All language subtitles for Ring of Passion 1978

Thank you.

Hi, Mr. Roxborough.

Hey, how do you feel? I look great.

Hey, Chappie, you got him like a rock.

Hey, you know, Joe, I don't often give
you advice. I'll leave that to Chappie.

But all he's talking in the paper is
about Schmelding and how you're mad at

him because of all the things he's
supposed to have said. You don't want to

pay any attention. That's all ballyhoo.
Just part of the buildup.

Oh, I know.

I don't be getting mad.

Hey, that's fine.

What John means is this is just another
fight.

Sure.

Time to take a shower, kid.

Okay.

Sure, he's good.

Joe Lewis.

That is the best I ever see.

But I think I beat him tonight, huh?

Lewis is just one step from what we
really want.

A shot at the title.

A very hard step.

Paul, listen, you've been in Europe. You
didn't see Max train for this one. He

couldn't be sharper.

The odds would be ten to one in his
favor if it wasn't for them hoist

pampers behind Lewis, building him up as
the brown bomber.

Call in Max, the Nazi superman.

Come on, you ought to take it.

Wow.

You tell me once, when we first meet in
Germany,

A fighter is only as good as his
opponent permits him to be.

Fair.

I think this Lewis gives me his
permission.

Okay, Max.

So you have a plan, as usual.

Yeah. I see him fight Zabark, Paulino
Uskadun.

I know to myself I can beat him.

You spotted something?

Uh-uh. Careful, Max.

Paul is the reason I'm here in America.

He watched me fight in Europe.

If he didn't write all those good things
about me, nobody would know me over

here. I trust Paul.

What did you think, Max?

Lewis has a fault.

A weakness.

If I saw the right, it tops the left.

There.

I give you another Paul Gallico
exclusive.

But you don't even call your office till
after the fight, for Stace.

I think I can keep a secret for, what,
just over three hours.

You have nothing besides Jimmy
Lunstead's records.

Not even my Cosby.

I think there's some Armstrong in there.

You ought to get some Cosby.

He needs some relaxing music before a
fight.

I'm relaxed, Shafi.

Hey, Stacey.

Don't crack your knuckles before a
fight.

And when you're at the top, you won't be
just a fighter anymore, Joe. You have to

understand, the champion is... a
celebrity, a national hero, like a big

-time movie star.

Is that right?

A movie star, huh? You'll be making
public appearances and giving

interviews. Oh, Joe, you're going to
have to learn to talk good.

Oh, Marvin, no more of them elocution
lessons.

They don't work on me no way.

Mama said I didn't say a word until I
was six years old.

Here, pick me up.

Go up there, okay?

But, Joe!

You haven't made friends in the right
places. You turned down a chance to get

into politics.

What are you going to do when it's time
to quit?

Quit? Well, we got the restaurant, the
chicken shack.

We may have a whole string of
restaurants by then.

Oh, Lord. The country's in the middle of
a depression, and here's a young fella

talking about opening a chicken joint
for colored people. Mom, I done told you

there are other guys involved in this,
and they be relying on me.

But you already taking care of your
whole family.

of them. You're putting your sister's
unis through college.

You just bought your mama an $11,000
brick house.

Joe, if you don't start putting
something aside, you're going to end up

right back on the assembly line at
Dearborn Ford.

But there's plenty of time to save
money, Martha. I'm talking about real

money, too. And you can get your dress
shop, and I can get that dude to raise

me some real fine horses, and we got all
the time in the world.

As soon as I hook that Mr. Smellin.

But my wife and I, we are so pleased to
see you. And we want to wish you good

luck for tonight.

That's very kind of you.

You're from Germany, yeah?

My name is Mendel Weissman.

We are from Cologne.

We saw you win the European Championship
there.

Now we have just arrived in America.

In a few days, we go to live with my
sister in Chicago.

Excuse me.

Two passlets, huh?

Hey, kiddo, you know the passlet is
suspended.

Then charge them to me.

Mr. Wiseman, there will be two tickets
waiting for you. You can pick them up at

the main office.

Wonderful. Thank you very much.

Oh,

thank you.

Thank you.

Mr. Schmeling, we will be cheering for
you.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Good luck.

from the German-American boom.

Mr. Schmeling, our leader, Mr. Fritz
Kuhn, assures you of the movement's full

support in the name of German-American
friendship.

Thank you.

And thank Mr. Kuhn for me.

How's

the

script? More propaganda?

I have my leading man mouthing the Aryan
theory in the middle of a love scene.

You are so pure, so Nordic, my darling.

The feminine embodiment of all that is
superior in the Aryan race.

God Almighty.

And you're a Czechoslovakian.

Max, I don't think you realize...

What's been happening whilst you've been
away in America.

So many of my friends are Jewish.

I know, Annie.

They are the political scapegoats right
now.

But that will pass.

Do you remember Wolf Meierstein, the
director?

Well, he wants to go to England or
Hollywood.

The government won't give him a visa. I
don't think they would let me leave

either.

That's nonsense, my dear.

Oh, Liebling.

I am a foreigner.

But married to a German.

And don't ever forget it.

How you doing, kid? You come to training
camp once, didn't you? I said I would.

Yeah, you can't put him on your storage,
too. When you're the champ, okay?

I'm gonna take you for your word. All
right.

You know, that kid always looks
half-asleep to me.

A whole lot of fighters made that
mistake, Damon.

Yeah, but he's had a mighty long layoff
this... Yeah, four months.

Long as he's been without a fight.

But, chap, he's got him in excellent
condition and...

Wade's just right. Now all you two guys
got to do is wake him up, right?

