11-03-2021, 09:48 PM
[seen on Criterion]
A riveting and insightful documentary about Rumble in the Jungle, the 1974 showdown between seemingly invincible world heavyweight champion George Foreman and Mohammed Ali.
I was twenty-four at the time, working nights in a fiberglass factory. The fight took place in Zaire at 4 in the morning so that it could be broadcast in the USA at a reasonable hour. I didn't see it live. I don't even remember if that was possible. But afterwards, when I heard the result, I was amazed. Everyone was amazed.
This documentary does a great job of showing how it came to happen in Zaire and all the little dramas leading up to this title fight. You get a really good feel for who Foreman was at that time, and of course there's Ali. I'd forgotten what a charismatic irrepressible motormouth he remained even at age 32 and with two defeats under his belt.
Which takes me back to high school English class where Hazel Seifert was always giving us essay assignments. Any topic. I wrote one on Mohammed Ali and why I admired him so much. I defended his braggadocio on the basis of his ability to back up his words with action. I also defended his refusal to be drafted. That was a sore point with most people, including my dad. My dad was a big Ali fan until the draft thing. Then he had many unkind words to say about him. Still, he watched him. If you have any interest in boxing, how could you not watch him?
I got an A on that essay. And for the next essay, Hazel Seifert told the class to theme it on someone you greatly admire, with the caveat that if you'd already done one on that subject, you needn't do so again. I didn't realize at the time that this was in reference to me. And there for a time I was feeding Hazel Seifert themes for essay assignments for the rest of the class. But I only realize this in hindsight. And realize how valuable she was in encouraging my writing at that stage. For god's sake, one of my first essays was, "How to Rob a Bank with an Army Surplus Tank," an off-the-wall bit of nonsense, and she gave me an A! Talk about encouragement...
Anyway, getting back to this documentary, I found it to be one of the best things I've seen in a long while. Then again, maybe it's just because it stirs strong memories in me.
A riveting and insightful documentary about Rumble in the Jungle, the 1974 showdown between seemingly invincible world heavyweight champion George Foreman and Mohammed Ali.
I was twenty-four at the time, working nights in a fiberglass factory. The fight took place in Zaire at 4 in the morning so that it could be broadcast in the USA at a reasonable hour. I didn't see it live. I don't even remember if that was possible. But afterwards, when I heard the result, I was amazed. Everyone was amazed.
This documentary does a great job of showing how it came to happen in Zaire and all the little dramas leading up to this title fight. You get a really good feel for who Foreman was at that time, and of course there's Ali. I'd forgotten what a charismatic irrepressible motormouth he remained even at age 32 and with two defeats under his belt.
Which takes me back to high school English class where Hazel Seifert was always giving us essay assignments. Any topic. I wrote one on Mohammed Ali and why I admired him so much. I defended his braggadocio on the basis of his ability to back up his words with action. I also defended his refusal to be drafted. That was a sore point with most people, including my dad. My dad was a big Ali fan until the draft thing. Then he had many unkind words to say about him. Still, he watched him. If you have any interest in boxing, how could you not watch him?
I got an A on that essay. And for the next essay, Hazel Seifert told the class to theme it on someone you greatly admire, with the caveat that if you'd already done one on that subject, you needn't do so again. I didn't realize at the time that this was in reference to me. And there for a time I was feeding Hazel Seifert themes for essay assignments for the rest of the class. But I only realize this in hindsight. And realize how valuable she was in encouraging my writing at that stage. For god's sake, one of my first essays was, "How to Rob a Bank with an Army Surplus Tank," an off-the-wall bit of nonsense, and she gave me an A! Talk about encouragement...
Anyway, getting back to this documentary, I found it to be one of the best things I've seen in a long while. Then again, maybe it's just because it stirs strong memories in me.
![[Image: DadAli.jpg]](http://brotherhoodofdoom.com/Images_Global/greg/DadAli.jpg)