Don King: Only in America (1997) (TV)

Director:

John Herzfeld

Writers (WGA):

Jack Newfield (book)
Kario Salem (teleplay)

Release Date:

15 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Plot:

A cinematic portrait of the famous fight promoter and boxing manager.

Plot Keywords:

Manager | Boxer | Mike Tyson | African American | 1980s

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Ving Rhames	...	Don King
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Lloyd Price
Jeremy Piven	...	Hank Schwartz
Darius McCrary	...	Muhammad Ali
Keith David	...	Herbert Muhammad
Gabriel Casseus	...	Jeremiah Shabazz
Loretta Devine	...	Connie Harper
Brent Jennings	...	Dick Sadler
Lahmard J. Tate	...	Carl King
Danny Johnson	...	Larry Holmes
Bernie Mac	...	Bendini Brown
Donzaleigh Abernathy	...	Henrietta King
Lou Rawls	...	Harold Logan
Teddy Atlas	...	Richie Giachetti
Jarrod Bunch	...	George Foreman

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, some violence and nudity.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Quotes:

[last lines]
Don King: For those out of you out there saying this and that, remember this: there've been many boxers to enter the ring, but there's only one king.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1998) (TV)

Compelling Performance by Ving Rhames

While there are a number of good points about the film "Don King: Only in America"--the script, the direction, the supporting cast--by far the best reason to watch it is Ving Rhames' stunning performance as Don King. Ironically, although King is an extremely gregarious personality, Rhames' performance wins through its subtlety. Through the slightest gestures and facial expressions, Rhames paints a portrait of a man who is both repellent and compelling. The best touch of genius in the script comes in the scenes when Rhames as King comments upon the actions and events depicted in the regular film, actually "talking back" to the camera, filmmakers and audience. (At one point, he even calls HBO hypocrites.) I have never cared much for boxing, but there is no denying Don King is one of the most influential and colorful personalities of our century, and this film gives us an insight into his life we would did not have previously.