Rubin Carter

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (born May 6, 1937), middleweight boxer from 1961?1966, is better known for his controversial convictions (1967, 1976) for the alleged murder of three people at the Lafayette Grill, Paterson, New Jersey, in June, 1966, and his subsequent release from prison (1985).

Movie adaptation

Denzel Washington starred in a 1999 movie about Carter's life, called ?The Hurricane?; critics generally praised Washington's performance, and he was nominated for an Oscar. Although the movie billed itself as ?based on a true story?, the filmmakers took significant liberties with the facts, and the movie became almost as controversial as Carter himself. For example, in the movie's opening sequence, Carter pummels middleweight champion Joey Giardello around the ring, but loses the fight as the result of the judges' racism. Offended by this portrayal of a fight he had clearly won, Giardello sued the movie's producers for libel. The case was settled before trial, with the producers paying the retired champion a significant sum (reportedly $300,000).

Related Topics:
Denzel Washington - The Hurricane - Oscar - Joey Giardello

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The movie distorts other areas of Carter?s life. Washington appears in full uniform on-screen, a decorated veteran wearing medals that Carter himself never earned. The movie omits any mention of Carter?s 1957 conviction and 4-year imprisonment for assault and robbery, and sanitizes the various crimes he committed as a juvenile.

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The movie also depicts the lead detective who investigated the murders ("Vincent Della Pesca") as a Javert-like, obsessed racist who falsified evidence, threatened witnesses, and sabotaged an automobile belonging to Carter?s supporters. There is no evidence that this is a fair description of the lead detective on the case, Vincent DeSimone, a decorated World War II veteran who rose through the ranks to become Chief of County Detectives and was described as a dedicated officer .

Related Topics:
Javert - Vincent DeSimone - Chief of County Detectives

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Various newspaper articles have suggested that the controversy over the film?s accuracy may have cost Washington the Oscar. However, he received a Golden Globe Award in 2000 and a 'Silberner Bär' (Silver Berlin Bear) from the Berlin International Film Festival.

Related Topics:
Oscar - Golden Globe Award

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