Dempsey is a 1983 television film based on the life of the heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey that starred Treat Williams and Sally Kellerman.[1][2]

Dempsey
Genre
  • Biography
  • Drama
Written byEdward DiLorenzo
Directed byGus Trikonis
Starring
Music byBilly Goldenberg
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerCharles W. Fries
ProducerJay Benson
Production locationLos Angeles
Cinematography
EditorThomas Fries
Running time112 minutes
Production companyCharles Fries Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 28, 1983 (1983-09-28)

Plot

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Jack Dempsey starts out fighting in bars for half the take. He wins his first professional fight. After a later bout, he and his manager are held up at gunpoint and robbed of the purse. He sees the thieves later and beats them up to recover the cash.

Jack meets Maxine Cates, but goes to New York to box. After a bout with John Lester Johnson is a draw, he breaks with his manager and goes back to Salt Lake City and marries Maxine.

After money disputes with her Maxine leaves, and Dempsey goes to San Francisco. Kerns becomes his manager. He wins fights, goes to New York, and divorces Maxine. He beats Jess Willard by a TKO and becomes heavyweight champ.

Dempsey goes to Hollywood to make films and gets sued for non-support by Maxine. He fights Luis Firpo and is knocked out of the ring, but still wins. He is sick (perhaps poisoned), but still fights Gene Tunney and loses a decision.

On September 22, 1927, he fights Tunney again. Dempsey knocks Tunney down, but the count doesn't start until Dempsey goes to a neutral corner. This gives Tunney time to recover and get up when the count reaches 9. In this famous "long count" fight Tunney wins by decision.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ O'Connor, John J. (1983-09-28). "TV: 'DEMPSEY,' TALE OF FIGHT YEARS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  2. ^ Etling, Laurence (2014-01-10). Radio in the Movies: A History and Filmography, 1926-2010. McFarland. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-7864-8616-8.
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