Chariots of Fire | 1981Įric Liddell, the Scottish missionary who won a gold medal in the 400 meters at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Robert De Niro, who played the lead character, won an Oscar for best actor in a leading role. It was reported in 1980 that Joey La Motta was planning to sue for defamation, but no suit was filed.Īcademy Award honors: The film was a nominee for eight awards. According to ESPN, most of the scenes with Joey La Motta, who was a boxer himself, really took place between La Motta and Savage, including their split and eventual reconciliation. The real story: The character of Joey is actually a composite, mostly based on Pete Savage (born Petrella), La Motta’s friend and autobiography co-author. He appears as La Motta's fast-talking manager, trusted adviser and training partner. Hollywood's spin: In the film, based on the autobiography of former middleweight boxing champ Jake La Motta, the Bronx Bull’s younger brother, Joey, is a central character. Here are seven famous sports movies and the real stories behind each. But movie makers often spin a story for their benefit at the box office. Sometimes Hollywood gets portrayals of real-life characters and events right.

Red bull 1980