When We Were Kings

When We Were Kings

89 mins | Documentary | Oct. 25, 1996

It's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a willing backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire, and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set, including a musical festival featuring some of America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King.

When We Were Kings

89 mins | Documentary | Oct. 25, 1996

When We Were Kings
It's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a willing backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire, and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set, including a musical festival featuring some of America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King.
IMDb rating 7.9
Producers PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, David Sonenberg Production, DAS Films
Original title When We Were Kings
Directors Leon Gast
Writers Leon Gast

Cast

Muhammad Ali

as Himself

George Foreman

as Himself

Don King

as Himself

James Brown

as Himself

B.B. King

as Himself

Spike Lee

as Himself

Mobutu Sese Seko

as Himself

Norman Mailer

as Himself

George Plimpton

as Himself

Malick Bowens

as Himself

Lloyd Price

as Herself

Miriam Makeba

as Herself

Drew Bundini Brown

as Himself

Odessa Clay

as Herself

Howard Cosell

as Himself

Wilton Felder

as Himself

Wayne Henderson

as Himself

Stix Hooper

as Himself

Stewart Levin

as Himself

Alan Pariser

as Himself

Dick Sadler

as Himself

Joe Sample

as Himself

Philippé Wynne

as Himself

Archie Moore

as Himself

Lola Love

as Herself

Sonny Liston

as Himself (archive footage)

Jersey Joe Walcott

as Himself (archive footage)

Joe Frazier

as Himself (archive footage)