The Great White Hype

The Great White Hype (DVD) (*)

$21.99

Language Selections:
Dutch ( Subtitles )
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
English ( Subtitles )
French ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
French ( Subtitles )
German ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
German ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Netherlands ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
87 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1996 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Reginald Hudlin

Written By:
Tony Hendra
Ron Shelton

Actors:
Samuel L. Jackson ..... Rev. Fred Sultan
Jeff Goldblum ..... Mitchell Kane
Peter Berg ..... Terry Conklin
Corbin Bernsen ..... Peter Prince
Jon Lovitz ..... Sol
Cheech Marin ..... Julio Escobar
John Rhys-Davies ..... Johnny Windsor
Salli Richardson-Whitfield ..... Bambi
Jamie Foxx ..... Hassan El Ruk'n
Rocky Carroll ..... Artemus St. John Saint
Albert Hall ..... Roper's Manager
Susan Gibney ..... Vivian
Michael Jace ..... Marvin Shabazz
Duane Davis ..... Palace Guard #1
Lamont Johnson ..... Palace Guard #2

Synopsis:

Boxing is more than just a sport -- it's also a business and a con game in this satirical comedy. Rev. Fred Sultan (Samuel L. Jackson) is a shrewd boxing promoter and manager whose meal ticket is heavyweight champion James "The Grim Reaper" Roper (Damon Wayans), a fighter whose skill and confidence significantly outstrips his intelligence. While the top-ranked contender for Roper's title is Marvin Shabazz (Michael Jace), Sultan isn't too keen on the idea of Shabazz fighting Roper -- it seems that both fighters are black, and Sultan's figures show that mixed race matches stir up a lot more media attention and pay-per-view customers. Eager to find a white challenger for Roper, Sultan digs up Terry Conklin (Peter Berg), who won a Golden Gloves fight against Roper many years ago but is now out of the game and fronting a rock band called Massive Head Wound. Thanks to a few bribes and a couple of fixed fights, Sultan is able to arrange for Conklin to be next in line to battle "The Grim Reaper." However, Conklin is taking his renewed career as a boxer quite seriously, while Roper, convinced that Conklin doesn't stand a chance, has let himself go and gained a lot of weight. Suddenly Sultan realizes that Roper might just lose the piece-of-cake fight he's so carefully arranged, while journalist Mitchell Kane (Jeff Goldblum) smells a rat in Conklin's sudden rise to ranking status. Jon Lovitz, Cheech Marin, and Corbin Bernsen highlight the supporting cast, while members of the well-regarded alternative rock band Local H appear as Massive Head Wound.

When the champ's promoter, Rev. Sultan, decides something new is needed to boost the marketability of the boxing matches, he searches and finds the only man to ever beat the champ. The problem is that he isn't a boxer anymore and he's white. However, once Rev. Sultan convinces him to fight, he goes into heavy training while the confident champ takes it easy and falls out of shape.

Faced by waning interest among white fans, Las Vegas boxing impressario, Rev. Fred Sultan, decides the answer lies in producing a Causasian contender for the heavyweight championship - with comic results.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 19 June, 2011.