Joe Louis: Hero Betrayed
Joe Louis: Hero Betrayed
Born May 12, 1914, in LaFayette, Alabama, Joseph Louis Barrow - who became known as the "Brown Bomber" - was America's first true crossover athlete. He was respected not only for his boxing talents, but his generous giving spirit. When he fought, the world stood still.
This film underscores his importance during a critical time in America's history. From the Great Depression through World War II and into the 1950s, Joe Louis was the poster boy for the American way of life. In 1938, when Louis defeated Germany's Max Schmeling, his victory was interpreted as democracy's defeat of Nazism, boosting public morale and transforming him into a true American hero.
The story of Joe Louis is a quintessential American story. Sandwiched between the controversial Jack Johnson and Muhammad Ali, Louis was one of the greatest yet least controversial heavyweights of all time. This superb documentary traces the career of Joe Louis within the context of American racial consciousness. His difficulty getting big fights early in his career, the shift of white perception toward Louis when Hitler came to power, shiesty boxing deals that left him in debt and boxing prompters rich and finally the hounding of Louis by the U.S. Government IRS for 15 years are chronicled in depth.
Joe Lewis A Hero Betrayed
Born May 12, 1914, in LaFayette, Alabama, Joseph Louis Barrow - who became known as the "Brown Bomber" - was America's first true crossover athlete. He was respected not only for his boxing talents, but his generous giving spirit. When he fought, the world stood still.
This film underscores his importance during a critical time in America's history. From the Great Depression through World War II and into the 1950s, Joe Louis was the poster boy for the American way of life. In 1938, when Louis defeated Germany's Max Schmeling, his victory was interpreted as democracy's defeat of Nazism, boosting public morale and transforming him into a true American hero.
The story of Joe Louis is a quintessential American story. Sandwiched between the controversial Jack Johnson and Muhammad Ali, Louis was one of the greatest yet least controversial heavyweights of all time. This superb documentary traces the career of Joe Louis within the context of American racial consciousness. His difficulty getting big fights early in his career, the shift of white perception toward Louis when Hitler came to power, shiesty boxing deals that left him in debt and boxing prompters rich and finally the hounding of Louis by the U.S. Government IRS for 15 years are chronicled in depth.
Joe Lewis A Hero Betrayed
