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"Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story" On DVD
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In Stores Now
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Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story is the tender love story revolving around the life of the six-time world boxing champion, who in 1962 killed his opponent Benny “The Kid” Paret in the ring, on live television. The release documents the legendary 1962 welterweight championship fight and includes over 20 minutes of shocking interviews never-before-seen.
Directed by the award-winning team of Dan Klores and Ron Berger, Ring of Fire premiered in January 2005 at the Sundance Film Festival where it was nominated for the Grand Jury prize. It debuted on USA Network in April without commercial breaks – a first for the network. The film explores the events of Griffith’s life through interviews with Griffith himself, champion boxers, journalists, historians and, most movingly, through the reactions of members of both families. DVD extras include revealing interviews with Emile’s family -- Christine, Sadie and Franklin, as well as Luis Rodrigo, Budd Schulberg and a shocking interview about boxing with Howie Albert.
In a March, 1962 ‘rubber’ match, held at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden and televised live nationwide, Griffith knocked out Paret with an astounding barrage of punches after earlier that day, Paret taunted Griffith at the afternoon weigh-in, calling him “maricón,” the Spanish word for “faggot.” Ten days later, Paret died.
The event changed the world of boxing forever, prompting the networks to stop televising the sport for ten years. In addition, the sexual taunts, which play a significant role in the film, represent an issue still ignored and as relevant today as it was 43 years ago: homosexuality in sports. |
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Description: Extras Include Revealing and Never Before Seen Interviews With Those Closest to Griffith
