The fights between boxers Joe Louis and Max Schmelling in the 1930s were strangely emblematic. In some ways, each man embodied a certain idealisation of his own country (democratic America and Nazi Germany); on the other, Loius himself was a victim of America's own racial divide. Barak Goodman's documentary is slightly over-reverential, at times conferring on Louis (the man) the full weight of what he happened to signify to black America (when one might suggest he was simply a man who could box; whose cultural impact on his country was almost a chance consequence of his awesome sporting prowess). But it's still a fascinating story, and there are also strange parallels between the careers of the two men (New York City didn't want black fighters, but (to some extent) it didn't want European ones either). Schmelling, who still lives but who does not take part in this film, is a more ambiguous figure, a man who compromised with Nazism; but 'The Fight' never reduces him to the level of comic book villain, and as a boxer, he did have one great victory before finally falling to his brilliant foe. The fact that the fights themselves were filmed, and can thus be re-broadcast here, adds more to this gripping documentary.
2 Reviews
Excellent.
planktonrules21 March 2012
This episode of "The American Experience" is narrated by Courtney Vance (of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" fame). It's a very lengthy documentary about both Schmelling and Lewis boxing matches. In addition, background for the times and for both fighters is given in depth.
The story made for a compelling sporting event. Lewis was the new hope for Black America to have another boxing champ. Schmelling was used by the Nazi propaganda machine as their Aryan wonder. So, no matter who won the fights, it would be HUGE--huge nationally and internationally. I won't tell you who won the fights...find out for yourself if you don't already know.
Like all other wonderful episodes of this terrific PBS series, the film is made up of great narration, interviews, vintage photos and footage. Together, they are expertly intertwined to create a portrait of freedom versus repression. This is the third different film I've seen about this fight during the last year, and it might just be the best. Well worth seeing.
By the way, it's interesting in how in this show they emphasized how Schmelling cried out in a high and loud voice when hit by Lewis--yet this wasn't in the drama I saw about this or the other documentary.
The story made for a compelling sporting event. Lewis was the new hope for Black America to have another boxing champ. Schmelling was used by the Nazi propaganda machine as their Aryan wonder. So, no matter who won the fights, it would be HUGE--huge nationally and internationally. I won't tell you who won the fights...find out for yourself if you don't already know.
Like all other wonderful episodes of this terrific PBS series, the film is made up of great narration, interviews, vintage photos and footage. Together, they are expertly intertwined to create a portrait of freedom versus repression. This is the third different film I've seen about this fight during the last year, and it might just be the best. Well worth seeing.
By the way, it's interesting in how in this show they emphasized how Schmelling cried out in a high and loud voice when hit by Lewis--yet this wasn't in the drama I saw about this or the other documentary.
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