Joe and Max
| Joe and Max | |
|---|---|
DVD cover
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| Written by | Jason Horwitch |
| Directed by | Steve James |
| Starring |
Leonard Roberts Til Schweiger Peta Wilson |
| Theme music composer | Jeff Beal |
| Country of origin | United States Germany |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Mike Karz Brad Krevoy Klaus Rettig Gerhard Schmidt |
| Producer(s) | Brad Krevoy Klaus Rettig Kelli Konop |
| Cinematography | Bill Butler |
| Editor(s) | Norman Buckley |
| Running time | 109 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Starz! Pictures Karz Entertainment Motion Picture Corporation of America |
| Distributor | Starz Encore Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original release |
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Joe and Max is a 2002 American-German boxing film directed by Steve James and based on the true story of the two boxing matches between American Joe Louis and German Max Schmeling.
In 1936 African American boxer Joe Louis (Leonard Roberts), trained by Jack Blackburn (Richard Roundtree), is undefeated and apparently invincible. Then Jewish-American boxing manager Joe Jacobs (David Paymer) obtains a film of his fight against Paulino Uzcudun in Madison Square Garden. Jacobs delivers the film to his client, German heavyweight champion Max Schmeling (Til Schweiger). A pioneer of video analysis, Schmeling discovers how Louis always neglects his guard when he has just delivered a certain blow. Schmeling decides to seek a fight with Louis. The next year they fight in the United States. The German, who is nine years Louis's senior, surprises everybody by winning.
The German boxer returns home. The reigning Nazis strive to exploit his coup for their propaganda, but he refuses to sign a treatise supporting the Nazi line because for him it is unthinkable to comply with the racial policy of Nazi Germany. Only his currently huge popularity saves him from their wrath. Moreover, Schmeling is allowed to keep his manager despite all the discrimination Jews are facing in Germany at this time. Nevertheless, Hitler (Rolf Kanies) himself forces Schmeling to sign the Nazi treatise at last.
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