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Legendary Champions is a 1968 documentary film written and directed by Harry Chapin featuring old boxers in action. There are many scenes that show the boxers outside the ring, including some that are the only ones of their kind. Several early boxers, John L. Sullivan for example, are shown in the only film ever taken of them. The film of the Dempsey-Willard fight is very violent. The documentary includes as history of Jack Johnson out of the ring. The narrator incorrectly states that Jack Johnson is seen picking a defeated boxer's teeth out of one of his gloves. The attire worn by some of the early boxers is more revealing than what modern-day boxers use, and to the other extreme, tights were even worn by some boxers. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Original Release
10/27/1968
US Release
10/27/1968
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Norman Rose | Narrator |
| Georges Carpentier | Self |
| Jack Dempsey | Self |
| Wyatt Earp | Self - Referee of Bob Fitzsimmon-Tom Sharkey Bout |
| James J. Jeffries | Self |
| Theodore Roosevelt | Self |
| Jack Sharkey | Self |
| Jess Willard | Self |
Directors
Writers
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Norman Rose | Narrator |
| Georges Carpentier | Self |
| Jack Dempsey | Self |
| Wyatt Earp | Self - Referee of Bob Fitzsimmon-Tom Sharkey Bout |
| James J. Jeffries | Self |
| Theodore Roosevelt | Self |
| Jack Sharkey | Self |
| Jess Willard | Self |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Ross Greenburg | Executive Producer |
| William Cayton | Producer |
Editors
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1969 | Oscar | Best Documentary, Features | Nominated |
