The Great White Hope

Play trailer

The Great White Hope

PG-13

Released Oct 16, 1970

1h 43m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Jack Jefferson (James Earl Jones) is the boxing heavyweight champion of early 1910s America. But as a black man, he's not only fighting other boxers, but discrimination and prejudice as well. The boxing fans and press resent the idea of a black champion and are actively searching for a "great white hope" that can defeat him. But it's Jefferson's activities outside the ring, primarily involving the white Eleanor Bachman (Jane Alexander), that may prove to be his downfall.

Variety Staff

Variety

Jones' re-creation of his stage role is an eye-riveting experience. The towering rages and unrestrained joys of which his character was capable are portrayed larger than life.

Jan 14, 2008

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

One of those liberal, well-meaning, fervently uncontroversial works that pretend to tackle contemporary problems by finding analogies at a safe remove in history.

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Provocative but never challenging.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Tom Hutchinson

Radio Times

This heavyweight boxing fable... has a knockout performance by James Earl Jones but it only just gets by on points as drama and is undermined by an early form of political correctness.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 18, 2015

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

The movie is too theatrical and every idea is spelled out for the audience, but the acting of James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander (both Oscar-nominated) is good.

Rated: C+

Oct 1, 2009

Full Review

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

Goatdog's Movies

Rated: 2/5

Feb 29, 2008

Full Review

Read all reviews

steve d

James Earl Jones gives his best performance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great performance from James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander. But thats it. I am surprised at how choppy and TV sized Ritt’s direction and narrative is. Looks and feels episodic, overlit, and small. Alexander’s part is essentially a supporting one in HIS story, but Oscar often has to nominate female supporting parts as leads.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/11/19

Full Review

Audience Member

Complex and outstanding!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best sports movie ever made! With the best movie character ever portrayed: James Earl Jones as Jack Jefferson!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an unusual film - one which is nearly impossible to properly understand and place in context. On the surface this is a historical tale of racial differences in a very public forum. But this was also presented in a time of great upheaval in human rights. Then there's a third level of a present day viewer's interpretation. How do we relate to the issues of race, love, moral dignity, and living with the weight of public perception?

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

good well crafted boxing pic/bio-pic

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Martin Ritt

Director

James Earl Jones

Jack Jefferson

Jane Alexander

Eleanor Backman

Lou Gilbert

Goldie

Joel Fluellen

Tick

Chester Morris

Pop Weaver

The Brotherhood

60%

24%

The Brotherhood

Watchlist

Tristana

97%

83%

Tristana

Watchlist

Kes

100%

91%

Kes

Watchlist

The Fixer

56%

60%

The Fixer

Watchlist

Valley of the Dolls

32%

58%

Valley of the Dolls

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

24 Stars Who Dominated the Boxing Ring

View more photos

Synopsis

Jack Jefferson (James Earl Jones) is the boxing heavyweight champion of early 1910s America. But as a black man, he's not only fighting other boxers, but discrimination and prejudice as well. The boxing fans and press resent the idea of a black champion and are actively searching for a "great white hope" that can defeat him. But it's Jefferson's activities outside the ring, primarily involving the white Eleanor Bachman (Jane Alexander), that may prove to be his downfall.

Director: Martin Ritt
Producer: Lawrence Turman
Screenwriter: Howard Sackler
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Lawrence Turman Inc.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 1970, Original
Release Date (DVD): Jan 11, 2005
Runtime: 1h 43m