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07/31/2008 Archived Entry: "Boxing Mecca To Run "MSG Night At the Movies""
Boxing Mecca To Run "MSG Night At the Movies"
Press Release
"Kings of the Ring" to be telecast on Monday, August 4 at 8:00 p.m.
"Requiem for A Heavyweight" to be telecast on Monday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m.
"Orthodox Stance" to be telecast on Monday, August 18 at 8:00 p.m.
"Girlfight" to be telecast on Monday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m.
New York, NY, July 30, 2008 – MSG will telecast an exciting lineup of boxing films in the month of August on "MSG at the Movies". Films included in the Monday night line up are "Kings of the Ring," "Requiem for a Heavyweight," "Orthodox Stance," and "Girlfight." "MSG at the Movies" is hosted by Scott Lasky, special guest interviews are included along with each film.
Below is a list of the four titles to be featured in August as a part of "MSG at the Movies:"
Kings of the Ring (1995) - Monday, August 4 at 8:00 p.m.
Sports documentarian Bud Greenspan presents this examination of four of the most important men to ever don boxing gloves, men who helped define and glorify the sport of boxing: Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. As well as being an overview of the Sweet Science, "Kings of the Ring" probes into the private lives of the heavyweight champs and the travails that they faced outside the ring, with special attention to the context of their times and the roles that the fighters played in reflecting and shaping society.
"MSG at the Movies" host Scott Lasky talks with former heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, who went 15 rounds with world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in a 1975 fight, as part of this telecast.
Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) - Monday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m.
Mountain Rivera (Anthony Quinn) is at the end of his boxing career after a knockout by Cassius Clay in the seventh round. His left eye is one punch from permanent trauma, his speech is slurred from "being hit a million times," and he slings punches anytime he hears a bell, but his trainer and 'cutman' Army (Mickey Rooney), and Miss Miller (Julie Harris), a manipulative social worker, support his illusion that he could be a movie usher, a camp counselor, or a romantic partner for Miller. His manager Maish Rennick (Jackie Gleason), knowing the truth, can't admit that he bet everything he had that Rivera wouldn't go four rounds against Clay. Maish will pay with his life if he can't persuade Rivera to abandon his pride ("I fought 111 fights and never took a dive") and agree to a wrestling contract of which he's ashamed. When Maish blurts out his secret, Rivera realizes that walking out on the deal is not an option. To save the neck of the man who's betrayed him, he embraces the humiliating role of wrestling as "Big Chief Mountain Rivera," and the illusion of camaraderie among the three men is gone forever.
Boxing Historian Bert Sugar talks with "MSG at the Movies" host Scott Lasky and guest co-host Jeffrey Lyons as part of this telecast.
Orthodox Stance (2007) - Monday, August 18 at 8:00 p.m.
Dmitriy Salita, a 25 year-old Russian immigrant is making history as a top professional boxer and a rigorously observant Jew. While providing an intimate, 3-year long look at the trials and tribulations faced by an up and coming professional boxer, "Orthodox Stance" is a portrait of seemingly incompatible cultures and characters working together to support Dmitriy's rare and remarkable devotion to both Orthodox Judaism and the pursuit of a professional boxing title. In the end, the film is about more than just boxing and religion, but a young man's search for meaning in life.
Girlfight (2000) - Monday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m.
At 18, Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) has a chip on her shoulder; she’s close to expulsion from high school for fighting, her mother has passed away, her dad is surly and the popular girls at school hate her. When she picks up her younger brother at a Brooklyn gym where he boxes, she decides she wants to train. Hector, a coach, reluctantly agrees to teach her. It’s soon clear to him that Diana has talent and he pushes her. She spends time with another young fighter, Adrian, who has a girlfriend, but Diana intrigues him and stirs real feelings he tries to articulate. She, too, must accommodate her toughness and feelings for him.
As part of this telecast "MSG at the Movies" host Scott Lasky, along with guest co-host Jeffrey Lyons, talk with boxing historian Bert Sugar, boxing trainer Hector Roca, who trained Michelle Rodriguez for the film, and professional boxer Alicia Ashley, who appeared in the film.
About MSG MediaMSG Media is an industry leader in production and content development for all broadcast and digital platforms. Television networks MSG and MSG Plus telecast over 500 live professional and collegiate sporting events a year along with a full slate of Emmy Award-winning original sports and entertainment programs. Also under the MSG Media umbrella are MSG Interactive, which oversees all company wireless and online initiatives, and the Sponsorship and Advertising Sales divisions. MSG Media is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P, which is owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation and includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, as well as the legendary Chicago Theatre; and which manages wholly-owned live entertainment properties including the Radio City Rockettes and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular; Fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.
