SOUTH AFRICA: NELSON MANDELA AND WILL SMITH ATTEND THE FILM PREMIERE OF "ALI"

Record ID: 392542

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: NELSON MANDELA AND WILL SMITH ATTEND THE FILM PREMIERE OF "ALI"
  • Date: 3rd March 2002
  • Summary: NU METRO CINEMA (MONTECASINO), JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (MARCH 03, 2002) (REUTERS) (EXTERIOR/NIGHT) WILL SMITH ARRIVING (WITH HIS SON JADEN) AS CROWD SHAKING HIS HANDS AND CHEERING (0.34) VARIOUS POSTER OF THE FILM "ALI" (INTERIOR) VARIOUS AUDIENCE CLAPPING (0.46) NELSON MANDELA BEING BROUGHT TO THE PODIUM BY SOUTH AFRICAN CO-PRODUCER ANANT SINGH (0.58) (SOUNDBITE
  • Embargoed: 18th March 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: General,Politics,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7QU102H08TW7EV2R71NVXAJBR
  • Story Text: Nelson Mandela and Will Smith have attended the South African premiere of Smith's latest knockout film, "Ali" , in Johannesburg.
    The film, in which Smith plays former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, premiered on Sunday (March 3).
    Also attending was the director, Michael Mann, South African film producer Anant Singh, and many cabinet ministers and local stars.
    Howard Bingham read a message from Ali himself in which he paid tribute to Mandela. With an Oscar nomination for "Ali"
    and the blockbuster "Men in Black II" poised for release, Smith is Hollywood's hottest property. He commands fees of more than $20-million a film.
    "Ali" is an epic drama about the most famous controversial international sports hero of all time, Muhammad Ali. I am very happy to be here to pay tribute, . to my hero." said the former South African president Mandela about his friend Ali.
    Mandela himself is a former boxer.
    Later, Smith bid one million rand ($88, 500) at a charity auction for a photo of Mandela throwing a left hook at Ali.
    The film has particular relevance for South Africans today, not only because Muhammad Ali shares a close relationship with Nelson Mandela, but also because it has been filmed largely in neighbouring Mozambique, where the film-makers used the skills of both local people and many South Africans. "Ali" has had mixed reviews and has had a relatively low take at the box office.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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