You know, I'll never forget the first
time you two bozos brought him to the

gym to see Chappie.

He's a big dumb buck. He couldn't even
lace up his own boots.

I remember Chappie looking him over and
saying, a colored fighter that keeps on

winning and don't know when to lay down.

Take him away from me, please.

It's an old rule to judge a fighter's
chances. You see what shape his

trainer's in.

My life is easy, Paul.

Max trains himself.

You know, I never know a man who loved
his work more.

Like every really great poet, he's an
amateur at heart.

Hey, I want to talk to you. You heard
him. Heard my boy.

You've been printing distortions,
libelisms.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It's me, Paul.

managed newsboy Jackson.

For sure.

And a few other long-headed shock
absorbers.

How you been, Tom?

Not so bad.

I'm retired now, you know. Are you?

I'd like to shake your boy's hand just.

Sure, Tom.

Appreciate it.

But don't pay him no mind, kid.

Joe, do you remember what I said to you
the day you turned pro?

Yes, sir.

You told him about the time that Jack
Johnson was champion of the world and

messed with white women, drinking,
gambling.

White folks took a real dislike to him.

White people never wanted to see a
colored man champion again.

Yeah, I don't envy you, kiddo.

But I sure do guess that's why the
people have been so tough on you.

Well, I guess so, Mr. Runyon.

But I don't be messing with white women.

Even if they come and grab me.

But that's all right, because Marvin
don't like to kind of mess no way.

But I stay out the clubs.

That's one thing Marvin don't go along
with.

But that don't bother me. I ain't no
nightbird.

I be respectful for everybody.

And I speak real nice about my
opponents.

After I give them a good whooping.

Well, and you see that you speak
specially nice about Schmellen, right,

Pally?

And you won't mind me saying this now,
will you?

Don't underestimate his left hook.

Thank you, Mr. O'Rourke.

But I have medicine for that, too.

Yeah? Like, like?

Huh? Like?

That's the one.

If... He is still dropping his left.

Don't be too anxious, Max.

Don't be too anxious.

I mean, he is very tough.

He is young.

He can take a punch and he can come back
again, yeah? Don't worry, my horn. I

will not be careless.

And I won't make mistake.

As we await the main event, a final
elimination bout, the winner of

tonight's contest to fight Jim Braddock
for the heavyweight championship of the

world. Let me introduce these gladiators
to you. They could scarcely be more

different. Joseph Lewis Farrell. Joe
Lewis, the Brown Bomber, is 22.

One of eight kids, born in an Alabama
pine shanty. Grandson of a... slave,

great-great-grandson of a white man.

On his mother's side, he's the direct
descendant of a full-blooded character.

In short, Joe Lewis couldn't be more.

Ladies and gentlemen, as you can hear,
most of the booing is coming from the

Negro section, but some of the white
fans are gearing back, too.

It's a great pity that a sporting event
could be so affected by international

politics.

Now the great stadium comes with
expectancy

as we wait for Joe Lewis, the young
Negro contender, to make his entrance.

Sweet wine.

You can just sit right here beside me.

Tell me how it feels watching your
husband fight.

Woman to woman.

They love him here in New York. They
love him everywhere.

The only boosters coming from the
members of the German-American Fund,

they're seated in a box wearing tech
uniforms and waving Nazi flags.

Welcome to you.

It doesn't fit. You're supposed to be
back at the hotel.

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Boxing
Cinderella Man,

the heavyweight champion.

I know you're doing a good job.

Now, you know I always go for a little
walk.

Mama, you don't have to be afraid to
listen.

Joe ain't gonna get hurt. Mama, he gonna
win.

You can tell me about it later. Mama, he
ain't even gonna work up a sweat.

I pray so.

See, Max, that's good.

You both got your cubs?

Yeah. You got your moppies?

Yeah. Good. Now, listen very carefully.
You're both familiar with the move. I

expect a good kidney punch.

You can punch yourself.

Don't hit your kidney punches. Don't hit
your hole.

Now, shake hands. Come out.

Protect yourself at the valve.

The theme is announced.

His left jab, my right cross.

Great, great, great.

Joe Lewis has started well, taking the
fight to the Germans.

There's a stinking left jab from the
brown bomber.

Very well.

So I go backwards and pull you along.

He want me to come to him.

Okay.

I'm coming.

You have my visiting card.

Where it come from?

Something about this man's style I ain't
got figured out yet.

And so can you. And he is dropping his
left hand after his jab. You see, yeah?

You gonna see it all right, Mr. Joe.
Just say you woke up yet.

Here we are in the middle of round four.
Joe Lewis has yet to really figure out

the German. Joe Lewis is on the attack,
but he's not been able to set the German

up.

And yes, Lewis has opened up a cut under
Schmeling's left eye. It's that left jab

again. Don't be serious.

It won't close the eye.

You are a very dangerous young man.

But I have you now.

Beautiful, Max. Beautiful.

Right. You've got to watch this right.
It's right.

You're leaving yourself open every time
you jam.

Lewis is dazed. The brown bomber's never
been stopped, but Schelling's got him in

trouble. Lewis is covering up, holding
on.

Lack of authority. The brown bomber
appears mechanical, operating on reflex

rather than cunning. He hasn't gone this
many rounds in a long, long time.

And he hasn't taken the kind of punches
that Schmeling is dealing out. The

pattern seems to be clear.

Lewis, I can put itself off trying to
reach Schmeling with a left jab and a

left hook. But Schmeling, able to take
those punches, has gone right back with

an overhead right to Lewis' jaw.

Joe seems to have no defense against the
right.

