is one night in miami a true story

Clay knew that his association with the Nation could damage his professional prospects. After braving racism from the press and boxing world over his chosen name and religion, and losing his titles and years of his athletic prime when he refused to be drafted into America’s Vietnam War effort, he returned to the ring and regained the heavyweight championship in 1974. Cassius X, of course, changed his name to Muhammad Ali and went on to become what he’d always promised: The Greatest. ‘One Night in Miami’ True story of four men lives up to its premise - and its hype. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. After years of being vilified in the US for his anti-racism and anti-war activism, Ali was hailed as an international hero. Powers was inspired to write the play after learning about this historic night in author Mike Marqusee’s Redemption Song: Muhammad Ali and the Spirit of the Sixties. Though the bringing together of these four very famous people in one room seems like the stuff of a contrived biopic, Brown, meanwhile, was a commentator on the bout. In reality, this hotel party was a little larger than in the film, which cuts the guest list down to just the main players. As Powers himself wrote in a Broadway World column, "the four retreated after the fight to Malcolm's tiny room at the Hampton House Motel in Miami's Overtown section, for a private night of celebration and reflection over scoops of vanilla ice cream. The True Story Behind the Super Bowl's Craziest Ad, 'American Horror Story' Featured Richard Ramirez. One Night in Miami is an upcoming American drama filmed in Lousiana. The day following his victory, Clay announced that he was a member of the Nation of Islam, publicly aligning himself with one of the most vilified groups in the country and later adopting the name Cassius X. Malcolm X publicly announced his split with the Nation less than two weeks later, and, according to Marqusee’s book, Clay told Brown on the night of the Liston fight that he knew he would have to abandon his friendship with Malcolm in favor of allegiance to his church. There may not be a red carpet or a press tour in Toronto right now, but people will still be talking about “One Night in Miami.” Advertisement Based on a true story, King’s debut film opens with what could be called prologues for its quartet of characters. The film is based upon a play by Kemp Powers called "One Night in Miami. Inspired by a true story, the legal drama stars Foster as the defense attorney for a man from Mauritania who spent years … But Muhammad’s most famous follower, 38-year-old church spokesman Malcolm X, believed that his young friend Clay would win. His life has been documented in his two autobiographies, the Academy Award-winning documentary When We Were Kings, and the 2001 biopic Ali, among other works, and documentarian Ken Burns is currently working on a miniseries about the boxer that’s slated to be released this year. Or, to be more specific, it is based on a play by Kemp Powers, which itself was based on a true story. One Night in Miami is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video, You have 4 free articles remaining this month, Sign-up to our daily newsletter for more articles like this + access to 5 extra articles. He’d also befriended Clay, and was among his guests at the Liston fight. By Gulf Breeze News | on April 15, 2021 . The Kentucky native was already known for his witty smack talk, boastful poetry and outspoken personality, but he was very much the underdog on the night of his first championship win. Here’s what you should know about the true story behind the critically acclaimed film. Brown’s debut film was released later that year, and he retired from the NFL in 1966 to focus on his acting career. Even some close to Clay didn’t believe that he would pull off the upset. As Marqusee put it in Redemption Song, “In the early 60s, Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X were probably the two most hated men in America.” The Nation’s strident message of Black separatism enraged whites and divided Blacks. Only Jim Brown is still alive today. Based on the stage play written by Kemp Powers, One Night in Miami... also marks Academy Award winner Regina King's feature directorial debut. The film takes place on the night of Feb. 25, 1964, the historic date that 22-year-old Clay defeated Sonny Liston and became the world’s heavyweight boxing champion. Though three Nation of Islam members were convicted of his murder, the identities of the his killers are still debated. And while One Night in Miami, the Oscar buzz-generating new film directed by Academy Award- and Emmy-winning If Beale Street Could Talk and Watchmen star Regina King, is fictionalized, the broader strokes are true. By February 25th, 1964, two of the four legends featured in the film were in the last year of their lives. One night in Miami story is based on one account of an actual incident that occurred on February 25, 1964, when the four friends - Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali - gathered to celebrate Ali's win over Sonny Liston. Though what was discussed in that room will never be fully known, with only Brown still alive, biographers have suggested that the motel party did see Malcolm X telling his protégé that he should get serious—which he did, declaring to the world that he was becoming a Muslim the following day, announcing he was changing his name to Muhammad Ali shortly after. Clay didn’t have elaborate post-fight plans for celebrating his long-shot victory. Cooke was also a good friend of Clay, and was in the crowd as a supporter. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Best Star Wars Prequel Is Now On Disney+, The Space Jam Crew Should Watch A Clockwork Orange. Is One Night In Miami based on a true story? "One Night in Miami" leaves you on a high note. This fight brought the three protagonists of the movie to the Miami Beach Convention Hall for very different reasons, as the film fairly accurately recounts. Yes. The men had first met in 1962, and as he would write of Clay in his Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm found his likability so “contagious” that Clay was “one of the few people I ever invited into my home.”