Based on the true story of Max Schmeling. A national hero in the 1930's when he became World heavyweight champion. He lost favour with the Nazi regime when he lost to a black man, Joe Louis, and is sent to the front in the hope he will be killed in battle.
Acting
Henry Maske, actual boxing champ, brings jarring authenticity.
Production
Uwe Boll's rare restrained period piece—he's trying, folks.
Director
Uwe Boll
Henry Maske
Max Schmeling
Arthur Abraham
Richard Vogt
Susanne Wuest
Anny Ondra
Vladimir Weigl
Joe Jacobs
Detlef Bothe
Referee Arthur Donovan
Christian Kahrmann
Hitler's Adjutant Lehmann
Stefan Gebelhoff
David Lewin
Rolf Peter Kahl
Joseph Goebbels
Alain Blazevic
Karel Lamac
Heino Ferch
Max Machon
Arved Birnbaum
Hans v. Tschammer u. Osten
Elliot Cowan
Alan Walken
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Henry Maske was IBF light-heavyweight champion 1993-1996; this was his acting debut. Real boxer playing real boxer, yet somehow still wooden.
Schmeling and Joe Louis became genuine friends post-war, with Schmeling quietly paying Louis's funeral costs in 1981—a detail the film hints at but doesn't fully explore.
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