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An Official Selection at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, THRILLA IN MANILA
chronicles one of the bitterest sports face-offs ever, recounting a tale of personal betrayal
that was stoked by the racial politics of 1970s America. Featuring archival footage and
exclusive interviews with boxing insiders, including Ferdie Pacheco, Butch Lewis and
Dave Wolf, as well as Imelda Marcos, former First Lady of the Philippines, the
documentary tells the story of two great fighters forever linked by three epic bouts, and
looks at their final fight, considered the most brutal, from Frazier's perspective for the first
time.
Directed by John Dower ("Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of The New
York Cosmos"), THRILLA IN MANILA deftly tracks an extraordinary personal battle
between two friends, and captures the poignant moment in the socio-cultural history of
the country when they became American sports icons and legends. While Ali was a
symbol of the civil rights struggle and anti-Vietnam War movement, Frazier was cast as
the symbol of the pro-war, conservative segment of American society, some would say
unfairly.
In 1967, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight crown after refusing induction into the
armed forces. The film reveals how Frazier subsequently befriended Ali and supported
the renewal of his boxing license and status, showing the intense feelings of betrayal he
felt after Ali returned to the ring in 1970 and subjected him to race-baiting attacks.
THRILLA IN MANILA is part of a compelling night of boxing programming that also
includes the return of the Emmy(r)-winning HBO Sports reality franchise "24/7" and an
intriguing battle between two of the sport's most formidable competitors. Debuting at 9:30
p.m. (ET/PT), "Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7" sets the stage for the May 2 pay-per-view junior
welterweight showdown between reigning pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao of the
Philippines and Ricky Hatton, his engaging British opponent. The 12-round "World
Championship Boxing" middleweight bout between Winky Wright and Paul Williams will
be seen live from Las Vegas at 10:00 p.m. (ET)/7:00 p.m. (PT).
HBO Documentary Films and HBO Sports Present A Darlow Smithson Production;
narrated by Liev Schreiber; produced and directed by John Dower; executive producers,
John Smithson and Elinor Day; executive producer for British Channel 4, Andrew
Mackenzie; director of photography, Stephen Standen; editors, Nicholas Packer and Kate
Spankie.
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