World Famous Comics: The Superfight - Marciano vs. Ali
The Superfight - Marciano vs. Ali
Starring: Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC Label: Mackinac Media Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: December 26, 2005 Running Time: 136 minutes Theatrical Release Date: January 20, 1970
Description: In the late 1960’s, a Miami boxing promoter, who had a successful radio series of fantasy boxing bouts between champs of years past, fed their statistics into a computer, which predicted a "winner." Based on the popularity of these fights, he convinced a retired Rocky Marciano and a suspended Muhammad Ali to meet in the ring for filmed fight based on the computer results. On January 20, 1970, The "Fight of the Century – Ali vs. Marciano" was show one time in 1500 theatres across the United States and Europe and once in the early 70’s on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. All prints of the fight were destroyed, except for one given to the US Copyright office. The SuperFight has not been seen since. Marciano retired as the only undefeated Heavyweight champion. Ali, was 27 and undefeated. Both champs were motivated to find out who was the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.
Wow, what a fight! And what a 2 disc set! Wow, this is a great two disc set and a must have for any boxing fan! These two legends really go at it and it is a rather intrigueing event. At first it seems impossible that a fighter like Marciano could defeat Ali because of his quick speed, reflexes, and being a technician of the ring and dynamics involved as far as lateral movement, slashing combinations, and ability to take punishment as he proved through his entire career. But, as one watches, they see a Marciano (who surprisingly showed up in great shape for this event) who is able to turn his physical disadvantages into advantages. As the fight progresses, the tide slowly starts to turn to Marciano's advantage (a lot having to do with his unyielding determination). His awkward style really begins to throw off some of Ali's timing, and ability to use his left jab and lean on an opponent. This fight (with all punches to the body being real, and the head punches only pulled back at times) was really a precursor to the first Ali-Frazier fight in many ways. Yet, unlike Frazier, Marciano does't bob up and down in front, where Ali nailed Frazier easily to the head, Marciano is clever by ducking underneath to his own right shoulder to avoid many punches. Anyway, this two disc set also features footage of each fighter during their times, and opinions from others who knew them. It also has reproductions of posters inside (albeit small), but is great to see this extravaganza issued so nicely on DVD! Let's face it, Ali and Marciano were two of the best to ever live, buy it and enjoy a hypothetical dream fight! If only there were more dream fights like this.
The two greatest fighters ever. We saw this movie, first run, at the Fremont Theater in Las Vegas. The under card was Allen Funt's "What do you say to a naked lady". All together it was a great movie night. We repeated it several days later. Ali, aka Casius Clay was having a lot of trouble with Uncle Sam about not wanting to be a soldier. He appeared in a Candid camera show too. The fight was just as exciting as any championship fight could be. Later I read that they fought 63 2 minute rounds to make the movie. Ali was a little upset over the ending in the movies I saw. They really did beat each other up pretty good. If you haven't seen this you should. Marciano didn't live very long after making it but he'll live on forever now. How's that for a fight that never was? The producers did a wonderful job.
A Piece of History That Wasn't Ali-Marciano never really happened, of course, and yet, in a sense, it did. If you were around when the computerized fight was originally shown, this DVD will help you relive an intriguing sports conundrum. Intriguing and exciting -- the staging was undeniably well done, more realistically than any fight sequence has ever been staged for a Hollywood movie.
Did the right man "win"? I have no ax to grind between Ali and Marciano. I was a teen when the movie was first shown with a keen interest in boxing (the sport, not the joke it has become in recent years) and I took Rocky to win because, based on the evidence we had of Ali pre his hiatus, Marciano seemed just the one kind of fighter who would always have given him trouble. Two years later, at MSG, this hunch was proven right by Frazier, a Marciano replica in style and build. My belief -- and I can hear the chorus of disapproval as I write these words -- is that Joe Frazier at his peak (which he lost, for several reasons, quite quickly) would ALWAYS have beaten Ali at his. Doesn't make Ali any less of a great.
One gripe with the DVD. Potentially the most interesting extras on this two-disc set are audio recordings of 15 episodes of a fantasy tournament between 16 former heavyweight champions broadcast on radio in the late 1960s (and produced by the Superfight producer). The broadcasts are fabulously authentic-sounding, but listening to them on the DVD has been rendered almost pointless by the fact that most cut out before the climax! Maybe the original, 40-year-old masters are imperfect and this is the best the DVD's producers could do; maybe they just did a lousy job. Either way, a great pity. But the Superfight itself is in good shape.
A Fun DVD John L. Sullivan would have KO'ed both these guys!! Just kidding. It's worth buying to see both the 'greatest' boxers together. What struck me was Ali's ability to act. He made it look real.
Rocky lives again as a avid marciano fan, this is a film i've been waiting a long time to see. i convinced myself to suspend disbelief, before settling down to watch the fight. i did'nt need to bother. it seems only the head punches were pulled. The action was classic ali/marciano. whether you agree with the result or not, is not important. this is the last and only time you will see two of the greatest heavyweights of all time sharing the same ring. I thought they could have put some of rocky's less well known fights or even a mini biography, but there was'nt, so therefore, i give this dvd 4 stars.
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