Daniel Mendoza: The Film

[SorceryatCaesar]

Worthy of a film?

London, 1780s, scrappy Jewish kid gets pulled off the street by the great pugilist, Richard Humphries, who teaches him the Sweet Science. Mendoza studies the craft and writes the first book about 'scientific' boxing. Mendoza's popularity takes off, especially at the royal court, where he dallies with the shiksas, but his own people consider the sport heathen and keep their distance. Humphries's envy turns him into a vicious anti-Semite. One thing leads to another, and Mendoza and Humphries are matched in the fight of the decade - it's Mendoza's boxing vs. Humphries' power. Humphries wins on a questionable low blow - Mendoza is injured and laid up for several months. He is encouraged to return to the ring, unexpectedly, by his rabbi, who now sees Mendoza as a a kind of 'Moses' who can inspire the downtrodden Jews of England. Mendoza pulls himself up with Rocky-life determination and wills his body back to fighting trim. He challenges Humphries to a rematch, which once again rivets London. In the rematch, Mendoza's slick boxing baffles the cocky Humphries and Mendoza lays the bigot out cold. His victory issues in a new period of tolerance for Jews, and a return to the bosom of the royal court for Mendoza. the end.

[Loewe]

Worthy of a film?

London, 1780s, scrappy Jewish kid gets pulled off the street by the great pugilist, Richard Humphries, who teaches him the Sweet Science. Mendoza studies the craft and writes the first book about 'scientific' boxing. Mendoza's popularity takes off, especially at the royal court, where he dallies with the shiksas, but his own people consider the sport heathen and keep their distance. Humphries's envy turns him into a vicious anti-Semite. One thing leads to another, and Mendoza and Humphries are matched in the fight of the decade - it's Mendoza's boxing vs. Humphries' power. Humphries wins on a questionable low blow - Mendoza is injured and laid up for several months. He is encouraged to return to the ring, unexpectedly, by his rabbi, who now sees Mendoza as a a kind of 'Moses' who can inspire the downtrodden Jews of England. Mendoza pulls himself up with Rocky-life determination and wills his body back to fighting trim. He challenges Humphries to a rematch, which once again rivets London. In the rematch, Mendoza's slick boxing baffles the cocky Humphries and Mendoza lays the bigot out cold. His victory issues in a new period of tolerance for Jews, and a return to the bosom of the royal court for Mendoza. the end.

Definitly worthy of a film but I doubt they will make one. Not mainstream enough.

[Mendoza]

I think it would make a good movie, but the key to it would be catsing the right person to play Mendoza and having a lot of substance behind the movie besides boxing.

[SorceryatCaesar]

how about Jonathan Rhys-Miller as Mendoza?

[Mendoza]

how about Jonathan Rhys-Miller as Mendoza?

Since the public does not know what Mendoza looked like, any good actor can play him. He only needs to be of average height, sport long hair, and be under a certian age.

[SorceryatCaesar]

Hugh Grant?

[Loewe]

Hugh Grant?

Too old. Should be someone unknown with a british accent.

[SorceryatCaesar]

colin farrell.

[Mendoza]

colin farrell.

Good pick.

[Dempsey1238]

I would end the film with Mendoza's defeat at the heads of Jackson imo.

[Loewe]

I would end the film with Mendoza's defeat at the heads of Jackson imo.

That would be a good ending. Actually, i hate it that every film has a happy end.

[mcvey]

I would end the film with Mendoza's defeat at the heads of Jackson imo.
With "Gentleman John" holding Mendoza by the hair in one hand , and punching the shit out of him with the other?

[Loewe]

With "Gentleman John" holding Mendoza by the hair in one hand , and punching the shit out of him with the other?

I would just show the "build-up" to the fight, the two fighters standing across each other and than switch to the end with Mendoza lying on the floor and Jackson standing above him beeing the last scene of the movie.

[Dempsey1238]

Why show that?? I be upset with no 9 min fight lol.

Thats almost as bad as The Great White hope, with the Jack Johnson fight scenes, there hardly were any. Dont get me wrong it had great action. But its hardly a "Boxing:" film.

It could be a mini series like John Adams lol.

[Loewe]

Why show that?? I be upset with no 9 min fight lol.

Thats almost as bad as The Great White hope, with the Jack Johnson fight scenes, there hardly were any. Dont get me wrong it had great action. But its hardly a "Boxing:" film.

It could be a mini series like John Adams lol.

It´s the end. The last few scenes. The action would be over by then.

[Dempsey1238]

With "Gentleman John" holding Mendoza by the hair in one hand , and punching the shit out of him with the other?

Nahhh, I going to do what they did in the hurrican movie, by having Mendoza beat Jackson all across the ring, only to get robbed by the scorecards because the judges were anti jews or something. :lol:

[Senya13]

Mendoza was at a loss at what to do with Johnson's straight punching, couldn't figure how to defend against that style of punching, despite all his cleverness.

[SorceryatCaesar]

mendoza wrote his Memoir in 1815.
you could start with him writing at a table

flashback to his career
humphries, jackson, and on
bring it back to real time - he arises from the table and heads for the ring, another bout at age 51