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CHA3U (OCAMPO) Grade 11 American History University
Preparation – Hollywood Movie List
The following is a partial list of recommended Hollywood movies that can be
viewed to help supplement course content. All movies should be viewed in
the context of the time period and remember to keep in mind that often
factual material is often sacrificed in order to make the film more marketable
for a larger audience. The aim of watching these suggested movies is merely
to help you get a better understanding of the time period by demonstrating
typical dress, living conditions, politics, society, popular culture, etc. The
movies selected will hopefully give you a “Snapshot” of Americana…
Discovery and Colonial America
Apocalypto (2006) Directed by Mel Gibson, starring Rudy Youngblood, Dalia
Hernandez, Rodolfo Palacios
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) Directed by Ridley Scott, starring Gerard
Depardieu, Armand Assante, Sigourney Weaver
Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992) Directed by John Glen, starring
Marlon Brando, Tom Selleck, Benecio Del Toro
The New World (2006) Directed by Terrence Malick, starring Colin Farrell, Christian
Bale, Christopher Plummer
Pocahontas (1995) Animated Film, Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg,
voiced by Mel Gibson, Christian Bale, Irene Bedard
The Crucible (1996) Directed by Nicholas Hytner, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona
Ryder, Joan Allen
The Scarlet Letter (1995) Directed by Roland Joffe, starring Demi Moore, Gary
Oldman, Robert Duvall
Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale (1994) Directed by Xavier Koller, starring Adam Beach,
Eric Schweig, Irene Bedard
Black Robe (1991) Directed by Bruce Beresford starring Lothaire Blueteau, Aden
Young, Sandrine Holt
The Mission (1986) Directed by Roland Joffe starring Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons,
Aidan Quin
The Last of the Mohicans (1992) Directed by Michael Mann starring Daniel Day
Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Wes Studi
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The Patriot (2000) Directed by Roland Emmerich starring Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger,
Jason Isaacs
Revolution (1985) Directed by Hugh Hudson starring Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland,
Natassja Kinski
18th-19th Century American Society
Gangs of New York (2005) Directed by Martin Scorcese starring Leonardo Di Caprio,
Daniel Day Lewis, Liam Neeson
Age of Innocence (1993) Directed by Martin Scorcese starring Daniel Day Lewis,
Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder
The Western Frontier
Far and Away (1992) Directed by Ron Howard starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman,
Colm Meaney
The Alamo (2004) Directed by John Lee Hancock starring Denis Quaid, Billy Bob
Thornton, Jason Patric
Unforgiven (1992) Directed by Clint Eastwood starring Clint Eastwood, Morgan
Freeman, Gene Hackman
History of Black America
Amistad (1997) Directed by Steven Speilberg starring Djimon Hounsou, Morgan
Freeman, Matthew McConaughey
Roots (1977) Directed by Marvin J. Chomsky starring Maya Angelou, Levar Burton, Ed
Asner, O.J. Simpson
Birth of a Nation (1915) Directed by D.W. Griffith starring Lilian Gish, Mae Marsh,
Henry B. Walthall
The Colour Purple (1985) Directed by Steven Speilberg starring Danny Glover,
Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey
Mississippi Burning (1988) Directed by Alan Parker starring Willem Dafoe, Gene
Hackman, Francis McDormand
Beloved (1998) Directed by Jonathon Demme starring Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey,
Thandie Newton
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) Directed by Rob Reiner starring Alec Baldwin, James
Woods, Virginia Madsen
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4 Little Girls (1997) Directed by Spike Lee starring Maxine McNair, Chris McNair,
Helen Pegues
Rosewood (1997) Directed by John Singleton starring Ving Rhames, Jon Voight, Don
Cheadle
Bamboozled (2000) Directed by Spike Lee starring Michael Rappaport, Jada PinkettSmith, Damon Wayans
Get on the Bus (1996) Directed by Spike Lee starring Ossie Davis, Bernie Mac,
Charles S.Dutton
The Lords of Discipline (1983) Directed by Franc Roddam starring David Keith,
Judge Reinhold, Bill Paxton
The Great White Hope (1970) Directed by Martin Ritt starring James Earl Jones, Jane
Alexander
