The Jesse Owens Story

"Based on the inspiring true story"

1984 2h 54m EN

🙌

8.1

BANGER

★8.1TMDB · 6

DramaHistoryTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The Jesse Owens Story is a biographical film about the black athlete Jesse Owens. Dorian Harewood plays the Olympic gold-winning athlete. The drama won a 1985 Primetime Emmy Award and was nominated for two more.

“Based on the inspiring true story”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

Amazon Prime Video with AdsSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Amazon VideoBuy

Cast

Dorian Harewood
Jesse Owens
Dan Ammerman
Coach Robertson
Tom Bosley
Jimmy Hoffa
Georg Stanford Brown
Lew Gilbert
LeVar Burton
Professor Preston
Ronny Cox
Coach Larry Snyder
Norman Fell
Marty Forkins
George Kennedy
Charles 'Charley' Riley

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Richard Irving
Writers: Harold Gast
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Clocks in at 174 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

42 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Richard Irving, shot by Charles Correll. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Michel Legrand. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Robert F. Shugrue shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Dorian Harewood and Dan Ammerman and Tom Bosley carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Based on the inspiring true story".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Richard Irving directs. Charles Correll behind the camera. Michel Legrand scores. Robert F. Shugrue cuts. A long sit — settle in. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Clocks in at 174 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.
242 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Richard Irving, shot by Charles Correll. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Michel Legrand. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Robert F. Shugrue shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Dorian Harewood and Dan Ammerman and Tom Bosley carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Based on the inspiring true story".
9IMDB entry: tt0087501 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 6 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.