We note it here.

Max has been known to be a slow starter.
He started slowly in the early rounds.

He's really rolling smoothly now.

There were many in this crowd, including
this announcer, who felt he stole the

title from Jack Sharkey in 1935.

To remember his manager, Joe Jacobs,
cried foul.

The Sandlers are shouting how to keep
your guard up, but he can't defend

against the right. Joe Lewis doesn't
seem to hear his...

I've won the title that way before, and
I don't want it again that way. Four

rounds to go, you're ahead on points, so
all you gotta do is pace yourself,

Maxie. Get on your bicycle, stay away
from him.

No, not that way either.

Pick him.

We spend what we have left in the bank
and knock him out now.

Brown's well, Penn's smelling, comes out
fighting. He drives Lewis to the ropes

and all out of time.

I should have stuck with the violin
lesson.

And this family would still be on
relief.

Like this town ain't got enough
unemployed black musicians hocking their

horns or hanging around bars in street
corners playing for beer and pennies.

You know, Ma, when I first quit the
music lesson, I didn't have a nerve to

tell you.

Because she may find out what I spend a
good cent on instead.

Well, I sure know.

Wasn't no violin lesson sending you home
with your lip all swole and one eye

closed.

Best investment I ever made, Joe.

You started making good money as a
fighter in no time at all.

Why, you remember, we could even pay
back the Michigan Relief Society.

Sure do.

It was $269.

I'll never forget the look on that white
woman's face.

You walk in that place and put that cash
money right there on the counter.

A proud day in my life.

Don't you never forget that day, Joe.

And don't you quit on me now, neither.

Just when I'm counting on becoming a big
celebrity, the chance, Mama, gets

invited all kinds of fancy places, you
know.

I don't believe they don't give me the
shot, Mama. Not now.

That Mr. Smellin, you know, he all set
to fight that Mr. Bradiron.

So, you got to wait a while, Mr.
Smellin.

You younger than both of them.

So now you just stop feeling sorry for
yourself, Joseph Barrow, and tell me

what went wrong.

Oh, all kind of things.

Looked like I slowed down.

I had that long layoff. Mr. Rockwell
said I played too much golf.

Of course, you know, you'd be using
different kind of muscles and

everything.

Your mind be relaxed.

Hogwash.

Chappy say you kept dropping your left
after the jab.

You talk to Chappy? Sure.

I call him as soon as I get home and
find you got yourself licked. He say

after the fourth, he's yelling at you
all the time to keep your guard up.

I don't remember that.

Well, you just better work on it some
before your next fight.

Because I don't need no oversized kid
with a scrambled brain sitting around

the house.

You can start working out right now.

Where's that wife of yours?

Sure, Mr. Rockwell House.

They were discussing fashion and
politics.

He had more of his soul raised.

That gal put her time to better you
staying home, fixing you a proper meal

nights.

All that stoveball trash.

Even in restaurants.

Maybe that's what went wrong.

No, Mama. I was in training camp,
remember?

And Bill Bottom, he did all the cooking.

And we had steaks every night, Mama.

have myself a big fall.

Like old Humpty Dumpty.

So, Mommy, just hush your mouth and put
some of that table there, and I can put

me all back together again.

Are you telling me the match is off?

It's up to you. You're the champions
manager.

But I'm telling you, these people are
serious.

I mean, Jim Braddock would be putting
his title up in a half-empty stadium.

for a few lousy grand.

Who the hell are these people?

They call themselves the Anti-Nazi
League.

Schmeling's no Nazi.

He's a German.

And these days, to most people, that's
the same thing.

And if he goes against your boy for the
title, they're just going to boycott the

fight. They're going to stage
demonstrations, pick at the garden. They

got clout.

250,000 Jewish war veterans, a lot of
top politicians, even Mayor LaGuardia.

Mike, you promoted this fight. The
contract is signed.

He's always out in the contract.

And I can guarantee the Hearst Papers
will support you.

As long as we give a piece of the gate
to Mrs. Hearst's milk fund.

Can you handle the athletic
commissioner?

Mike, Jim needs a fight. You've got to
get us another challenger.

I can get you Joe Lewis.

He's all washed up.

Paul Gallico says he may never recover.

Gallico?

Gallico is a Schmeling man.

And Damon Runyon doesn't agree.

Now look, why don't we wait?

Let's see how Joe comes along in the
next few months.

Okay.

But let's make sure that Schmeling
doesn't get wind of this.

Ford the Hindenborg matched Schmeling.
He knocked out Joe Lewis in the 12th

round. That put his name in the news
with a punch, especially in Germany.

At the town hall, Frankfurt on mine,
round after round of applause.

His wife, the German actress, Annie
Ornge.

Nobody thought he would win. Nobody
thought he would return home to Germany

like this.

Mr. Schmelling, my office sent you a
letter in February regarding Mr.

Jacobs. You did receive it, did you not?

Yeah, I did.

You were asked to take appropriate
action within seven days.

I was asked to fire my manager.

Just when he got me the Lewis fight.

Now, I'm sorry, but I don't consider
that particularly appropriate.

You don't seem to understand.

Joseph. Yussel Jacobs, born in New York,
son of Samuel Jacobs, tailor, an

immigrant from Russia.

Ah, yeah, I know the whole family
history.

I've been to his home many times.

And now he's a guest in yours.

Yeah, you want to see him? No, no. Why
not?

Because he's a Jew.

Mr. Schmeling, what you do in the United
States?

Whom you associate with is wanting. I
know you have me watched.

But to bring this man here is quite
another.

Don't you think it would be much better
if you had a German manager?

