He could beat any white man in the world. He just couldn't beat all of them.
A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.
The Great White Hope (1970) is a drama film directed by Martin Ritt, released on October 11, 1970 with a runtime of 1h 43m. It stars James Earl Jones, Jane Alexander, Lou Gilbert and Joel Fluellen. Viewers rate it 6.3 out of 10 across 37 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for The Great White Hope before you stream it.
James Earl Jones
as Jack Jefferson
Jane Alexander
as Eleanor
Lou Gilbert
as Goldie
Joel Fluellen
as Tick
Chester Morris
as Pop Weaver
Robert Webber
as Dixon
Marlene Warfield
as Clara
Hal Holbrook
as Cameron
Beah Richards
as Mama Tiny
Moses Gunn
as Scipio
Larry Pennell
as Brady
Marcel Dalio
as French Promoter
Directed by Martin Ritt, written by Howard Sackler and Howard Sackler, produced by Lawrence Turman.
Average viewer score of 6.3/10 from 37 ratings.
Well you can’t fault James Earl Jones for tackling just about every issue on the books in this drama about a heavyweight boxer. “Jefferson” is the champion of the world and is making short shrift of his opponents. Needless to say, this is narking many of his (mainly white) brethren so when he and his fiancée “Eleanor” (Jane Alexander) fall foul of rules banning mixed couples from inter-state travel they capitalise…
Reviewed on July 5, 2025
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The Great White Hope (1970) does not have a confirmed streaming, rental or digital purchase option listed for your region yet. Availability is refreshed regularly, so check back for updates.
The main cast of The Great White Hope (1970) includes James Earl Jones, Jane Alexander, Lou Gilbert, Joel Fluellen and Chester Morris. The film was directed by Martin Ritt. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
The Great White Hope was released on October 11, 1970 and runs for 1h 43m.
The Great White Hope (1970) holds an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from 37 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official The Great White Hope trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
