“Who is Stan Smith?” Documentary Aims to Reintroduce Smith to Audience Beyond Just a Shoe Brand

“Who is Stan Smith?” is one of the most anticipated documentaries of 2024, celebrating the life of the tennis icon and the Hall of Fame inductee Stan Smith.

The documentary paints a powerful portrait of the man behind the legendary shoe loved by celebrities over the past five decades. It highlights his impact on tennis history, including his 1968 Davis Cup win and his personal philanthropy.

“Who is Stan Smith?” Honors The Life of The Man Behind The Iconic Shoe

IMDb

Who is Stan Smith?

Stan Smith’s journey through sports, fashion culture, and humanity.

Genre

Documentary

Release Date	May 10, 2024
Director	Danny Lee
Casts	Gary Aspden, Cari Champion, Donald Dell

Undoubtedly, “Who is Stan Smith?” amassed significant positive reviews, for Smith is more than just the namesake of one of the most iconic trainers.

With an IMDb rating of more than 50% of positive reviews, the documentary exploring the life of Smith, from his tennis career to his iconic collaboration with Adidas, has made quite a feat at the box office.

It digs deep into how Smith’s iconic Adidas sneakers promptly became a cultural movement adorned by renowned personalities, including Barack Obama and more.

What hooked the audience most was the storytelling of how the tennis player rose from a working-class background to become a tennis icon and style influencer.

Get a look at the trailer here,

As the documentary progresses, seeing the montage of celebrities fawning over the shoes indeed kept the audience engaged.

We get to see celebrities like John Lennon, Barack Obama effortlessly flaunting the staple pair of Stan Smith with various fits, be it casual or formal.

“Who is Stan Smith?” Highlights Smith’s Now Overlooked Tennis Career

The Belmont Film House review team couldn’t help but appreciate the creator for shedding light on the fact that Tennis, like any other sport, has the ability to infiltrate the fashion world.

After carving out a successful college tennis career, he spent much of his time as a professional before deservedly entering the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.

Smith becoming synonymous with the fashion movement was an unlikely fate after his agent, Donald Dell, negotiated a deal with his face appearing on the tongue of the shoe.

But if anything, Smith’s stardom now comes less from his triumphant tennis career and more from his collaboration with Adidas.

Hence, for us, the documentary came at the perfect time to illuminate Smith’s now-overlooked tennis career.

Though it may start off as a regular sports documentary, Who is Stan Smith takes a twist halfway when we get to see celebrities going gaga over the shoes.

Not only did the featuring of coveted figures, like John McEnroe, Pharrell Williams, and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, add authenticity, but it spoke volumes about his utmost prominence.

The American singer-songwriter Pharrell gave a bold statement stating,

Stan Shoes set a Standard.

With inclusion of celebrated faces in the documentary has unquestionably added flavour.

Similarly, we extend our deep appreciation to Director Danny Lee’s eye-catching filmmaking, which explores Smith’s multifaceted life, from his tennis triumph to his fashion icon.

The storyline seamlessly reflected Smith’s unexpected fame arising from his partnership with the sports brand.

Also, we can’t deny the fact that Danny smartly featured his connections to pop culture besides showcasing the enduring popularity of the Stan Smith tennis shoes.

Lastly, the documentary is definitely a must-watch because it is more than just a documentary. It is a glorious journey through sports, culture, and humanity.