New HBO Documentary “Ali & Cavett: The Tale Of The Tapes” Will Show Deep Friendship Between Muhammad Ali And TV Personality Dick Cavett

The story of the friendship between legendary boxer #MuhammadAli and American television personality #DickCavett will be told in a new HBO documentary “Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes.”

Cavett sat down with Ali in 14 interviews during the time they knew each other, and over the years, media captured how the two’s friendship began to transcend interviewer and interviewee. “I remember we got into sync from the beginning,” Cavett told The Post. “He had an instinct for what I was going to say before I said it. He was just remarkable in that way.”

In the new documentary, features in-depth interviews with Cavett and other comrades of Ali. “He really did have a brilliant sense of humor and brilliant show-biz instincts,” he said. “He had all he needed to be a star in the entertainment world — his timing, his selection of what worked to make it just right, and when to shut up,” he added.” He was a born showman.” Some of the family and friends to be featured in the doc are sportswriter and HBO commentator #LarryMerchant and author #IlyasahShabazz.

Viewers will learn about the history of Ali and Cavett’s TV interviews as well as Ali’s appearances on Cavett’s show “The Dick Cavett Show.” It will also document Ali’s transition from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali and the rise and fall of his professional career as a boxer. “I only got calls from Dick Cavett,” said Ali while on Cavett’s show after losing to Ken Norton. “You are really my main man because this is the only show that invites me right after I get whipped.”

The two’s conversations covered a wide variety of topics, including the boxer’s life and upbringing, as well as his refusal to join the military after being drafted following his dedication to Islam. “It would be hard to know what he wouldn’t talk about at any time,” said Cavett. “First of all, I had to adjust to how smart he was. He had all of that and almost more than he could handle, and he always knew what to say, what tone to take, when he was on too long and how to manipulate the other person, as he did sometimes a little mercilessly with Joe Frazier.”

The documentary was directed by Robert Bader, who came up with the idea of the film after reading Cavett’s two-part series for the New York Times on Ali. “It made me go look at (archival footage) and say, ‘There’s a story here,’” he said. “There’s a very different way Ali appeared on (Cavett’s) shows than any other show. … He was shown great respect by Cavett in those early appearances, and that really made it develop. Certain shows that would have Ali on wouldn’t treat him very well. He wouldn’t go back. … He kept coming back on the Cavett show because he had a really good, free, and open forum there.”