The Hurricane (1999) Directed by Norman Jewison starring Denzel Washington, Dan
Hedaya, Vincent Pastore
Remember the Titans (2000) Directed by Boaz Yakin starring Denzel Washington,
Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst
Hoop Dreams (1994) Directed by Steve James starring Arthur Agee, William Gates,
Earl Smith
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) Directed by Robert Mulligan starring Gregory Peck,
Robert Duvall, Frank Overton
Do the Right Thing (1989) Directed by Spike Lee starring Danny Aiello, John
Turturro, Rosie Perez, Spike Lee
Colors (1988) Directed by Dennis Hopper starring Sean Penn, Robert Duvall, Don
Cheadle
Boyz n the Hood (1991) Directed by John Singleton starring Laurence Fishburne,
Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut
American Civil War
Gods and Generals (2003) Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell starring Jeff Daniels, Mira
Sorvino, Robert Duvall
Gone with the Wind (1939) Directed by Victor Flemming staring Vivien Leigh, Clark
Gable, Hatty McDaniel
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Gettysburg (1993) Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell starring Tom Berenger, Martin
Sheen, Jeff Daniels
Glory (1989) Directed by Edward Zwick starring Mathew Broderick, Morgan Freeman,
Denzel Washingtom
Cold Mountain (2003) Directed by Anthony Minghella starring Jude Law, Nicole
Kidman, Renee Zellweger
Dances with Wolves (1990) Directed by Kevin Costner starring Kevin Costner, Mary
McDonnell, Graham Greene, Wes Studi
Ride with the Devil (1999) Directed by Ang Lee starring Tobey Maguire, Skeet Ulrich,
James Caviezel
The Last Samurai (2003) Directed by Edward Zwick starring Tom Cruise, Ken
Watanabe, Billy Connolly
The Civil War (1990) Directed by Ken Burns starring Laurence Fishburne, Morgan
Freeman, Jeremy Irons
1910s/1920s/1930s
Titanic (1997) Directed by James Cameron starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Billy Zane,
Kate Winslett
The Untouchables (1987) Directed by Brian De Palma starring Sean Connery, Kevin
Costner, Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia
Cinderella Man (2005) Directed by Ron Howard starring Russell Crowe, Renee
Zellweger, Paul Giamatti
Eight Men Out (1988) Directed by John Sayles starring John Cusack, Charlie Sheen,
Christopher Lloyd
Once Upon a Time in America (1984) Directed by Sergio Leone starring Robert
DeNiro, James Woods, Joe Pesci
Harlem Nights (1989) Directed by Eddie Murphy starring Eddie Murphy, Richard
Pryor, Redd Foxx
The Great Gatsby (1974) Directed by Jack Clayton starring Robert Redford, Mia
Farrow, Bruce Dern
Miller’s Crossing (1990) Directed by Joel Coen starring Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney,
John Turturro
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Seabiscuit (2003) Directed by Gary Ross starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges,
William H. Macy
King Kong (2005) Directed by Peter Jackson starring Jack Black, Naomi Watts, Adrien
Brody, Colin Hanks
The Journey of Natty Gann (1985) Directed by Jeremy Kagan starring Meredith
Salenger, John Cusack, John Finnegan
Of Mice and Men (1992) Directed by Gary Sinise starring Gary Sinise, John
Malkovich, Casie Siemaszko
The Grapes of Wrath (1940) Directed by John Ford starring Henry Fonda, John
Carradine, Jane Darwell
Inherit the Wind (1960) Directed by Stanley Kramer starring Spencer Tracey,
Frederick March, Gene Kelly
World War I & II
Legends of the Fall (1994) Directed by Edward Zwick starring Anthony Hopkins, Brad
Pitt, Aidan Quinn, Julie Ormond
Flyboys (2006) Directed by Tony Bill starring James Franco, Jean Reno, Philip
Winchester
Saving Private Ryan (1998) Directed by Steven Speilberg starring Tom Hanks, Matt
Damon, Tom Sizemore, Ed Burns
Pearl Harbour (2001) Directed by Michael Bay starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett,
Kate Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding Jr.
The Thin Red Line (1998) Directed by Terrence Malick starring Adrien Brody, Jim
Caviezel, George Clooney, John Cusack
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) Directed by Clint Eastwood starring Ken Watanabe,
Takumi Bando, Yuki Matsuzaki
Flags of our Fathers (2006) Directed by Clint Eastwood starring Ryan Phillippe, Adam
Beach, Jesse Bradford
The Great Raid (2005) Directed by John Dahl starring Benjamin Bratt, James Franco,
Joseph Fiennes
The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) Directed by Robert Markowitz starring Laurence
Fishburne, Allen Payne, Cuba Gooding Jr.
