Backdrop fallback

Ring of Passion

Ring of Passion

Share

Ring of Passion

1978

1h 38m

7.0(2 votes)

Action

Drama

History

TV Movie

Overview

Fact-based drama about the two Joe Louis-Max Schmeling heavyweight fights and the way both boxers unwillingly became symbols of political ideologies just prior to World War II.

Links & Resources

Social & External

Production Companies

20th Century Fox Television

NBC Productions

The people behind it

Cast & crew

10 featured cast members

Starring

Bernie Casey

Bernie Casey

Joe Louis

Stephen Macht

Stephen Macht

Max Schmeling

Allen Garfield

Allen Garfield

Damon Runyon

Norman Alden

Norman Alden

Max Machon

Joseph Campanella

Joseph Campanella

Paul Gallico

Britt Ekland

Britt Ekland

Amy Ondra Schmeling

Julius Harris

Julius Harris

Chappie Jackson

Mordecai Lawner

Mordecai Lawner

Joe Jacobs

Denise Nicholas

Denise Nicholas

Marva Trotter Louis

Beah Richards

Beah Richards

Lilly Brooks

Creative team

Directed by: Robert Michael Lewis
Written by: Larry Forrester
Produced by: Lou Morheim

Similar Movies

City Lights

City Lights

A tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind flower girl. His on-and-off friendship with a wealthy man allows him to be the girl's benefactor and suitor.

Cinderella Man

Cinderella Man

The true story of boxer Jim Braddock who, following his retirement in the 1930s, makes a surprise comeback in order to lift his family out of poverty.

Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa

When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ Rocky Balboa, reigning heavyweight titleholder Mason Dixon retaliates by challenging the Italian Stallion to a 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son and friends, Rocky agrees to come out of retirement and face an opponent who's faster, stronger and thirty years his junior. Rocky takes on Dixon in what will become the greatest fight in boxing history!

Rocky

Rocky

Rocky Balboa is a Philadelphia club fighter who seems to be going nowhere. But when a stroke of fate puts him in the ring with a world heavyweight champion, Rocky knows that it's his one shot at the big time — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go the distance and come out a winner!

Rocky II

Rocky II

After Rocky goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed, both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian but can't put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. Soon enough, the "Master of Disaster" and the "Italian Stallion" are set on a collision course for a climactic battle that is brutal and unforgettable.

Rocky III

Rocky III

Following Rocky Balboa's intense battle with his most powerful adversary yet – the ferocious Clubber Lang – Rocky joins forces with former rival Apollo Creed in an effort to get back his fighting spirit.

Rocky V

Rocky V

A lifetime of taking shots has ended Rocky’s career, and a crooked accountant has left him broke. Inspired by the memory of his trainer, however, Rocky finds glory in training and takes on an up-and-coming boxer.

Mikey Garcia vs. Sandor Martin

Mikey Garcia vs. Sandor Martin

Super lightweights Mikey Garcia and Sandor Martin will fight on Saturday October 16 in California. 33-year-old Garcia has suffered just one defeat over a 41-fight career, with his younger Spanish opponent, 28-year-old Martin, having fought just one time fewer.

Tim Tszyu vs. Anthony Velazquez

Tim Tszyu vs. Anthony Velazquez

Tim Tszyu makes his long-awaited return to his home city of Sydney on 17 December 2025, stepping back into the spotlight after nearly three years away. Standing in his path is undefeated American knockout artist Anthony Velazquez — a dangerous prospect hungry to make a statement on Australian soil.

Nick Ball vs. TJ Doheny

Nick Ball vs. TJ Doheny

Nick Ball defend his WBA featherweight title against Ireland’s TJ Doheny at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

Raging Bull

Raging Bull

The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.

Demetrius Andrade vs. Liam Williams

Demetrius Andrade vs. Liam Williams

WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade defends his title against mandatory challenger Liam Williams at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Argi Cortes

Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Argi Cortes

Juan Francisco Estrada defends his WBC ‘Franchise’ super flyweight title against Argi Cortes at Centro de Usos Multiples in Hermosillo, Mexico on Saturday, September 3.

Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan

Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan

Lewis "The Croc" Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs) takes on Paddy "The Real Deal" Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) in an all-Irish welterweight showdown at the SSE Arena in Belfast. With both fighters undefeated and a potential IBF title shot on the line, this high-stakes clash promises fireworks as Crocker defends his home turf against Donovan, who looks to make a statement on enemy ground.

Kevin Lele Sadjo vs. Diego Gabriel Chaves

Kevin Lele Sadjo vs. Diego Gabriel Chaves

Highly-ranked Super middleweight Kevin Lele Sadjo (23-0) takes on Diego Gabriel Chaves (30-9-1) in Nassau.

Fernando Vargas Jr. vs. Jesus Gonzalez

Fernando Vargas Jr. vs. Jesus Gonzalez

MarvNation presents a night of action in California, headlined by the middleweight contest between, Fernando Vargas Jr. (15-0) and Jesus 'Lobito' Gonzalez (7-2-1).

Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury faces the WBA, WBO, IBF and The Ring heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis over two decades ago.

Judgment Night

Judgment Night

Four young friends, while taking a shortcut en route to a local boxing match, witness a brutal murder which leaves them running for their lives.

Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby

Despondent over a painful estrangement from his daughter, trainer Frankie Dunn isn't prepared for boxer Maggie Fitzgerald to enter his life. But Maggie's determined to go pro and to convince Dunn and his cohort to help her.

