Johnson had been the subject of the 1967 play
The Great White Hope written by
Howard Sackler which was later adapted into a
1970 film. Jacobs and Clayton had previously collaborated on boxing documentaries
Legendary Champions (1968) and
A.k.a. Cassius Clay (1970). Clayton asked jazz artist
Miles Davis to record music for the documentary, which resulted in Davis'
1971 album of the same name. ==Accolades==