This film is part of Free
Carpentier and Gunboat Smith
Boxing stars Georges Carpentier and 'Gunboat' Smith pull the crowds ahead of their title bout for the World White Heavyweight Championship.
Overview
This tense newsreel coverage of the World White Heavyweight Championship at London's Olympia shows American boxer Edward 'Gunboat' Smith preparing to meet French challenger Georges Carpentier on 16 July. We don't see the match itself, but Topical Budget cashes-in on the 'big-fight' build-up, snapping Carpentier leaving his hotel and Smith sparring for charity (and publicity, no doubt).
On the night, Carpentier won the bout to become Champion by default, when Smith was disqualified for striking the Frenchman while he was on the ground. Carpentier and Smith were among several White Heavyweights contending for the unofficial title of 'Great White Hope' - reflecting whites' anxiety at the continuing supremacy of African-American boxer Jack Johnson, the first black World Heavyweight Champion, who held on to his title from 1908 until he was finally defeated in 1915. Carpentier never fought him. Perhaps surprisingly given its uncomfortable racial connotations, the term 'Great White Hope' has gone into general use to describe challengers in sport, politics and beyond.
Related
Lt Pimple and the Stolen Submarine Lt Pimple and the Stolen Submarine
Comedy 1914 14 mins Silent Location: Twickenham
The intrepid Lieutenant Pimple thwarts foreign enemies in an action-packed wartime spy spoof.
From Antwerp to Ostend From Antwerp to Ostend
Travelogue 1914 5 mins Silent
On the brink of invasion, holidaymakers promenade while refugees shelter in beach huts on the Belgian coastline in 1914.
German Spy Peril German Spy Peril
War 1914 7 mins Silent
Inventive WWI propaganda in which a rejected volunteer foils a German plot to blow up Parliament.
A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol
Fantasy 1914 23 mins Silent
A well-acted early version of Charles Dickens' much loved Christmas story, featuring some impressive ghost sequences.
Egypt and Her Defenders Egypt and Her Defenders
Travelogue 1914 10 mins Silent
Cairo street scenes, the pyramids, the majestic Nile and a visiting Lord Kitchener in a gorgeous tinted travelogue.
Gloves of Ptames Gloves of Ptames
Fantasy 1914 9 mins Silent
A mysterious pair of gloves from an ancient Egyptian tomb cause chaos in this silent 'trick' comedy.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.