Directed by William Klein • 1974 • France
Starring Muhammad Ali, Sonny Liston, George Foreman

A remarkable chronicle of some of the defining cultural moments of the twentieth century, William Klein’s up-close portrait of Muhammad Ali is an indispensable record of the icon in his electrifying prime. Centering on the lead-ups to and aftermaths of three of Ali’s signature fights—his title matches with Sonny Liston in 1964 and 1965, and the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman—MUHAMMAD ALI: THE GREATEST offers an up-close view of the boxer’s evolution from brash young upstart to titan-toppling heavyweight champion to political lightning rod whose outspoken condemnations of white supremacy and the Vietnam War nearly derailed his career. With kinetic vérité energy, celebrated photographer turned filmmaker Klein trains his camera on the swirl of activity, attendant media circus, and cultural buzz that accompanied the athlete’s every move. The result is an essential visual document not only of the charismatic, courageous Ali but also of the turbulent times that he both lived in and shaped.