James J. Braddock

James Walter Braddock (June 7, 1905 – November 29, 1974) was a champion boxer. Fighting under the name James J. Braddock (ostensibly because two prior champions, James J. Corbett and James J. Jeffries had), his ability to win fights in which he was an underdog earned him the nickname Cinderella Man.

Biopic

A motion picture titled Cinderella Man tells the life story of James J. Braddock. Directed by Ron Howard, and starring Russell Crowe as Braddock and Renée Zellweger as his wife Mae, it was released June 3, 2005, but it was not a box-office success. There has been contention as to whether the on-screen depiction of Max Baer is accurate. Baer's demeanor, both within and outside the ring, was reportedly much less brutal than was portrayed. According to film critic Roger Ebert, Baer's relatives and boxing historians have criticized the film's depiction of him, arguing that he killed only one man in the ring, Frankie Campbell, not two, and was considered to be a gentleman by the man who defeated him for the title, Braddock. Others assert that Baer was kind, charismatic, loved and respected, pointing out the emotional pain that Max Baer endured the rest of his life following Campbell's death, and the fact that he gave purses from his bouts to Campbell's family.

Related Topics:
Cinderella Man - Ron Howard - Russell Crowe - Renée Zellweger - June 3 - 2005 - Max Baer - Roger Ebert

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Source: Roger Ebert's June 26, 2005 Answer Man feature from his official website

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Source: The New York Daily News, June 14, 2005; p34.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~