Available now on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from 101 Films, the documentary feature When We Were Kings captures the buildup and in-ring confrontation between Heavyweight boxer, champion George Foreman and his underdog opponent, Muhammad Ali dubbed as “The Rumble in the Jungle”.
Muhammad Ali was an undeniably charismatic figure, the often self-proclaimed “greatest of all time”, and rightfully so. In 1974, Ali was welcomed to the Central African nation of Zaire with open arms, utilizing the relentless publicity to mentally prepare for the difficult challenge that awaits him. In addition, the boxer used his status as an African American returning to his ancestral home as a platform to positively encourage youth. Yet there’s a slight antagonistic quality through his constant rhythmic banter aimed at Foreman, who’s an introvert by comparison. Director Leon Gast effectively crafts a compelling narrative of an overly confident fighter eager to regain a title from a silent but unstoppable force that is Forman, who through no effect of his own, is instantly labelled the villain upon his arrival.
Interviews with those who attended the event, namely writer Norman Mailer, and sports journalist, Geroge Plimpton, reveal that many insiders see the upcoming fight as a foregone conclusion, with Foreman destroying Ali. It’s this revelation or reality check, if you like, that counters much of the bias and humanizes Ali from the larger-than-life character that he often played for the public. Culturally the film is an energetic celebration of African culture with artists, musicians and other noted celebrities of the time working to convey an image of a progressive society on the world stage. It’s a palpable display and the continent’s dry heat is almost searing through the screen.
Ali famously exploited Forman’s propensity to throw nothing but fist bombs, tiring out the reigning champ in a technique now famously known as ‘rope-a-dope’. It reminds me of certain video games where you can defeat the final boss by standing in a very precise position. In a tremendous display of editing, music and still photography, this climatic battle is still an invigorating experience even to this day.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Interview with Leon Gast
Leon Gast reflects on making the film and its subsequent success and while the interview is only 4 minutes long, Gast does share an anecdote about Ali’s participation and input regarding certain shots in the film.
VIDEO AND AUDIO
Shot in 16mm film, When We Were Kings has a grainy appearance and does not allow for much improvement in terms of sharpness and clarity compared to 35mm, but in the case of this documentary, it’s a perfect look. Adding to the film’s immersive quality is a DTS-HD 5.1 surround track that fills the room with the vibrant sounds of now-former Zaire.
When We Were Kings won the Oscar for Best Documentary, which Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones presented at the 1997 ceremony. Smith would go on to play Ali several years later, and he apparently retained much of his training with that surprise slap he gave Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Talk about legacy.
Having seen the film previously, but only in segments, it was great to finally enjoy a complete viewing. I dig the vibes of this authentically 70s snapshot, and it left me wanting to buy a George Foreman grill.
WHEN WE WERE KINGS
(1996, director: Leon Gast)
★★★★★
direct blu-ray screen captures
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