James Earl Jones's acting was superb and he certainly deserved his Oscar nomination for best actor. Jane Alexander provided a moody portrait of the white Australian woman who loved him deeply but could not cope with him with eventual tragedy occurring for her. Her Oscar nomination for best actress should have been in the supporting category.
Other than Jones, the other characters here aren't able to develop. Rather, we have a film here when everything happens too quickly.
Beah Richards, as his beloved mother Tiny, is effective but she only appears in one scene in the film. Ditto with the black woman who portrayed his common law wife.
It appeared that racism was alive and functioning in England as well when Jones and Alexander went there for his fighting opportunity and to get away from the racist charges that plagued him.
The dilemma confronting Jefferson (Jones) regarding whether to throw the fight so that he can get his sentence reduced is never fully worked on in this film which really has some weak writing.
Other than Jones, the other characters here aren't able to develop. Rather, we have a film here when everything happens too quickly.
Beah Richards, as his beloved mother Tiny, is effective but she only appears in one scene in the film. Ditto with the black woman who portrayed his common law wife.
It appeared that racism was alive and functioning in England as well when Jones and Alexander went there for his fighting opportunity and to get away from the racist charges that plagued him.
The dilemma confronting Jefferson (Jones) regarding whether to throw the fight so that he can get his sentence reduced is never fully worked on in this film which really has some weak writing.