The Greatest

The Greatest

102 mins | Drama | May 17, 1977

The Greatest is a 1977 film about the life of boxer Muhammad Ali, in which Ali plays himself. It was directed by Tom Gries and Monte Hellman. The song "Greatest Love of All", later remade by Whitney Houston, was written for this film and sung by George Benson. The movie follows Ali's life from the 1960 Olympics to his regaining the heavyweight crown from George Foreman in their famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight in 1974.

The Greatest

102 mins | Drama | May 17, 1977

The Greatest
The Greatest is a 1977 film about the life of boxer Muhammad Ali, in which Ali plays himself. It was directed by Tom Gries and Monte Hellman. The song "Greatest Love of All", later remade by Whitney Houston, was written for this film and sung by George Benson. The movie follows Ali's life from the 1960 Olympics to his regaining the heavyweight crown from George Foreman in their famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight in 1974.
IMDb rating 5.9
Producers Columbia Pictures
Original title The Greatest
Directors Monte Hellman, Tom Gries
Writers Richard Durham, Herbert Muhammad, Muhammad Ali, Ring Lardner, Jr.

Cast

Muhammad Ali

as Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali

Ernest Borgnine

as Angelo Dundee

John Marley

as Dr. Ferdie Pacheco

Lloyd Haynes

as Herbert Muhammad

Lucille Benson

as Mrs. Fairlie

Sally Bondi

as Bess

Malachi Throne

as Payton Jory

Teddy Wilson

as Joe The Gardener

Annazette Chase

as Belinda Ali

Mira Waters

as Ruby Sanderson

Chip McAllister

as Cassius Clay aged 18

Drew Bundini Brown

as Himself

Robert Duvall

as Bill McDonald

David Huddleston

as Cruikshank

Ben Johnson

as Hollis

James Earl Jones

as Malcolm X

Dina Merrill

as Velvet Green

Roger E. Mosley

as Sonny Liston

Paul Winfield

as Draft Lawyer

Richard Gullage

as Commission Doctor

Stack Pierce

as Rahaman

Skip Homeier

as Major

Rahman Ali

as Rahman Ali

Lloyd Wells

as Lloyd Wells

George Garro

as Mr.Curtis

David Clennon

as Captain

Ernie Wheelwright

as Bossman Jones

Alberto Martín

as Doctor

Arthur Adams

as Cassius Clay Sr.

Dorothy Meyer

as Odessa Clay

Howard Bingham

as Howard Bingham

Richard Venture

as Colonel

W. Youngblood Muhammad

as W. Youngblood Muhammad

Ven Medina

as Ronnie

Paul Mantee

as Carrara

Pat Patterson

as Pat Patterson

George Cooper

as Lawyer

James Gammon

as Mr. Harry