Cinderell Man

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There are thousands and thousands of films that have been created since the invention of moving pictures. Whether what has been considered a "historical film" has truly been accurate or not, is something that one has the ability to discover. Ron Howard's Cinderella Man, is the story of James J. Braddock, a boxer in the 1930's. The film explores this man's career and experiences, accurately depicting the 1930's fascination with the sport of boxing, the struggles of the Depression, and the attitude towards the relief aid that was provided during the depression.
"By a knockout, at one minute…seconds in the second round...tonight's light and heavyweight winner...from the great state of New Jersey...the Bulldog of Bergen, James J. Braddock!" Boxing was a sport that always existed, but in the 19th century boxing became a very popular sport. It was so popular that "boxing became an Olympic sport in 1908" and in the 1930's it even "spurred the sales of radio" as it was broadcasted on them. Boxing was the "second most popular sport in the nation," the first was baseball.
In the 1930s America was "the undisputed center of world boxing," its popularity was immense and this opened the doors to many including Hispanics and African- Americans. The popularity of boxing was seen in the film through the immense amount of crowds that would place bets on fighters and the groups of people that listened to it on the radio. This popularity is seen when James J. Braddock has his biggest fight and his wife goes to pray for him at the church, but the church is already full of people who are there to pray for him. The immensity of the popularity is seen clearly throughout the scene in the background. As the scenes of fights are filled to the brim with ...

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...t any longer accepted financial relief, but later to avoid the shame he paid it back, saying that "[he} just thought that {he} should return it". The implications of Braddock's actions, really lay into the concept of the attitude towards the aid that it was offered. Yes it was accepted, but not by many.
Overall, the film Cinderella Man, was very accurate in this sense. There has been some dispute over the accuracy of the characters that fight Braddock in the ring, but the overall history of the society around Braddock's life is extremely accurate compared to other films. Set in the 1900s the fascination with boxing is fundamental to history and to the storyline of the film itself. Set during the Great Depression, the struggles of Braddock's family and the attitude towards government aid was shown in the most conventional way and only related one thing, the truth.

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