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Memphis Belle (1990) Directed Michael Caton-Jones starring Matthew Modine, Eric
Stoltz, Harry Connick Jr.
Hart’s War (2002) Directed by Gregory Hoblit starring Bruce Willis, Colin Farrell,
Terrence Howard
A Midnight Clear (1992) Directed by Keith Gordon starring Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon,
Gary Sinise, Ethan Hawke
The Dirty Dozen (1967) Directed by Robert Aldrich starring Lee Marvin, Charles
Bronson, Jim Brown
U-571 (2000) Directed by Jonathon Mostow starring Harvey Keitel, Matthew
McConaughey, Bill Paxton
Band of Brothers (2001) Directed by David Frankel starring Damien Lewis, Donnie
Wahlberg, Ron Livingston
Everytime We Say Goodbye (1986) Directed by Moshe Mizrahi starring Tom Hanks,
Caroline Goodall, Benedict Taylor
Windtalker (2002) Directed by John Woo starring Nicholas Cage, Adam Beach,
Christian Slater
Patton (1970) Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner starring George C.Scott, Karl Malden,
Morgen Paul
A League of Their Own (1992) Directed by Penny Marshall starring Tom Hanks,
Geena Davis, Madonna
M*A*S*H (KOREAN WAR) (1970) Directed by Robert Altman starring Donald
Sutherland, Elliot Gould, Tom Skerritt
The Cold War
Doctor Strangelove (1964) Directed by Stanley Kubrick starring Peter Sellers,
George C. Scott, James Earl Jones
The Good Shepherd (2006) Directed by Robert De Niro starring Matt Damon,
Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin
Guilty by Suspicion (1991) Directed by Irwin Winkler starring Robert De Niro,
Annette Benning, George Wendt
K*19: The Widowmaker (2002) Katheryn Bigelow starring Harrison Ford, Liam
Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard
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Buffalo Soldiers (2001) Directed by Gregor Jordan starring Joaquin Phoenix, Ed
Harris, Scott Glenn
Good Night and Good Luck (2005) Directed by George Clooney starring Jeff Daniels,
David Strathairn, Alex Borstein
Thirteen Days (2000) Directed by Roger Donaldson starring Kevin Costner, Shawn
Driscoll, Caitlin Wachs
The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) Directed by John Schlesinger starring Sean
Penn, Timothy Hutton, Art Camacho
The Hunt for Red October (1990) Directed by John McTiernan starring Sean
Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones
Rocky IV (1985) Directed by Sylvester Stallone starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia
Shire, Carl Weathers, Dolph Lundgren
1950s/1960s/1970s
The Right Stuff (1983) Directed by Phillip Kaufman starring Ed Harris, Sam Shepherd,
Scott Glenn
Apollo 13 (1995) Directed by Ron Howard starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Gary
Sinise, Kevin Bacon
American Graffiti (1973) Directed by George Lucas starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron
Howard, Harrison Ford
That Thing You Do! (1996) Directed by Tom Hanks starring Liv Tyler, Steve Zahn,
Charlize Theron
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Directed by Frank Darabont starring Morgan
Freeman, Tim Robbins, Bob Gunton
The Outsiders (1983) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring Ralph Macchio,
C.Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon
Hoosiers (1986) Directed by David Anspaugh starring Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper,
Barbara Hershey
L.A. Confidential (1997) Directed by Curtis Hanson starring Kevin Spaceky, Guy
Pearce, Russell Crowe
Quiz Show (1994) Directed by Robert Redford starring John Turturro, Ralph Fiennes,
Mira Sorvino
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School Ties (1992) Directed by Robert Mandel starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon,
Chris O’Donnell
54 (1998) Directed by Mark Christopher starring Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, Mike
Myers
Dreamgirls (2006) directed by Bill Condon starring Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx,
Eddie Murphy
Saturday Night Fever (1977) Directed by John Badham starring John Travolta, Karen
Lynn Gorney, Paul Pape
Lords of Dogtown(2005) Directed by Catherine Hardwicke starring Heath Ledger,
