For a TV movie, the main thing that impresses with this picture is the accuracy in even the most minor details of Jack Dempsey's life. Born William Harrison Dempsey, the boxer became 'Jack' when filling in for a match that his brother was scheduled to participate in. Bernie, portrayed in the movie by Jessie Vint, was using the name 'Jack' for HIS fights, so in short order, 'Harry' (the name his family called him), became 'Jack'.
One overlooked detail in Dempsey's life that the film decided to shy away from was the controversial charge of draft dodging in World War I. Dempsey answered critics by stating that he held an important job as a ship builder for the war effort, but that didn't wash for his most vocal critics. However by the time of his first match against Gene Tunney, in which he lost the heavyweight championship, Dempsey regained stature in the eyes of sports fans, which is why he was cheered in defeat as the film depicted.
As the celebrated boxer, Treat Williams has a passing resemblance to the real life Dempsey, and did a good job of emulating the fighter's ring style, generally working from a low crouch. In the build up of Dempsey's early career, I was surprised the story included a defeat at the hands of Jimmy Flynn, a name most fans wouldn't recognize today. The win over Jess Willard to become the heavyweight champ seemed to take place without much fanfare, I thought it would have been portrayed as a bigger deal than it was.
Except for the memorial dinner in his name taking place in 1950, the main story here ends with the Tunney rematch, the one that featured the 'long count' when Dempsey scored a knockdown but wasted four seconds by not going to a neutral corner, giving his opponent an extra breather. As with most controversial sporting decisions, the experts are divided over whether the four seconds meant anything for Dempsey's chance to regain the title.
My summary line quotes Dempsey to wife Estelle Taylor (Victoria Tennant), describing his loss in the first fight against Gene Tunney. The line was borrowed by Ronald Reagan to wife Nancy a half century later, explaining what happened when John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate the President.
One overlooked detail in Dempsey's life that the film decided to shy away from was the controversial charge of draft dodging in World War I. Dempsey answered critics by stating that he held an important job as a ship builder for the war effort, but that didn't wash for his most vocal critics. However by the time of his first match against Gene Tunney, in which he lost the heavyweight championship, Dempsey regained stature in the eyes of sports fans, which is why he was cheered in defeat as the film depicted.
As the celebrated boxer, Treat Williams has a passing resemblance to the real life Dempsey, and did a good job of emulating the fighter's ring style, generally working from a low crouch. In the build up of Dempsey's early career, I was surprised the story included a defeat at the hands of Jimmy Flynn, a name most fans wouldn't recognize today. The win over Jess Willard to become the heavyweight champ seemed to take place without much fanfare, I thought it would have been portrayed as a bigger deal than it was.
Except for the memorial dinner in his name taking place in 1950, the main story here ends with the Tunney rematch, the one that featured the 'long count' when Dempsey scored a knockdown but wasted four seconds by not going to a neutral corner, giving his opponent an extra breather. As with most controversial sporting decisions, the experts are divided over whether the four seconds meant anything for Dempsey's chance to regain the title.
My summary line quotes Dempsey to wife Estelle Taylor (Victoria Tennant), describing his loss in the first fight against Gene Tunney. The line was borrowed by Ronald Reagan to wife Nancy a half century later, explaining what happened when John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate the President.