SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2013 Film tells story of Muhammad Ali’s draft fight He is now so much a part America’s social fabric that it’s hard to comprehend a time when Muhammad Ali was more reviled than revered. Barely past the opening credits of a new documentary about Ali, though, we get a glimpse of how many Americans felt about him during a tumultuous time in the country’s history. “I find nothing amusing or interesting or tolerable about this man,” television host David Susskind said, nearly spitting his words out in a 1968 broadcast as Ali looked on. “He’s a disgrace to his country, his race, and what he laughably describes as his profession.”

In this May 25, 1965 file photo, heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali stands In this April 22, 1967 file photo, heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, center right, rear, over fallen challenger Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine. — AP photos wearing a white shirt and tie, holds a paper as he addresses a rally at Howard University in Washington.

he scene in “The Trials of Muhammad them on pornography, and a clerk smoking Ali” - now playing in selected theaters - is marijuana in a court bathroom. Tthen juxtaposed with one of President It’s surprisingly engrossing, though, for a George W. Bush giving Ali the Presidential movie that revolves almost entirely around Medal of Freedom in 2005. From draft-dodg- the legal process. At the center of it is a clerk ing pariah to hero, Ali’s long and sometimes for Justice John Harlan II, who convinces him painful journey was finally complete. For to switch his vote so that Ali’s conviction those who didn’t live in the time and are only would be overturned on a technicality and he faintly aware of the tale, it is a remarkable would not have to go to prison. The movie one. For those who grew up in the era and and the documentary aren’t related except know well Ali’s impact on a country just that they both feature Ali. They do, however, beginning to come to terms with race rela- share funny clips from when Ali - complete tions, it’s a refresher course, complete with with big Afro and beard - is shown singing in clips of Ali at his bombastic - and to some, the 1969 Broadway musical “Buck White.” scary - best. A man had to make a living, but Ali’s days “I don’t have to be what you want me to as an actor were numbered when the play be,” Ali is shown telling reporters the morning closed after seven performances. Camacho- after his first fight with Sonny Liston in 1964, Ali, who was married to Ali from 1967-77, said when he announced to the world he was a she never gave up hope during her husband’s follower of the Nation of Islam. Boxing fans dark period that he would be allowed to fight were already wary of his involvement with the again, though Ali himself had his doubts. “My Black Muslim movement, but he became a frame of mind was more positive than his was pariah to even more when he refused induc- In this Nov 9, 2005 file photo, President Bush presents the Presidential Medal of and it helped keep him afloat,” she said. “The tion to the Army at the height of the Vietnam Freedom to boxer Muhammad Ali in the East Room of the White House. best thing for Ali at the time was to keep him War as a conscientious objector, famously his wife at the time, who is interviewed in the drama that airs Saturday night on HBO. focused on his family life. That’s all we had to saying, “I ain’t got no quarrel with the Viet film. “He was comfortable making his deci- “Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight” uses actors work with.” Cong.” Banned from boxing and facing five sions, but the thing that was hard to bear was including Christopher Plummer, Ed Begley, Jr Camacho-Ali hasn’t seen her former hus- years in prison, he spent three prime fighting whether he would fight again. It didn’t look and Peter Gerety to play Supreme Court jus- band - now married to his fourth wife, Lonnie - years on the sideline while the courts debated like a hopeful battle.” Ali would eventually tices, but Ali himself is taken from the clips of since they both attended Joe Frazier’s funeral what to do with him. Once the heavyweight win the battle, and go on to not only regain the era at his oratorical best. “Why tell his sto- in 2011. But she still feels protective of Ali, with champion of the world, he became a speaker the heavyweight title but become the most ry when he tells it himself?” said Shawn Slovo, whom she had four children, and believes the on college campuses to make a living and famous athlete of his time. The US Supreme the movie’s writer. But tell a story the HBO documentary is a way of educating people to keep his cause before the public. Court finally took up his case and reversed his movie does, though some liberties are taken the times they lived in and what they went “You’re talking about a man being hit with conviction on a technicality in 1971 in a deci- for entertainment’s sake. Among them are the through. “I’m tired of people giving the wrong the war situation and taking a stand along sion that surprised some considering the justices being shown at one point gathering information,” she said. “You’re talking about with his involvement with the Nation of Islam. tenor of the times. in the basement of the Supreme Court build- one of the most famous people in recent his- It was new turf,” said Khalilah Camacho-Ali, The decision itself is also the subject of a ing to watch sex movies for a case before tory. The facts should be correct.” — AP