I had one.

Arthur Boulot.

He couldn't get me a fight in America
with anyone.

That was some time ago.

Now you are the leading contender.

Thanks to Yussel Jacobs.

Mr. Schmilling.

It is my duty to inform you that your
conduct is causing great concern.

You and your lovely wife are public
figures.

And you especially represent an ideal to
the German people.

Now you listen to me.

I'm a professional sportsman.

That's all the German people know me as.

And it's all I want to be.

If they have some ideal in mind, it's
the same as mine, to bring home the

world title.

Of course, the party wants that too, I
assure you.

Then the party should stop trying to
make me into some kind of political

symbol.

Let me run my own business and my own
life with Yossel Jacobs as my manager

and my friend.

I must take care of my guests.

I do not wish to lecture.

But a German's first loyalty should be
to his country.

And his first desire to prove to the
world that we Germans are superior to

all other races.

That we don't need Jews to run our
businesses.

I strongly advise you to reconsider your
position.

Please convey my respects to Frau
Schmilling.

And the games are on.

Here in the semi-final heat of the
100-meter dash, Movietone's camera

catches the blinding speed of Jesse
Owens, cracking the world record in the

incredible time of 10 and 2 tenths
seconds.

110,000 spectators acclaim the arrival
of Chancellor Hitler, who pauses to

accept a floral tribute amid the
reverberating roar of the crowd.

Sieg Heil!

Sieg Heil!

Sieg Heil! We're in Rome, kiddos, you
know.

Mind you, just don't go in Hoboken.

Sieg Heil!

Sieg Heil!

Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!

Among the many distinguished guests here
today is the man who recently defeated

the American brown bomber Joe Lewis, Max
Schmeling.

And the crowd gives him a tremendous
ovation.

In the final of the same event, Owens
gallops down the clay track with

Ralph Metcalf, his only rival.

Owens this time steps off the distance
in Olympic record time, and America

scores a first and second, while the
flags announce the verdict.

Drew Owens, star of the squad, goes the
laurel of a champion.

And now the German leader has turned his
back.

Yes, he's definitely leaving the
stadium.

Adolf Hitler refuses to shake hands with
Jesse Owens, following the American

Negro's unprecedented four gold medals.

His friend says it's the only synagogue
in Berlin still holding services.

Tell him thanks.

You can thank him yourself.

He'll watch out for you.

His name is Meierstein.

Meierstein?

Appreciate this, Max.

But, uh... Don't hang around, huh?

I'll grab a cab.

It's all right, Yussel.

I'll wait.

I want to see how it works when I ain't
hitting just there.

He's not dropping it like he used to.
You know?

Looks like

we're back in business, General.

Oh, that's right, Roxy. It looks like
your Achilles just got himself a brand

new heel.

pretty sharp, Joe. You ready to go back
to work?

Yes, sir. The sooner the better. All
right, I'll line up a few dates for you.

Well, I want to fight a month.

I want to keep my edge.

I don't want no more long layoffs, Mr.
Roxborough.

But I promise you one thing.

I'll just play one round of golf a week.
Oh, sure, sure, sure.

Okay, I'll call Mike Jacobs in the
morning, but don't expect top rankers

right off.

Well, don't give me no bunch of
deadbeats.

I mean, every win, Mr. Roxborough's got
to be a step back up that ladder.

First round, just 18 seconds.

That's got to be one of the shortest
heavyweight bots in history, John. Four

fights, four knockouts. None later than
the fifth.

I hear a rumor that the Anti-Nazi League
is going to boycott the Schmeling title

match.

Could it be that you're thinking about
giving Joe a shot at Braddock instead?

As it happens, that did cross my mind,
Roxy.

When? Well, not right away. I mean,
obviously, there are a few legal

problems to iron out. You understand?

Now, look.

us first. Black home.

Bob Pastor?

Pastor? That guy runs faster than Jesse
Owens going backwards.

But the book says 20 out of 21.

He doesn't knock them out, he wears them
out.

It'll be a good workout for your boy.

I mean, it's been a while since he went
the distance.

Say the word, and I'll open negotiations
with Braddock right now.

You got a deal, Mike.

I must have watched that film more than
50 times now.

I know everything that Barak can do.

He's good.

Very good.

But I can take him.

You know, every fight is like a little
war, a campaign.

You study the opposition, his armament,
tactics.

You probe for weak spots, consolidate
breakthroughs.

And never outrun your supplies.

Tennis is no different.

Except that some of the times you don't
know who your opposition is going to be.

Until the same day.

And maybe four hours before.

Especially those big tournaments like
the Davis Cup, huh?

I believe I can predict the man I have
to face this year.

If I get through to the final.

It's a Donald Budge.

Oh, the American.

I have an idea.

Max Schmeling takes on Budge.

And the barn von Kram tackles Pollock.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Provided we choose the weapons, old
chap, yeah?

You know, Max, I think perhaps one of
the reasons I wanted to meet you is that

I've often wondered, what makes someone
get into boxing?

Oh.

I suppose you have to blame my father
for that.

I do? Yeah.

In 1922, not long before he died, he
took me to see the movie of

Jack Dempsey beating the Frenchman
George Carpentier.

I simply made up my mind.

There and then.

Yeah, but for that film...

I'd probably still be with the circus
sweeping out the cages.

He was almost fired from that job. He
lost his lion.

I beg your pardon?

Oh, a lion got out of his cage.

They blame me.

Sir Max went after him and dragged him
back.

That's how much he knew in those days.

This must have taken a great deal of
courage on your part, yeah?

No good for it.

