MovieChat Forums > Cinderella Man (2005) Discussion > Didn't have the courage to mention how B...

Didn't have the courage to mention how Braddock cheated Louis.


Instead telling us how Braddock bought a machine and started a business, They should have pointed out how he received 10% of Joe Louis' money for all of his career fights. This got him the first title defense instead of Max Schmeling.

Now, that was a strong business move. Just don't make Jimmy out to be some sort of working class hero.

Oh, check out Joe and Max (2002) for some perspective.

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Loved the movie - but the historic part of me struggles with the way Baer was made to look like a villain (he was far from it) & no mention of how savvy Braddock was to set himself up for life by fighting Louis

Those two things is the Hollywood glossing which luckily didn't ruin a great movie

Braddock knew he had zero shot against Louis (even though he gave him a heck of a battle) & Schmeling should beat him also. He took advantage of the political game boxing was & you can't blame him for playing it well.. .

The only thing that bothers me is - - -how much did that 10% affect Louis going broke later in life? (since I'm sure the 10% was taken entirely from Louis' cut - not the manager's / others)

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how much did that 10% affect Louis going broke later in life?

Saw a documentary on Louis which points out his two divorces, sending a relative (perhaps sister) through college and the fact that the government insist he take a token $1.00 fee for all exhibition fights so he could not claim a deduction on his taxes. (Same thing happened to Abbott and Costello.)
There were many other factors but 10% of the top, for his career, did not help for sure.











































"It's the system, Lara. People will be different after the Revolution."

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Yeah, he didn't cheat anyone. Joe wanted to skip ahead, he pays the price, simple as that.

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