True Believer

Up until then, Ali continued to see his friend--even after that night at the Hampton House. "Ali never shrank from confrontations in the ring, but on a personal level he'd do anything to avoid any sort of ugliness," says Hauser. After the Nation forced his hand, he saw Malcolm just once more: a chance encounter in May 1964 while both were in Ghana. As Malcolm was checking out of his hotel, he spotted Ali checking in and called out to him. Ali froze. "You shouldn't have quarreled with Elijah Muhammad," he said, then walked away. In the film, however, Ali greets Malcolm and, at first, the two chat warmly. Then Ali is gripped by something--anger? fear? duty?--and he cuts Malcolm off. Mann's choice isn't exactly dishonest. It was their last moment together and clearly Ali, who was a consultant on the film, wishes he could have it back. Because nine months later, his good friend Malcolm was gone.

© 2001