Just hunger.

Those times were very hard.

I needed that job.

Twelve years as a pro.

That's a pretty good record, huh?

I'm over 30 now, fighting on borrowed
time.

This is my last chance.

So,

I intend to retire as champion.

What would you prefer, Madame Schmelle?

A tea, if you please.

Coffee, Herr Reich Chancellor.

Ah, Kugelhuf.

Ah, you know about Kugelhuf.

The best of Austrian baking.

My mother made a wonderful kugelhupf.

Where are you from, madame?

From Prague.

Prague. A beautiful city.

A glory.

You know, I've seen a great many of your
films.

You have a fine talent.

Oh, you're very kind, sir. No, not at
all.

Are you making a picture now?

I will be starting one next month.

For Ufa?

Yes.

I'm not a contractor.

Ufa.

Yes.

Well, Max is quite an actor, too. He's
done some movies.

Oh?

Would I know any of your films?

Love in the Ring.

Dr. Goebbels is a great admirer of
yours.

We've talked on several occasions about
the industry.

He's very interested in motion pictures.
He sees all kinds of possibilities.

Yes.

Yes, he has some interesting ideas.

Mr. Chancellor, about Mr. Jacobs.

Who? Mr. Jacobs, my manager.

As I mentioned on the phone, I wanted to
talk to you about him.

Oh, yes, of course.

How much did you pay this man?

What percentage of your purses?

20%. Is that all?

Yeah.

It's only 5% more than I paid Mr. Boulot
when he was handling me.

That is when he managed to get me a
fight.

And why can't Braddock come here and
fight you in Germany?

Mr. Chancellor, the American promoters
control world boxing.

Well, that doesn't seem right to me.

But maybe we can change all that.

Then you become champion.

This man, Jacobs, has he ever cheated
you?

Betrayed you?

Never, sir.

No.

But for him, I'd never have gotten this
chance.

Never even have fought Sir Lewis.

Lewis, uh...

Oh, I saw the film of that fight.

Excellent.

Yes.

Some more kugelhupf, madame.

The champion says he won't be ready.

What?

Postponing again?

Well, he can't do that. We got a
contract, damn it. And Braddock's got

medical reports.

I mean, there's trouble with his hands.
That could be arthritis.

Arthritis, schmartritis.

Nobody's gonna swallow that.

It's the damn boycott threat. Them
people that anti-Nazi League got to you.

What's the matter?

You like them Nazis or what?

I think they stink.

And so does Max.

You're trying to rob us and don't think
I don't know why. Now listen, Yussel.

Yes, the money.

That's the real reason you gave in.

Yeah, if Max would win, you figure he
takes his title back to Germany, right?

Does all this fighting there. And Mike
Jacobs don't get to do the promotion.

Now, listen to me, Yussel.

This was Braddock's decision.

This wasn't mine.

I'm sorry.

Oh, well, you're both going to be a lot
sorrier. See, I'm taking this to the

Athletic Commission and to the court.
And Jim Braddock's going to take his

tail and the title to Long Island City
Bowl June 3rd.

Mrs. Brooks, you've got to be a proud
woman.

And you...

just when are you going to make it
possible for me to tell folks how I

baptized the heavyweight champion of the
world and that he still come to worship

right at my church?

Well, I'll be tending to that real soon,
Reverend.

Fact is, I heard this yesterday.

I fight Mr.

Braddock. June 22nd.

I figured you had something on your
mind, son.

Jockel, it is true, Max.

It's a lousy deal.

Max, sit down.

I don't know what to tell you.

The commission has been gone out, too.

They ruled against us.

Can I not speak to them?

Too late for that.

Jockel, once I let a lion escape from
me.

But I go after him, and I keep after him
until I get him back.

We still got the courts.

Braddock and Lewis have signed for June
22nd, Chicago.

And we got a legal contract with it
right here in New York.

Let him break it, kiddo.

We're going to fulfill ours to the last
letter.

Smelling, Joe.

You gotta be good and mad.

How come I got to be mad?

Smelling. Been bad-mouthing you again.
He make all colored people mad.

I ain't fighting Mr. Smelling.

This brat, he ain't no different. Stands
for the same thing.

Racism. White supremacy.

Slavery, Joe.

The only difference is Smelling, he come
right out and say so. Come on, kid. Let

me get you to the shop.

Now, wait a minute. Hold this up. Hold
it.

Now, what does Mr. Smelling been saying?

The black boy is afraid of me.

Black boy.

Or he would ask for a return match.

Since I beat him, he fought nobody with
a real punch.

Braddock knows Lewis is a finished
fighter.

But the champ better be careful Lewis
doesn't catch him with a low blow.

Come on, kid, before you catch a champ.

Your people all counting on you, Joe.

Hey, hey, newspaper value.

Just like Roxy said. Must be something
to it, little chappy.

They can't all be lies.

So are lies.

I never said any of these things.

Foul.

What am I to do now?

I don't know why it is. In a fight game
more than in any other area, even

politics, there are always some writers
who feel they've got a special license

to invent and provoke.

Why don't we sue these papers?

We ain't got enough legal bills in
course already.

We want to make every sports writer our
enemy, huh?

We could issue a statement.

A denial.

Sure. They'll print it and six-point
back among the tire and truss ads.

Yes, that's right.

The damage is done. A denial now
wouldn't repair it.

You've been fighting in this country
almost ten years.

Have you ever thought about becoming an
American citizen?

Jack Dempsey asked me that some years
ago.

But I have a wife and my mother in
Germany.

If I stay here, they would never be
allowed to leave.

And I have a house.

