''Body and Soul'' is a 1981 American

sports Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, th ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

written by and starring

Leon Isaac Kennedy Leon Isaac Kennedy (born June 1, 1948 or January 1, 1949) (sources differ) is an American actor, disc jockey, film producer and playwright. Kennedy's acting roles include Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone in Jamaa Fanaka's ''Penitentiary'' (1979), ''Peni ...

and co-starring

Jayne Kennedy Jayne Kennedy Overton (née Harrison; born October 27, 1951) is an American television personality, actress, model, corporate spokeswoman, producer, writer, public speaker, philanthropist, and sports broadcaster. Personal life Jayne Kennedy g ...

. Directed by George Bowers, it is a remake of the 1947 film of the same name.

Plot

Leon Johnson (Leon Isaac Kennedy) is a

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: * Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing *Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

who plans to study medicine, but, with his ailing sister, Kelly (Nikki Swassy), in need of costly care, he decides to earn a living in the ring. His rise is rapid, but Leon's newly extravagant lifestyle threatens his relationship with girlfriend Julie (Jayne Kennedy). As Leon approaches the sport's highest echelons, he faces increasingly tough decisions that test his loyalty to his family and himself.

Cast

as Leon Johnson *

as Julie Winters *

Perry Lang Perry Lang (born December 24, 1959, Palo Alto, California) is an American director, writer and actor. Acting Lang has appeared in several films and television shows, such as '' Teen Lust'', and directed himself in '' Men of War'' (1994). He had ...

as Charles Golphin * Nikki Swasey as Kelly Johnson * Michael V. Gazzo as Frankie *

Kim Hamilton Kim Hamilton (born Dorothy Mae Aiken; September 12, 1932 – September 16, 2013) was an American film and television actress, as well as a director, writer, and artist. Her career spanned more than half a century, from the early 1950s to 2010. H ...

as Mrs. Johnson *

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...

as Himself *

Peter Lawford Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford ( Aylen; 7 September 1923 – 24 December 1984) was an English-American actor.Obituary ''Variety'', 26 December 1984. He was a member of the " Rat Pack" and the brother-in-law of US president John F. Kennedy and sen ...

as Big Man * Gilbert Lewis as Tony *

J.B. Williamson James Bennett Williamson (born December 18, 1956, in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a retired American Professional boxing, professional boxer who held the World Boxing Council, WBC light heavyweight title in 1985. Professional career Williamson tu ...

as St. Louis Assassin *

Mel Welles Mel Welles (February 17, 1924 – August 19, 2005) was an American film actor and director. His best-remembered role may be that of hapless flower shop owner Gravis Mushnick in the 1960 low-budget Roger Corman dark comedy, ''The Little Shop of ...

as Joe Gillardi *

Danny Wells Jack Westelman (April 7, 1941 – November 28, 2013), known as Danny Wells, was a Canadian actor. He was best known for his role as Charlie, the bartender on ''The Jeffersons'', as well as his role as Luigi in the live-action/animated series ''T ...

as Sports Announcer #1 * Johnny Brown as Sports Announcer #2 *

Rosanne Katon Rosanne Katon (born February 5, 1954) is an American model, actress, comedian and activist. She was ''Playboy'' magazine's Playmate of the Month for its September 1978 issue. Her centerfold was photographed by Mario Casilli. Background Kato ...

as Melody *

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (born Edward Dean Gregory; April 30, 1952) is a former professional boxer and the former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion of the World. He is currently a boxing trainer. He has also been an occasional actor. Amateur care ...

as Himself *

Jimmy Lennon Jimmy Lennon Sr. (April 13, 1913 – April 20, 1992) was a ring announcer for boxing and professional wrestling matches. Early life Lennon sang as a young boy in church and later formed a singing group, The Lennon Brothers, with his brothers in V ...

as Himself

References

External links

* * 1981 films American boxing films Remakes of American films African-American drama films 1980s sports drama films Golan-Globus films 1981 drama films 1980s English-language films Films produced by Menahem Golan Films produced by Yoram Globus Films directed by George Bowers 1980s American films {{sport-film-stub