Product Details

• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• VHS Release Date: March 27, 1995
• Run Time: 45 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303446469
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,463 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

A hard-hitting look at the life and career of heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey from his savage defeat of Luis Firpo to his own defeat under the flying fists of Gene Tunney. A ringside look at the ' 'Manassa Mauler.' '

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting biography, but it could have been better, January 3, 2000

By 

Steve - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boxing's Best - Jack Dempsey [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As an amateur boxing historian, I love watching old films of legends like Jack Dempsey. For that reason I find the HBO series "Boxing's Best" very interesting to watch, because it has plenty of unique clips of these legends. However, my biggest complaint is that the series does not show enough fight clips. In my opinion, too much time is spent with host Barry Tompkins and his special guests. I'd rather see more of Dempsey's classic bouts than listening to some sportswriter's memories. This is especially true since each episode of "Boxing's Best" only lasts about 55 minutes. However, since videos of Dempsey, Johnson and Louis are almost impossible to find anywhere else, I guess you have to be somewhat grateful to the producers for releasing this series to home video.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Manassas madman?, December 10, 2009

By 

Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Boxing's Best - Jack Dempsey [VHS] (VHS Tape)

HBO's JACK DEMPSEY consists primarily of excerpts from a considerably older sports documentary, one that features brief narrated clips of eight fights, including a 1940 exhibition against a massive wrestler, during Jack's age 45 comeback quest. It was for Dempsey both a victory and his boxing swan song.

Nothing is told of Dempsey's pre-boxing life as a rail-riding vagrant. Post-career, it's mentioned in passing that he bought a restaurant with saved prize purses. And that's it. We do learn however that as champ Jack trounced an opponent from France by knocking him down 11 times and was roundly booed for it. Because of this fight, Jack was forever after branded a "thug," perhaps justifiably. During a later match against Jack Sharkey, Dempsey low-blowed his opponent and then sucker-punched Sharkey while he protested the previous hit to the referee.

Best highlights are from the very first bout, where the Manassas Mauler won his title. This venerable 1919 footage is projected in real time, which lends a choppy, stroboscopic movement, yet it's still preferable to silent 18 fps film run at an artifically fast 24 fps, as is so common with modern dubs of pre-sound movies.

FIGHT CLIPS:
(7/4/19) - Jack Dempsey vs. Jess Willard
(7/2/21) - Georges Carpentier vs. Jack Dempsey
(7/4/23) - Tommy Gibbons vs. Jack Dempsey
(9/14/23) - Luis Firpo vs. Jack Dempsey
(9/23/26) - Gene Tunney vs. Jack Dempsey
(7/21/27) - Jack Dempsey vs. Jack Sharkey
(9/22/27) -Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney
(7/1/40) - Jack Dempsey vs. Cowboy Luttrell

5.0 out of 5 stars The world's greatest godfather, June 25, 2008

By 

John J. Chalinder "Gentleman & Rogue" (Kalispell, MT USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Boxing's Best - Jack Dempsey [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This man was the greatest godfather a young boy could have. I remember him well from my youth. On occasion my father would take me with him when he would visit Jack to borrow cash to buy a new vehicle. Jack always had an upbeat demeanor and was the source of my perpetual enthusiasm for life. As tough as he was in the ring, he was equally as sweet in his everyday life. There were few relatives I thought more highly of than Jack Dempsey, my godfather.

John J Chalinder Jr