Documentary focusing on heavyweight boxing champions from 1882 to 1929.Documentary focusing on heavyweight boxing champions from 1882 to 1929.Documentary focusing on heavyweight boxing champions from 1882 to 1929.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
Photos
Georges Carpentier
- Self
- (archive footage)
Jack Dempsey
- Self
- (archive footage)
Wyatt Earp
- Self - Referee of Bob Fitzsimmon-Tom Sharkey Bout
- (archive footage)
James J. Jeffries
- Self
- (archive footage)
Theodore Roosevelt
- Self
- (archive footage)
Jack Sharkey
- Self
- (archive footage)
Jess Willard
- Self
- (archive footage)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDirected by musician Harry Chapin who is better known for his songs "Cat's In The Cradle" and "Taxi".
- ConnectionsFeatured in Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something (2020)
Featured review
Superb documentary is available in a longer version
I bought a VHS tape of this film at a library sale in the early 1990s. I had repeatedly checked the video out when it was in circulation, so I was thrilled to see that it was available for purchase. It covers the early years of professional boxing in America, the period from 1882 to 1929. I was first attracted to this documentary by the name of its writer/director: Harry Chapin, who is one of my favorite singers from the 1970s. This is Chapin's only directorial effort, and it was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Documentary. The boxing footage and the narration (spoken by Norman Rose) are so entertaining, I never tire of watching this film. Tom Chapin's musical score is fun, too, even if his theme song is rather dated. The oddest thing about the print that I bought from that library is that it runs 101 minutes. I've come across a couple of other VHS tapes of this film over the years, and they were both 77 minutes in length, as both the IMDb and Amazon have listed as the running time. . .I'm not sure why there is such a disparity in the running times of "The Legendary Champions," but I strongly recommend seeking out the longer version of this excellent documentary. It's just a shame that Chapin never directed a followup.
helpful•30
- milliesdad
- May 31, 2009
Details
- Runtime1 hour 17 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
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