. And, per a 2005 biography of the singer, he performed the song on the show at the insistence of his manager rather than the other men, because he himself had an on-air change of heart. The manager said that she shot Cooke in self defense, and after a cursory investigation the killing was ruled a justifiable homicide. Though it is a “fictionalized account,” both the play and film version of One Night in Miami are based on a night that really did happen. The movie will debut on the streaming platform on January 15, 2021. True story of four men lives up to its premise – and its hype. He wrote in Ozy: "This foursome seemed to represent completely disparate symbols of blackness, masculinity and celebrity," elaborating to Broadway World: "I wanted to write a play that represented the immediacy of that tumultuous moment in time, and rather than attempt to encompass all that these four icons had been in their lives up to that point, I could instead try to capture a living snapshot of that one, pivotal moment.". So instead, the men gathered in Malcolm X’s room at Hampton House, a Black hotel popular among African-American notables shut out from white Miami Beach lodgings. To continue reading login or create an account. Powers (who wrote the film adaptation, too) has summed up One Night in Miami as “ a work of fiction powered by the truth.” And so the most unbelievable parts … In the film, streaming now on Amazon Prime Video, he is joined by three figures from sports, entertainment and politics, all of whom have very different ideas of what their responsibilities as prominent Black people are—civil rights leader and Nation of Islam member Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), football star and sports commentator Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) and singer Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.). How Much of 'The Revenant' Is a True Story? According to the respective biographies of Brown and Clay, the footballer had wanted to go to an afterparty but was told by Clay himself that he wanted to go with him and a small group to the Hampton House Motel, which provides the setting of much of One Night in Miami. In 1964, friends Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Cassius Clay (Eli Goree), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) all spent an evening together in a Miami hotel in a once-in-a-lifetime meeting of legends. Sam Cooke, meanwhile, was increasingly making music that courted the white America so riled by Malcolm X and Clay. Georgia's Voting Law Doesn't Go Far Enough. After months of being trailed by his former church, police, and the FBI, he was ambushed by gunmen during a speaking appearance in Harlem. Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21st, 1965. See why nearly a quarter of a million subscribers begin their day with the Starting 5. The 33-year-old singer and songwriter began his career in the Black world of gospel, before crossing over to secular music and white audiences as one of the key architects of soul music. The film takes place on the night of Feb. 25, 1964, the historic date that 22-year-old Clay defeated Sonny Liston and became the world's heavyweight boxing … One Night in Miami is based on a real meeting between Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), NFL star Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and boxer Cassius Clay (Eli Goree), later known as Muhammad Ali. The scenario—four Black legends from the worlds of music, sports, and politics, all gathered at the height of the Civil Rights struggle—seems almost too cinematic to be true. Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Black separatist Nation of Islam, instructed his church to distance itself from its famous young recruit ahead of his forecasted defeat. He’s also among the few high-profile Black supporters of President Donald Trump. He was also an outspoken advocate for Black rights, who, after being invited to the White House to meet newly sworn-in president Lyndon Johnson in the wake of his 1963 NFL championship victory, used it as an opportunity to talk about race in the country. Brown became the subject of controversy later in his life, and was charged with multiple instances of domestic battery. Also said to be present was Clay's personal photographer, Howard Bingham—though this raises the question of why there are no photos of the event, while photos of Malcolm X and Clay at the soda fountain do exist. Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Malcolm X had been close to the young boxer in the weeks leading up to the event, with Clay revealing at a press conference the following day that he was mentoring him as he converted to the Nation of Islam. We may earn a commission from these links. X and Clay, meanwhile, arrived at the motel after celebrating the victory at a local soda fountain. He died of Parkinson’s Disease in 2016. One Night in Miami features four of the '60s' most celebrated African-Americans in the same room together on the night that Cassius Clay (played by Eli Goree) won the World Heavyweight Championship in 1964. a fictionalized account of the real-life meeting between four prolific figures in Black history. Brown also served as a boxing commentator, and it was in this capacity that he wound up ringside at the fight. On February 25th, 1964, a barely-22-year-old boxer then known as Cassius Clay fought heavyweight champion Sonny Liston in Miami, Florida. None of them knew the FBI had outfitted Malcolm's room with listening devices, not that it would have mattered if they did.". In the movie, it is implied that it is this conversation that leads to Cooke singing his civil rights anthem "A Change Is Gonna Come" on Johnny Carson, deciding to sing it instead of the song he was scheduled to sing. 