly, Heywood Broun, Jimmy Cannon, Ralph Ellison, Paul Gallico, Pete Hamill, Dashiell Hammett, William Hazlitt, Homer, Ring Lardner, A.J. Liebling, Jack London, Norman Mailer, Jim Murray, Joyce Carol Oates, George Plimpton, Damon Runyon, Rod Serling, Irwin Shaw, Red Smith, Gene Tunney, and others Lyons Press pb [11/2004] for $10.21 Lyons Press 9½x6½ hardcover [10/2002] out of print/used |
  | "Fight Pictures: A History of Boxing and Early Cinema" [2008] by Dan Streible Univ CA Press 9x6 pb [4/2008] for $26.95 Univ CA Press 9x6 hardcover [4/2008] for $65.00 |
  | "Encyclopedia of Sports Films" [2011] by K. Edgington & Thomas Erskine, with James M. Welsh Kindle Edition from Scarecrow Press [1/2011] for $67.99 {sic] Scarecrow Press 10½x7½ hardcover [1/2011] for $68.07 |
  | "Knockout: The Boxer and Boxing In American Cinema" [2011] by Leger Grindon Kindle Edition from Univ Press of MS [6/2011] for $44.00 {sic} Univ Press of MS hardcover [6/2011] for $55.00 |
L i n k s
Professional Boxing category posters at AllPosters.com
browse Sports Movies on DVD category at Amazon
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