OK so this is a German film - more a TV movie in feel - and instead of any British or American characters speaking English to be subtitled, they speak German. So Joe Louis black American boxer of 1930s speaks fluent German as does a British POW. Very odd in a way but maybe just what US films do all the time the other way round.
What is great about this being German is that you get to see lots of original and well-used archive footage of boxing and the Nazis and WWII which we in the UK have never seen before as these are German newsreels.
Sadly, whenever we get to hear of Max Schmeling it is in the contest of Joe Louis, hero of African-Americans so Max is portrayed as the (white) enemy. Very refreshing to see this German and European angle on it all.
Liked the footage of Crete where Max was sent as a soldier.
Watch right till the end to find out what happened to all the characters.
NO SPOILERS as biography, but Max became very rich as the man in West Germany who supplied Coca-Cola and died in his 100th year. Fab. He also financially supported a destitute Joe Louis in later life.
3.5 stars rounded up