Joe Louis: America's Hero Betrayed

  • Rated 7.0 out of 10
  • Movie
  • 2008
  • 1h 15m
  • Documentary

An American story. Traces the career of Joe Louis (1914-1981) within the context of American racial consciousness: his difficulty getting big fights early in his career, the pride of African-Americans in his prowess, the shift of White sentiment toward Louis as Hitler came to power, Louis's patriotism during World War II, and the hounding of Louis by the IRS for the following 15 years. In his last years, he's a casino greeter, a drug user, and the occasional object of scorn for young Turks like Muhammad Ali. Appreciative comment comes from boxing scholars, Louis's son Joe Jr., friends, and icons like Maya Angelou, Dick Gregory, and Bill Cosby.

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Director
Ouisie Shapiro
Starring
Joe Louis, Joe Louis Barrow Jr., Dick Gregory, Jack Johnson

Cast

  • Joe Louis

    Joe Louis

    Self (archive footage)

  • Joe Louis Barrow Jr.

    Joe Louis Barrow Jr.

    Self

  • Dick Gregory

    Dick Gregory

    Self

  • Jack Johnson

    Self (archive footage)

  • Liev Schreiber

    Liev Schreiber

    Narrator

  • Randy Roberts

    Self

  • Gerald Early

    Gerald Early

    Self

  • Maya Angelou

    Maya Angelou

    Self

  • Bill Cosby

    Bill Cosby

    Self

  • Jimmy Carter

    Jimmy Carter

    Self

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