About Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston

The 2019 released movie, "Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston", is an intriguing and immersive exploration of the life and mysterious death of controversial heavyweight boxing champion, Charles 'Sonny' Liston. Using original conversations, interviews, and FBI files, the film brings to light the tangled web of Sonny's connections with the mob, the Las Vegas power brokers, and his struggles with the Civil Rights movement. The film delves deep into how his life and career were impacted by these factors, ultimately leading to his untimely death.

Making / Production

The movie is directed by Simon George, with DVA Productions and Creative England as the production companies leading its development. It took nearly two years to create and finalize the production, owing to the complex research needed to capture the many intricate facets of Sonny Liston's life accurately.

Actors

• Ian Bell – Played the role of Sonny Liston remarkably, embodying Sonny's hallmark intensity and grit.
• Stan Grant – Provided enlightening and emotive narration throughout the movie.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film uncovers a wealth of unseen photos, home-movies, and FBI documents.
• Many fans of boxing consider Sonny Liston one of the greatest to ever play the sport.

Quotes

• "I'd rather be a lamppost in Denver than the mayor of Philadelphia" - Sonny Liston.
• "A boxing match is like a cowboy movie. There’s got to be good guys and there’s got to be bad guys. And that’s what people pay for" - Sonny Liston.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film features a score by composer Joe Acheson, adding an intense and emotional backing to the narrative journey of the film.

Awards

As of now, the movie "Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston" has not won any official award or nomination. However, it has been widely appreciated by documentary film lovers across the globe.