Joe Louis: America's Hero Betrayed

Joe Louis: America's Hero Betrayed (2008)

7.0 75 min Movie
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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Cast

Joe Louis Joe Louis Self (archive footage)
Joe Louis Barrow Jr. Joe Louis Barrow Jr. Self
Dick Gregory Dick Gregory Self
Jack Johnson Jack Johnson Self (archive footage)
Liev Schreiber Liev Schreiber Narrator
Randy Roberts Randy Roberts Self
Gerald Early Gerald Early Self
Maya Angelou Maya Angelou Self
Bill Cosby Bill Cosby Self
Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter Self
Paul Schulder Paul Schulder Self
Lester Rodney Lester Rodney Self

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