Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Leon Gast

Highest Rated: 98% When We Were Kings (1996)

Lowest Rated: 25% Manny (2014)

Birthday: Not Available

Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Documentarian Leon Gast spent two months in Zaire and 22 years in editing rooms in order to create and complete "When We Were Kings," his 1996 documentary on the Muhammad Ali-George Foreman 'Rumble in the Jungle' heavyweight title bout and its profound affect on the African-American community. Originally intended to be a concert film, it evolved into a portrait of the youthful and popular Ali contrasted with the more subdued Foreman. Because of a postponement due to an injury to Foreman, the scheduled concert, headlined by James Brown and B B King, went on to nearly empty houses. Yet Gast kept his cameras rolling and ended up with some 300,000 feet of film. Over the years, he attempted to find financing to complete the film. Finally, with assistance from Taylor Hackford who suggested filming contemporary interviews with such notables as Norman Mailer and Spike Lee to frame the picture, Gast completed the documentary. After its premiere at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, "When We Were Kings" went on to win numerous critical prizes and the Best Documentary Feature Oscar.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

98% 94% When We Were Kings
Watchlist
88% 85% The Trials of Muhammad Ali
Watchlist
84% 79% Soul Power
Watchlist
78% 63% Smash His Camera
Watchlist
25% 65% Manny
Watchlist
Our Latin Thing
Watchlist
67% 1 Love
Watchlist
62% Hells Angels Forever
Watchlist
Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story
Watchlist
97% The Grateful Dead Movie
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
25% 65% Manny Director - 2014
88% 85% The Trials of Muhammad Ali Executive Producer $57.6K 2013
78% 63% Smash His Camera Director - 2010
84% 79% Soul Power Self,
Producer
$206.8K 2008
No Score Yet 67% 1 Love Director - 2003
98% 94% When We Were Kings Director,
Producer,
Film Editing
$2.7M 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story Film Editing - 1996
No Score Yet 62% Hells Angels Forever Director,
Producer
- 1983
No Score Yet 97% The Grateful Dead Movie Director - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Salsa Director,
Writer,
Producer
- 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Our Latin Thing Director - 1972