And the money I save.

Everything I have in the world is there.

It's as if the ink from the
international pages is soaking through,

smearing up the sports section.

Well, maybe best I go home.

Nobody wants me here.

That's simply not true.

A lot of Americans have watched you
fight over the years, and you never sure

changed them. These people know that
Braddock ducked out of his contract, and

all the commissioners did was fine him a
lousy thousand bucks.

They know you deserve to shut up the
title, and they'd like to see you get

it.

Thanks, Powell.

But there's no use kidding ourselves
anymore.

I know to myself our case we have lost.

Nothing can stop Bardic from fighting
Lewis now.

That's right.

So why don't you wish your challenge to
the winner?

Craddock is hurt, but still he comes and
does it.

There's another left in the body. And a
right to the head of Craddock.

This is time to finish him off. The
fighting circles. They're weary.

They're sparring. A right to the head.

Craddock is in trouble.

is a champion. Yes, honey, and you are
his lady. He is the king and you are the

queen. Mama, he did it. He did it.

Mama, Mama, Joe won. He won. He won. Joe
won.

Mama, he knocked him cold. Mama, he's
the champ. I joined the champ in a whole

wide world, Mama.

Oh, my, my.

That's a big thing to be.

Oh, yeah, Mama.

I sure hope it makes him happy.

I don't feel like nothing special.

I guess it just hasn't dawned on you
yet, young man. You're the champion.

That's right.

I ain't going to be like the real
champion until I beat Mr. Smelly.

I know you challenged the winner, but
the boycott, that's still on.

But listen, will you?

I've been thinking a lot about that.

I stood up nights, and I don't
believe...

Louis Schmeling rematch?

Too many people want Louis to have his
revenge.

I'm glad Max has gone home.

Maybe it would be better for everyone if
he stayed there.

It could be a war.

Yes, I don't know about you, but I have
relatives over in Germany.

So has Max.

And I swear to you, he don't like what's
happening any more than you and me,

Mike. Well, maybe if he came out and
said so. I mean, he attacked the Nazis,

Hitler. You crazy?

What happens to his wife?

And she's a Czech already. Come on,
Mike.

All right, so the league boycotts the
fight.

It's still going to be a sellout because
you know it and I know it. It's a 14

-carat natural.

I tell you, Mike, we got here to fight
it a century.

Let me think about it, Joseph.

Do that, Moshe.

But don't take too long.

The international situation ain't gonna
get any better.

Tennis history in the making on
Wimbledon's historic Thunder Court. That

vital encounter features Budge and Bun
Cram in the singles final.

Amazing that this red-headed racketeer
can maintain such superhuman pace.

Bud serves.

when cramps strive to blast him off the
court, but to no avail as Don Budge

scores his magnificent five-set triumph,
sending America into the town ground.

Thank you.

The number is no longer in service.

Then it's true.

There could be some other explanation.

Oh, Max, listen to me.

Nobody has heard a word from Godfrey
since he came back from Wimbledon.

His house is locked up.

His family and servants gone without a
word.

There's been nothing in the papers about
him or on the radio since he lost the

match to the American.

So... Could have gone away for a while
with the family.

To work things out.

Oh, Tony.

They say he's been arrested.

And put in one of those camps.

Who says?

A bunch of actors, riders.

They tend to dramatize everything
anyway.

Half of them are Marxists and
anarchists.

God in heaven.

This is a nation that gave the world
Schubert, Beethoven, and Goethe.

We don't arrest a man for losing a
tennis match.

take you the distance?

Oh, he's tough, man. He's a good
fighter. You gotta give him that credit.

I'll tell you why Joe didn't put him
away.

That happened in the fourth.

Yeah, it's broken.

Julie, get the doc.

Is that the Amos truth, Moe, or just
official?

Yeah, I... Fine.

Thanks, sweetheart.

I owe you a big one.

Hands busted, definitely.

Lewis is going to be out, quote, at
least four months, unquote.

Yeah, but a cable max.

Tell him to relax.

No.

I'll tell him he can start light
training.

Training for what?

Lewis dropping out left some empty
dates, Paul.

So, Max fights Harry Thomas in December.

Thomas?

He's not a top contender anymore, but
he's no pushover either.

It's a fight.

Say, cowboy, where'd you learn about
horses?

I don't rightly know.

Maybe when you were a little boy back in
Alabama.

We didn't have no horses.

We didn't even have a mule.

We were dead poor.

I guess it must be all that Indian
blood.

I guess it is.

You know, Marv, I knew that once I got
you out here, you'd enjoy yourself just

fine.

Oh, really?

I'm going to have myself a whole string
of horses just like you one day, boy.

Then when I quit the boxing, maybe I'll
get myself a few head of cattle.

That's a long way off.

You're only 23 years old.

Yeah, but this spread's up for sale
right now, baby.

What's the matter, baby? I mean, don't
you want to live in a big old farm place

like this?

Sure, someday, but not right now.

I'd be alone most of the time, stuck out
here in the middle of nowhere.

But, baby, you're just going to be 17
miles from downtown Detroit, and you

ain't going to be alone while there's
going to be the paying guests to look

after and everything.

Joe, I don't want to wait on tables and
run after guests.

Now, Marva, you know I love this place.

I can tell you exactly how it's going to
be.

It's going to be a dude ranch where
folks can come out from the city and

they can bring their kids and be out in
the fresh air and have a good time and

everything. And I don't mind helping
them have a good time.

Now, why should you?

You don't understand, Joe.

You can't take on all this in a chicken
restaurant, too.

