The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Writers:

John Lee Mahin (screenplay) and
John Meehan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 November 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Romance | Comedy

Plot:

An ex-sailor turned boxer finds romance and gets a shot at the heavyweight title.

Plot Keywords:

Training | Marital Separation | Nightclub | Boxing | Romantic Rivalry

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Myrna Loy	...	Belle
Max Baer	...	Steve
Primo Carnera	...	Carnera
Jack Dempsey	...	Promotor
Walter Huston	...	Professor
Otto Kruger	...	Willie Ryan
Vince Barnett	...	Bugsie
Robert McWade	...	Adopted Son
Muriel Evans	...	Linda
Jean Howard	...	Show Girl

Also Known As:

Every Woman's Man
The Sailor and the Lady (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1303-R: 26 August 1935 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Primo Carnera was the world's heavyweight boxing champion when this film was made and released. He refused to make the movie using the first script, which had him knocked out in the end, but agreed to a revised script with an additional $10,000 salary.

Goofs:

Continuity: Steve buttons up his sweater, straightens the bottom and puts his hands in his pockets in one shot with the Professor. In the next shot, when he's facing Belle, he buttons the bottom buttons again (before putting his hands in his pockets again).

Movie Connections:

Featured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sobre las olas (Over the Waves)

Lousy title - adult and sophisticated Screenplay

The title belies the production - one expects the usual cliches, but despite that poor title, this is a very adult and sophisticated look at relationships, both marital and extra-marital. The plot never goes in the direction you think it will. Boxing lug falls for crime boss's moll and marries her out from under his nose. Wonder of wonders though- the lug, although the star (Max Baer) is a cad, a womanizer who cheats on his lady love. Wonder of wonders, the boss doesn't threaten or try to rub out his competition - he really loves his lady and lets the lug have her, hoping she'll get wise and come back to him. Wonder of wonders, she asks for what she wants and needs, clearly communicates with the lug, and makes good on her word, leaving him when he won't reform and returning to her former protector. But it's not over yet, folks.

Loy turns in her best performance - just a year prior to THIN MAN stardom. She deserved an Oscar nom at least for her Belle Morgan. Likewise Walter Huston as the alcoholic manager, Edwin J. Bennett, in support (but they didn't have supporting acting awards in those days). The Original Story did net an Oscar nom (deservedly) but the Screenplay should have been recognized as well. It is very intelligently written.

Despite all these positive values, you also have some negatives. Baer is a charmless lunk in the lead and unless you are a devotee of prize fighting, the last half hour will leave you cold as all is worked out during the "big fight" onscreen.

This is overall a remarkably entertaining and thoughtful production, despite its forays into Palookadom. Very worth a watch.