Ali’s choice—- “ The Greatest”
Muhammad Ali wanted to go to the cinema on Sunday evening but just any old film would not do, says a Press Association report from Auckland. The world heavy-weight champion wanted to see “The Greatest”—his own life story. But the nearest cinema screening the film on Sunday evening was in Wellington, so Columbia Pictures was asked for a 16mm print for a private showing in All’s hotel room.
No 16mm prints could be found, but after a quick trip to the Orpheus Theatre in Otahuhu, a full-size
35mm copy was rushed to Columbia headquarters in central Auckland and the champion and his entourage arrived to watch themselves on the screen.
Ali provided a commentary on the film in the best tradition of “the Louisville lip” and gave plenty of advice for the members of his amateur boxing team when scenes of his fights were shown After the film he said he was going to Australia the next day “because they do not believe I am coming.'*
He will return to New Zealand later this month for an exhibition fight and a series of celebrity dinners.
Ali’s choice“ The Greatest”
Press, 20 February 1979, Page 6
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in