You're overdrawn at the bank, Joe, and
you don't have another fight until next

February. Forgetting one thing, baby. I
got myself a Hollywood contract.

They gonna make me a big movie star.

You get expenses, Joe. You never should
have signed that dumb deal in the first

place.

It's no good, Joe. You can't keep
walking away from it.

You've got to learn.

You've got to straighten out your life
and make some practical plans now.

And stop giving handouts to all those
no-goods.

Like buying uniforms and a bus, for
heaven's sakes, for a backyard bar club.

Ball club won last week.

Hallelujah.

Marvin, you know, you're talking to me
like I'm stupid or something.

You're not stupid, Joe.

It's just you don't want enough. You're
too easygoing.

You're too contented with the simple
things.

And sometimes they're the most
expensive.

The champion of the world. He's the
gentlest person I've ever known.

All I want for him is security.

And a future, so he'll stay somebody.

Martha, I just want to stay me.

Here, Max.

Oh, Max, that's Annie.

What's this?

Alcohol?

Alcohol and women are not permitted
here, you know. Special dispensation.

This came from New York.

Yes, I did it.

Lewis is ready to sign for rape.

for our people want me to join all kinds
of different groups don't talk with your

mouth full i just want to be a regular
fight in the rain but it keeps getting

bigger white folks and colored folks mad
at one another i mean the night i had my

title fight folks went crazy up in
harlem and cleveland everywhere else

police come in to beat them in the head
and beat them up throw them in jail

got nothing to do with you personal.

Things that go back a long, long way.

Things you never ever know about because
you was too little.

And right after your daddy died, I
brought you all up north here.

You talking about the way white people
be treating colored folks?

I guess you're some kind of inspiration.

Lots of these uppity young'uns figure if
you can lick all those white men, so can

they.

Well, maybe that ain't so bad, Mama.

I mean, times as I be wondering how come
the colored folks always be in the cheap

seats? How come we always be in the back
of the bus?

How come there ain't more of us up in
that big fine house like where Mr.

Roxburgh be living and everything?

Mama tell me I should try to be like him
someday.

She got me in the Black Elks.

trying to get me into Republican
politics.

She said the only way to help colored
people is to lift them up. And I want to

help them and lift them up if I can.

But you're doing that right now, son.

You, with no schooling to speak of,
you're setting them a fine example.

You fight fair and square.

You never lose your temper and behave
yourself like a gentleman in and out of

the ring.

Now, you know, I have buried two
husbands.

Your daddy and Mr. Brooks.

God rest them both.

Good men.

But you have got something they never
had.

Something they called dignity.

You saw Lewis take Thomas in five.

You still think you can beat him?

Why else am I here?

I have been very careful with my money.

I do not come way over here to fight him
if I'm thinking he beats me. Yeah?

I stay home with my wife.

Your wife's from Czechoslovakia, isn't
she?

How does she feel about the German
occupation?

You know I can say nothing about that.
Hi, Yussel.

Hello there.

How's everything in the rag trade?

Is it true that Hitler ordered you to
fight for the title? That you really

wanted to retire?

Hey, lay off that bull, why don't you?

You must have good imaginations to be
good riders. I know that.

But I do not answer questions like that.

Please.

Why must you riders make ballyhoo
between Joe Lewis and me, the enemy

ship, huh?

I'm a sportsman.

Politics has nothing to do with sport.

There is much bad feeling in this
country against the Nazis.

I never am a Nazi, but I am German.

So people see me as a representative,

but your writers should know me better.

All right, then. Do you knock out Joe
Lewis?

You did not believe I could the last
time. What round this time?

What do you expect me to say?

The fifth?

Sixth? That's an insane question, no?
You'll have to agree, Max. Lewis is an

improved fighter since you met the last
time. Oh, yeah, yeah, I think so.

He has matured.

He has corrected some of his faults.

Yeah, I think so.

Well, he's also the champion, you see.

I am improved as well.

I am in better shape than ever in my
life.

Thank you.

Listen to this, honey bear.

I have all the money I need, Schmeling
said.

I'd have stayed at home with my wife if
I wasn't sure I could beat Lewis.

I shall knock him out in the fifth or
sixth.

That's six rounds earlier than last
time, you know.

The challenger refused to confirm or
deny recent reports from our Berlin

correspondent that before leaving
Germany... Wait till you hear this.

Before leaving Germany, he had been
summoned to the chancellery and ordered

by Hitler to beat the American Negro
again and thereby prove to the world the

superiority of the Aryan master race.

Do you believe that?

Hey, good morning, champ.

Morning. You know the honey bear, huh?

Good to see you, Joe.

Mr. Ryan tells me you're going to help
me with my speed.

Yeah, that's the idea. Get you moving
like a middleweight.

Yeah, so in case Schmelling gets on his
bike and decides to run, you follow,

huh? Well...

He can run.

Can't hide.

Go ahead, Mr. Runyon. Tell me some more,
then.

No, you don't want that bull to upset
you now, young fella.

Well, nothing upsets me. You know me.

Yeah, I thought I did, but I'm not so
sure anymore.

Well, I've never seen Joe get mad in or
out of a ring.

Me either, but maybe this one's
different, huh?

Well, I'd be waiting a long time.

That's what you mean.

Yeah, I heard you once say, Joe, you
wouldn't really feel like you were champ

till you beat Schmelling. That right?

Well, he'd be special.

Yeah.

That man took a tech on me.

Hmm?

Hit me at the bell on the fifth.

Let's go, champ.

Seven miles this morning.

No, we gonna do ten.

We got two more rounds, Chappy.

You're not black, Lewis.

You're yellow.