'One Night In Miami' True Story: Details the Movie Gets Right However, Power has said that it is less important what actually was said in the room, but what it means historically. Spoiler alert! The 60 Best Movies to Stream on Netflix Right Now, The 14 Best Tracksuits to Wear Every Damn Day, He Invented a Pasta That Puts Spaghetti to Shame, Most Anticipated True Story Movies of 2021, Muhammad Ali Transcended Sports, Culture, and Time, Redemption Song: Muhammad Ali and the Spirit of the Sixties, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. But even though he wasn't openly political, Cooke was interested in the Nation. Clearly, the characters are based on real people. Directed by Regina King. On February 25, 1964, Clay defeated boxer Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship, despite Liston being by far the favorite to win. In this moment, One Night in Miami takes a little liberty with the timeline of events. The movie is an adaptation of a 2013 play by Kemp Powers, who also wrote the screenplay and recently served as co-writer and director of Pixar’s Soul. yes, but with extensive dramatic license, particularly in terms of the characters’ conversations. Gabrielle Bruney is a writer and editor for Esquire, where she focuses on politics and culture. One Night in Miami will be directed by Regina King in her directorial debut. With Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr.. A fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s. (Martin Luther King Jr. even gave an early variant of his famed “I Have a Dream” speech at the hotel.). In the movie, one of the main plot threads sees the other men urge Cooke to use his fandom to speak more explicitly about civil rights issues rather than just releasing love songs. The now-84-year-old did embark on the film career described in One Night in Miami, and appeared in leading roles throughout the 1970s. https://www.biography.com/news/one-night-in-miami-true-story Though Cooke did indeed perform "A Change Is Gonna Come" on Johnny Carson, he actually did this on February 7, 1964, 18 days before he went to Miami, suggesting he was already ready to speak out on civil rights before that time. In 1957, his future classic “You Send Me” hit number one on the Billboard pop charts. But is One Night in Miami based on a true story? The opening of One Night in Miami tells viewers the story is ‘inspired by true events’, but the relationship between truth and fiction in the drama is more complicated. And Sam Cooke died in December of 1964 after being shot by a motel manager during a still little-understood dispute. But many of the topics of discussion are true to the biographies of Brown, Clay, Cooke, and Malcolm X, each of whom were then at crossroads in their professional lives. No one knows exactly what the men discussed that night and the conversations that make up the bulk of the film are fictionalized—though the detail that they ate vanilla ice cream is factual. Though the bringing together of these four very famous people in one room seems like the stuff of a contrived biopic, amazingly One Night in Miami is based on a true story of a real meeting between Clay (who would go to become Muhammad Ali), X, Cooke and Brown. One Night in Miami... is a 2020 American drama film directed by Regina King in her feature film directorial debut with a screenplay by Kemp Powers based on his stage play of the same name.The film is a fictionalized account of a February 1964 meeting of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke in a room at the Hampton House, celebrating Ali's surprise title win over Sonny Liston. Also said to be there were a number of other members of the Nation of Islam (who in the movie act as security and stay outside the hotel room). 2018's a Big Year for Movies Based on True Stories. In 1964, the Cleveland Browns’ Jim Brown was already one of the best running backs in football. Months before the Liston fight, Malcolm X, invoking the murder of Medgar Evers and the US-backed assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the Congo’s first democratically elected leader, told the press that John F. Kennedy’s assassination amounted to “chickens coming home to roost.” In the wake of the controversy over the remarks, Elijah Muhammad suspended Malcolm from his spokesman role. But Clay emerged the underdog victor, with Liston abandoning the fight at the beginning of the seventh round. By March, he was no longer returning Malcolm’s calls. Sadly, however, only one of the songs Cooke performed on the show that night has been preserved, so we have no recording of the only time he sang the song live. (L-R) Leslie Odom Jr., Eli Goree, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Aldis Hodge appear in the Amazon Prime Video original film, "One Night in Miami." Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown really did spend an evening together in 1964. And while One Night in Miami, the Oscar buzz-generating new film directed by Academy Award- and Emmy-winning If Beale Street Could Talk and Watchmen star Regina King, is fictionalized, the broader strokes are true. According to the film's website, "the movie reimagines the true story of what happens the night the four men celebrated Clay’s victory before he became known as … It stars Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. Contains details about the final scene of "One Night in Miami," streaming now on Amazon Prime. And Sam Cooke really was inspired by the openly political messaging in Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and wrote “A Change Is Gonna Come” after hearing it—though in real life, Cooke debuted the song on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson a few weeks before the Liston fight. The true story of Regina King's 'One Night in Miami,' which features a meeting between Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke. Because the plot centers around a hangout between four historical figures, many viewers have wondered what the true story is. 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