• Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Urban Drama, Sports Drama
• Themes: Immigrant Life, Boxers
• Director: Joe Roth
• Main Cast: Klaus Maria Brandauer, Adrian Pasdar, Wesley Snipes, Ángela Molina, Elya Baskin
• Release Year: 1986
• Country: US
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• MPAA Rating: R

Plot

Klaus Maria Brandauer stars in this drama as Alek Neuman, a one-time boxing champion in the Soviet Union. While he was one of the top-ranked Russian fighters of his day, he was never allowed to box in the Olympics, because the Soviets would not permit Jews to compete on their national teams. Many years later, an elderly Alek is able to emigrate to the United States; he settles in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, New York, where he makes ends meet as a dishwasher. Alek is depressed and starts sinking into alcoholism until he meets Timmy Boyle (Adrian Pasdar) and Roland Jenkins (Wesley Snipes), two up-and-coming amateur boxers. Alek thinks that the two young fighters have potential, and he offers to coach them. While Timmy and Roland aren't sure at first if they trust Alek (or each other), in time they grow to respect each other, and it looks as if they may make the United States Olympic team -- where they may fight against the Russian team that wouldn't accept Alek years before. Brandauer won critical acclaim for his performance in Streets of Gold, which also featured Wesley Snipes several years before his breakthrough role in Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Klaus Maria Brandauer - Alek Neuman
• Adrian Pasdar - Timmy Boyle
• Wesley Snipes - Roland Jenkins
• Ángela Molina - Elena Gitman
• Elya Baskin - Klebanov

Rainbow Harvest - Brenda; Rick Aiello; James Babchak - Medic at Elena Attack; Henry Judd Baker; Michael Beach - Sonny; Al Bernstein - ESPN Commentator; Bill Cobbs; Elzbieta Czyzewska - Mrs. Peshkov; Frances Foster - Nurse; John A. Garcia; Paul Herman - Patron at Gennaro's; Gene Lebell - Referee at Arena; John Mahoney - Line-han; John McCurry - Bobby Rainey; Adam Nathan - Grisha; Jim Nickerson - Suvorov; Daniel O'Shea - Vinnie; Rene Rivera - Attendant; Jaroslav Stremien - Malinovsky; Hechter Ubarry; Jeff Ward - Preston; Kevin Mahon - Roland's Opponent at Trials; Henry Covner; Lillian Covner; Paul Davidovsky - Russian Friend; Marty Denkin - Ring Announcer; Liya Glaz - Polina; Gregory Holtz Sr. - Dishwasher at Klebenov's; Nathan Isaacson - Russian Band; Shalom Kovnator; Yacov Levitan - Mr. Peshkov; Thomas Mendola - Neighbors at Tenement; Boris Monastyrsky; Mustafa Eddie Muhammad - Timmy's Opponent at Trials; Dan Nutu - Semyon; Frank Patton - Policeman at Tenement; Vern Paul De - Referee at Trials; Mike Radner - Ring Doctor; Ramon Rodriquez - Cooks' Helper; Luther Rucker - Bouncers at Bootleg Arena; Grafton Trew - Cood at Klebenov's; Jack Wilkes - Policeman at Elena Attack; Alexander Yampolsky - Dimitri; Pete Antico - [uncredited] Balsamo; David Chandler - Intern

Credit

Jim Nickerson - Choreography; Arthur Albert - Cinematographer; Kathryn Bihr - Makeup; Richard Chew - Editor; Tom Cole - Screenwriter; Marcos Flaksman - Production Designer; Heywood Gould - Screenwriter; Emile Griffith - Consultant/advisor; Victor Kempster - Set Designer; Jeffrey Kurland - Costume Designer; Dezso Magyar - Co-producer; Dezso Magyar - Screenwriter; Patrick McCormick - Co-producer; Jack Nitzsche - Composer (Music Score); Bill Pollock - Art Director; Richard Price - Screenwriter; James G. Robinson - Producer; Joe Roth - Director; Joe Roth - Producer; Paul Schiff - Associate Producer; Harry Ufland - Producer; Margery Simkin - Casting; Todd Thaler - Casting

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