All niggas are yellow!

Even if they printed, nobody would
believe us.

So you're just going to have to get up
in that ring, Max, and show them they're

wrong. Remind them you're a boxer,
nothing else. A fine boxer will fight

fair.

And remember, Max, many Americans want
to see a white champion again.

You've seen the letters, yeah?

Yeah, you showed me.

Did they show you all sorts of ones
frightening my life?

It's all right, Mahon.

I found some of your tie to burn.

There were so many they put out to fire.

Sick.

Sick.

Kill the stinking Nazi, Joe.

I want to see you open him up so his
liver hang out.

Yuck. Well, I guess that's better than
saying we're going to get you, nigga.

You're going to burn unless you take a
dive.

Probably some God-fearing white
Democrat.

You want to bet?

I just had to shake your hand and wish
you luck.

Say, that's quite a mitt, champ.

Which was the knuckle that Tommy Farr
broke?

Oh, he didn't break it, sir. I broke it.

Giving you any trouble?

Oh, no, sir.

Thank you, sir.

I done had myself two fights since then.

Don't bother me now.

That's the kind of muscle we're going to
need, Joe, to beat the Nazis.

Yes, sir.

I guess that's what we're going to have
to do.

I'm afraid so.

Joe, I know you've taken a lot of
insults lately, some of them way below

the belt.

Well, I get them, too, every day.

I've got my battles and you've got
yours.

But I want you to know this. As far as
the president is concerned, Joe Lewis is

a credit to his race, the human race.

The president went to visit with him at
his camp.

I heard it on the radio.

Well, you met with Hitler.

That makes you even, doesn't it?

I wish the American press would look at
it that way.

What?

Did I wake you?

No, no.

No, I have an early call.

How does it feel to be acting again?

Good. But I'd rather be with you, Max.

Dear God, I miss you.

What?

I never felt so lonely.

It won't be much longer now, my love.

You'll listen to the broadcast?

Oh, yes.

With the rest of Germany.

Half of the population will be staying
up all night.

I'll call you right afterwards.

Yes, please.

I love you so much. What?

I love you so much.

You keep stealing my favorite line.

Go to work, woman.

Go to sleep, husband.

Uh-huh.

You get the same feeling, huh?

History repeating itself. Same ring,
same referee.

Come on, Paul. It's a lot more than
that. You know exactly what I mean.

Yeah, Damon.

This isn't going to be just another
boxing match.

Not just two guys climbing through the
ropes.

It'll be like the whole world's climbing
out of that ring tonight.

Yeah. A world divided by hatred.

Hysteria. And you and I are supposed to
write about that, huh?

I don't think I want to.

I stopped being a sports writer really
when I was at Daily News.

You know, I used to believe that sport
could have no bully human rights. Now I

see how I can degrade.

Listen, Pally.

Until today, I didn't believe there
could be another war.

I mean a real war.

All three ring a pair, you understand?

From the moment I opened my eyes this
morning, Paul, I just knew somehow,

somehow it's going to come.

And what happens here tonight, that's
like the preliminary bout.

Hell, I don't want to write about it
either.

I think I'll go back to Europe while I
still have time, try to finish my novel.

Yeah, why not?

What about you?

Me?

What do I know about reality anyways?

I'm a comedy man these days.

Hollywood bought a couple of my short
stories.

Yeah, they want me out there now.

What the hell? I think I'm going to go,
Paul.

Fiddle in Tinseltown while the world
burns. How's that?

You and I, Damon, we're lucky.

We can escape at least for a while, but
gladiators, they can't turn their backs.

Two honest pros caught up in the surge
of events being waved around like

badasses. Hey, Paulie.

Two fight buffs like you and me, damn
it, we ought to have a bet on this. What

do you say?

On which fight, my friend?

Lewis versus Schmelling.

Or both of them against the whole wacky
world.

Thank you.

Hey, Max.

What's this?

Rafferty's instructions.

Tonight they want you to go out with
your gloves on.

Why?

They're afraid if there's a delay, there
may be an incident.

He's upset.

You work him to heart.

That's how I want it, Chappie.

It's the first time in four years he's
come close to speaking sharp to me.

What's feeding on him?

Can't keep him still.

Been like that ever since I woke him up.

That young fella doesn't know it yet,
but for the first time in his life, he's

just plain angry.

Same ring where exactly two years, three
days ago, he knocked out the Brown

Bomber in 12 rounds.

The crowd cheered the so-called Nazi
Superman, who's reported to have voted

that tonight he'll defeat the champion
in half that time. This is a disgraceful

display of bad sportsmanship.

They're going to heaven.

Do they hate me this much?

as fat like a soft beer.

Make sure your punches go in the proper
direction.

Now let's go now and may the best man
win.

The old boxing slogan, may the best man
win. And Yankee Stadium, she's back to

the doors. There's not a single seat.
Joe Louis dances in his corner.

My legs.

My legs.

Max.

Max.

You, as always, are a slow starter.

The pain will go.

Stay calm.

You must.

You must.

Show them.

Get up, Max.

to ask me that I'm really the champion.

There you go, sir.

He's got the best doctor's money can
buy.

Where is he?

The Jewish hospital.

How bad is he, Yussel?

Two fractures of the vertebrae.

Damaged kidneys.

And a whole bunch of things I didn't
understand.

Doc said it looked like he'd been in a
car accident.

He's going to be out of boxing for a
long while.

His legs, Yosel. What about his legs?

He was paralyzed from the waist down.

Paralyzed? But he got up twice.

Yeah.

That's Max, huh?

I want to make a long distance call to
Germany.