The Joe Louis Story (1953)
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Coley Wallace plays the title role in The Joe Louis Story. Told in flashback, the film recounts the pugilistic career of "the Brown Bomber" from the early 1930s to his misguided comeback attempt opposite Rocky Marciano in 1951. The film's high point is Louis' defeat of Germany's Max Schmeling; its low point (dramatically, not quality-wise) is the breakup of Louis's marriage. Evidently for legal reasons, most of the character names in the film are fictional. Many of the fight scenes are culled from footage of the real Louis in action. Though the "race" angle in The Joe Louis Story is downplayed, Louis is treated on an equal par with the white characters, which resulted in the film being banned in certain Southern regions back in 1953. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 88 mins
Complete Cast:
- Coley Wallace - Joe Louis
- Hilda Simms - Marva Louis
- John Marley - Mannie Seamon
- Evelyn Ellis - Mrs. Barrow
- John Marriott - Sam Langford
- Isaac Jones - Johnny Kingston
- Ruby Goldstein - Himself
- Ossie Davis
- Buddy Thorpe - Max Schmeling
- Paul Stewart - Tad McGeehan
- James Edwards - Chappie Blackburn
- Dotts Johnson - Julian Black
- Carl Rocky Latimer - Arthur Pine
- P. Jay Sidney - Handler
- Royal Beal - Mike Jacobs
- Anita Ellis
- Ralph Stantley
- Norman Rose
- Director(s):
- Robert Gordon
- Writer(s):
- Robert Sylvester
- Producer(s):
- Stirling Silliphant
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