John Robinson, Victor Rasuk
Easy Rider (1969) Directed by Dennis Hopper starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda,
Jack Nicholson
The Doors (1991) Directed by Oliver Stone starring Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Kyel
Maclachlan, Kevin Dillon
Dazed and Confused (1993) Directed by Richard Linklater starring Jason London,
Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Adam Goldberg
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) Directed by Neils Mueller starring Sean
Penn, Naomi Watts, Don Cheadle
All the President’s Men (1976) Directed by Alan J. Pakula starring Dustin Hoffman,
Robert Redford, Jason Robards
Vietnam War
Platoon (1986) Directed by Oliver Stone starring Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Charlie
Sheen, Forrest Whitaker
Full Metal Jacket (1987) Directed by Stanley Kubrick starring Matthew Modine, Adam
Baldwin, Vincent D’Onofrio
Hamburger Hill (1987) Directed by John Irvin starring Don Cheadle, Dylan
McDermott, Michael Boatmen
Bat*21 (1988) Directed by Peter Markle starring Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Jerry
Reed
Good Morning Vietnam (1987) Directed by Barry Levinson starring Robin Williams,
Robert Wuhl, Forest Whitaker
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The Deer Hunter (1978) Directed by Michael Cimino starring Robert De Niro,
Christopher Walken, John Cazale, Meryl Streep
Uncommon Valor (1983) Directed by Ted Kotcheff starring Gene Hackman, Robert
Stack, Fred Ward
We Were Soldiers (2002) Directed by Randall Wallace starring Mel Gibson, Madeline
Stowe, Greg Kinnear
Tigerland (2000) Directed by Joel Shumacher starring Colin Farrell, Matthew Davis,
Clifton Collins Jr.
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) Directed by Oliver Stone starring Tom Cruise,
Raymond J. Barry, Tom Berenger
Casualties of War (1989) Directed by Brian De Palma starring Michael J. Fox, Sean
Penn, John C. Reilly
Apocalypse Now (1979) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring Martin Sheen,
Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne
Heaven and Earth (1993) Directed by Oliver Stone starring Tommy Lee Jones, Joan
Chen, Dustin Nguyen
The Fog of War (2003) Directed by Errol Morris starring Robert McNamara, John F.
Kennedy, Fidel Castro
1980s/1990s
Wall Street (1987) Directed by Oliver Stone starring Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas,
Darryl Hannah
The Insider (1999) Directed by Michael Mann starring Al Pacino, Russell Crowe,
Christopher Plummer
Crash (2004) Directed by Paul Haggis starring Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Don
Cheadle
Contemporary Conflicts
Black Hawk Down (2001) Directed by Ridley Scott starring Josh Hartnett, Ewen
McGregor, Tom Sizemore
Jarhead (2005) Directed by Sam Mendes starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard,
Jamie Foxx
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Three Kings (1999) Directed by David O. Russell starring George Clooney, Ice
Cube, Mark Wahlberg
Rules of Engagement (2000) Directed by William Freidkin starring Samuel L.
Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Guy Pearce
Live from Baghdad (2002) Directed by Mick Jackson starring Michael Keaton, Helena
Bonham Carter, Joshua Leonard
Tears of the Sun (2003) Directed by Antoine Fuqua starring Bruce Willis, Monica
Bellucci, Cole Hauser
Courage Under Fire (1996) Directed by Edward Zwick starring Denzel Washington,
Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips
Lord of War (2005) Directed by Andrew Niccol starring Nicholas Cage, Jared Leto,
Ethan Hawke
American Soldiers (2005) Directed by Sidney J. Furie starring Curtis Morgan, Zan
Calabretta, Jordan Brown
Behind Enemy Lines (2001) Directed by John Moore starring Owen Wilson, Gene
Hackman, Gabriel Macht
United 93 (2006) Directed by Paul Greengrass starring Polly Adams, Trish Gates,
Nancy McDoniel
World Trade Centre (2006) Directed by Oliver Stone starring Nicholas Cage, Maria
Bello, Connor Paolo
Lions for Lambs (2007) Directed by Robert Redford starring Robert Redford, Tom
Cruise, Meryl Streep.