George Liddard vs. Omar Ilunga

George Liddard vs. Omar Ilunga

A showcase of Britain’s next generation of boxing talent at the iconic York Hall. Headlined by rising star George Liddard in his title debut, this event promises unforgettable action featuring Heavy-hitter Jimmy Sains as he brings his 100% KO record to the Co-main, while Karol Iatuma makes his anticipated comeback, alongside fan favourites, Inder Bassi, Shannon Ryan, Maisey Rose Courtney, Juila Lee and Heavyweight Dorin Krasmaru complete a stacked card of future champions as we witness A New Dawn in British Boxing.

Recommended Movies

The Miniaturist

The Miniaturist

A woman moves to live with her new husband in 17th century Amsterdam, but soon discovers that not everything is what it seems.

Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher

Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher

At the turn of the 19th century, Pugilism was the sport of kings and a gifted young boxer fought his way to becoming champion of England.

Beast

Beast

MMA legend Patton James, now a commercial fisherman, is pulled back into the cage when his brother is in danger. Reuniting with his old coach Sammy, he commits to one final fight in one championship against the brutal champion Xavier Grau.

The Rosa Parks Story

The Rosa Parks Story

A seamstress recalls events leading to her act of peaceful defiance that prompted the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Scarlet and the Black

The Scarlet and the Black

Fr. Hugh O'Flaherty is a Vatican official in 1943-45 who has been hiding downed pilots, escaped prisoners of war, and Italian resistance families. His activities become so large that the Nazis decide to assassinate him the next time he leaves the Vatican.

Giant

Giant

Follows Prince Naseem Hamed from his humble beginnings on the tough working-class streets of Sheffield and his discovery by Ingle, himself a steel industry worker turned boxing trainer. Their unlikely partnership, Naz’s unorthodox style, cocky persona, and sheer dominance in the ring propelled them to the top of boxing’s elite and unprecedented levels of global superstardom, all in the face of the rampant Islamophobia and racism of ’80s and 90’s Britain.

Jawbone

Jawbone

A former youth boxing champion, Jimmy McCabe is a man in search of hope but looking in all the wrong places. When he hits rock bottom he turns to his childhood boxing club and the only family he has left: gym owner Bill corner man Eddie and promoter Joe. Back in training, years after anyone thought he was a contender, he risks his life, as he tries to stand tall and regain his place in the world.

The Smashing Machine

The Smashing Machine

In the late 1990s, up-and-coming mixed martial artist Mark Kerr aspires to become the greatest fighter in the world. However, he must also battle his opioid dependence and a volatile relationship with his girlfriend Dawn.

Field of Lost Shoes

Field of Lost Shoes

A group of teenage cadets sheltered from war at the Virginia Military Institute must confront the horrors of an adult world when they are called upon to defend the Shenandoah Valley.

Outlaws - For Greater Glory

Outlaws - For Greater Glory

A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929), which was touched off by a rebellion against the Mexican government's attempt to secularize the country.

The Eichmann Show

The Eichmann Show

The behind-the-scenes true life story of a groundbreaking producer, Milton Fruchtman, and blacklisted TV director Leo Hurwitz who, overcoming enormous obstacles, set out to capture the testimony of one of the war's most notorious Nazis, Adolf Eichmann, who is accused of executing the 'final solution' and organising the murder of 6 million Jews. This is the extraordinary story of how the trial came to be televised and the team that made it happen.

Bruised

Bruised

Jackie Justice is a mixed martial arts fighter who leaves the sport in disgrace. Down on her luck and simmering with rage and regret years after the fight, she's coaxed into a brutal underground fight by her manager and boyfriend Desi and grabs the attention of a fight league promoter who promises Jackie a life back in the Octagon. But the road to redemption becomes unexpectedly personal when Manny - the son she gave up as an infant - shows up at her doorstep. A triumphant story of a fighter who reclaims her power, in and out of the ring, when everyone has counted her out

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

A dramatization of the life of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (Don Cheadle), with a lot of factual based occurrences. A reformed junkie returns from prison to clean up his act and devote the rest of his life to the young kids of Harlem. 1996 was the 25th anniversary of the first tournament named after him.

Girl in the Box

Girl in the Box

The true story of 20-year-old Colleen Stan, a hitchhiking woman abducted by a young couple and held captive for seven years, during which time she's tortured and forced to live as a slave to her captors.

Walking with the Enemy

Walking with the Enemy

Regent Horthy is the leader of Hungary and a German ally, but his favorable standing with Hitler changes as the war comes to an end. Forced to cede Hungary’s power or else witness the execution of his son, Regent Horthy gives up control of his country to the Nazis, who quickly move Hungarians to ghettos and death camps, with no hope in sight. But the despair changes when a young man named Elek emerges. Separated from his family during the relocations and aided by the woman he loves , Elek defies the enemy by becoming one of them. In a race against time, disguised as a Nazi Officer he embarks on a mission to save his family and thousands of his countrymen.

In Full Bloom

In Full Bloom

Set shortly after the end of World War II, a philosophical boxing drama of two fighters from opposite worlds (USA and Japan) who are pulled together for a questionable fight arranged by their unscrupulous managers and the Yakuza.

Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding

Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding

Mitch Buchannon, believed to have died in a boating accident survived and only has amnesia, he has been recovering in a Los Angeles hospital. His new fiancée, Allison Ford, resembles his old lover, Lt. Stephanie Holden who died years ago.

The Last Rifleman

The Last Rifleman

A WWII veteran escapes his care home in Northern Ireland and embarks on an arduous but inspirational journey to France to attend the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, finding the courage to face the ghosts of his past.

I Am Elizabeth Smart

I Am Elizabeth Smart

The story of Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping and captivity, as told from her perspective.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

An African-American woman becomes an unwitting pioneer for medical breakthroughs when her cells are used to create the first immortal human cell line in the early 1950s.