Kingdom (2007) Directed by Peter Berg starring Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jason
Bateman, Jeremy Piven
Babel (2006) Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu starring Brad Pitt, Cate
Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal
For Fun
Forrest Gump (1994) Directed by Robert Zemeckis starring Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise,
Robin Wright Penn, Mykelti Williamson
National Treasure (2004) Directed by John Turteltaub starring Nicholas Cage, Sean
Bean, Jon Voight, Dianne Kruger
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Coming to America (1988) Directed by John Landis starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio
Hall, James Earl Jones
The American President (1995) Directed by Rob Reiner starring Michael Douglas,
Annette Bening, Michael J.Fox
Primary Colors (1998) Directed by Mike Nichols starring John Travolta, Emma
Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton
Wag the Dog (1997) Directed by Barry Levinson starring Robert De Niro, Dustin
Hoffman, Anne Heche
Man of the Year (2006) Directed by Barry Levinson starring Robin Williams,
Christopher Walken, Lauren Linney
The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) Directed by Jonathan Lynn starring Eddie
Murphy, Charles S. Dutton, Lane Smith
An American Tail (1986) Animated Film Directed by Don Bluth starring Phillip
Glasser, Dom Deluise, Nehemiah Persoff
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991) Directed by Phil Nibbelink starring
Phillip Glasser, Dom Deluise, Nehemiah Persoff
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) Directed by Michael Moore starring Ben Affleck, Stevie
Wonder, George W. Bush
Bowling for Columbine (2002) Directed by Michael Moore starring Charlton Heston,
George W. Bush, Marilyn Manson
Sicko (2007) Directed by Michael Moore starring Michael Moore, George W. Bush,
Reggie Cervantes
Super Size Me (2004) Directed by Morgan Spurlock starring Morgan Spurlock, Dr.
Daryl Isaacs, Eric Rowley
Thank You For Smoking (2005) Directed by Jason Reitman starring Aaron Eckhart,
Maria Bello, David Koechner
Biographical Movies
JFK (1991) Directed by Oliver Stone starring Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee
Jones, Gary Oldman
Bobby (2007) Directed by Emelio Estevez starring Laurence Fishburne, Anthony
Hopkins, Lindsay Lohan, Demi Moore
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Ali (2001) Directed by Michael Mann starring Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight,
Mario Van Peebles
Malcolm X (1992) Directed by Spike Lee starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett,
Delroy Lindo,
Nixon (1995) Directed by Oliver Stone starring Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, Ed
Harris, Bob Hoskins
The Babe (1992) Directed by Arthur Hiller starring John Goodman, Kelly McGillis,
James Cromwell
Wyatt Earp (1994) Directed by Lawrence Kasdan starring Kevin Costner, Gene
Hackman, Dennis Quaid
Cobb (1994) Directed by Ron Shelton starring Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Wuhl, Lolita
Davidovich
Hoffa (1992) Directed by Danny Devito starring Jack Nicholson, Danny Devito, John C.
Riley
Raging Bull (1980) Directed by Martin Scorcese starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci,
Cathy Moriarti
Pride of the Yankees (1942) Directed by Sam Wood starring Gary Cooper, Babe
Ruth, Walter Brennan
Lady Sings the Blues (1972) Directed by Sidney J. Furie starring Diana Ross, Billy
Dee Williams, Richard Pryor
Whats Love Got To Do With It (1993) Directed by Brian Gibson starring Angela
Basset, Laurence Fishburne, Khandi Alexander
The Aviator (2004) Directed by Martin Scorcese starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Kate
Beckinsale, Cate Blanchett
La Bamba (1987) Directed by Luis Valdez starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales,
Joe Pantaliano
Great Balls of Fire (1989) Directed by Jim McBride starring Dennis Quaid, Steve
Allen, Winona Ryder
The Buddy Holly Story (1978) Directed by Steve Rash starring Gary Busey, Conrad
Janis, Charles Martin Smith
Ray (2004) Directed by Taylor Hackford starring Jamie Foxx, Larenz Tate, Terrence
Howard
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Bugsy (1991) Directed by Barry Levinson starring Warren Beatty, Annette Benning,
Harvey Keitel
Men of Honour (2000) directed by George Tillman Jr. starring Robert De Niro, Cuba
Gooding Jr., Charlize Theron
Walk the Line (2005) Directed by James Mangold starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese
Witherspoon, Robert Patrick
Pollack (2000) Directed by Ed Harris starring Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Jennifer
Connelly
Capote (2005) directed by Bennett Miller starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bruce
Greenwood, Clifton Collins Jr.
When We Were Kings (1996) directed by Leon Gast starring Muhammed Ali, George
Foreman, Don King