Golden Boy (1939)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Rouben Mamoulian

Writers:

Clifford Odets (play)
Lewis Meltzer (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 September 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A Famous Play.....Now A Great Picture!

Plot:

Despite his musical talent, Joe Bonaparte wants to be a boxer.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Boxing | Fight Manager | Conscience | Italian American

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17

12:00 AM

TCM

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck	...	Lorna Moon
Adolphe Menjou	...	Tom Moody
William Holden	...	Joe Bonaparte
Lee J. Cobb	...	Mr. Bonaparte
Joseph Calleia	...	Eddie Fuseli
Sam Levene	...	Siggie
Edward Brophy	...	Roxy Lewis (as Edward S. Brody)
Beatrice Blinn	...	Anna 'Duchess'
William H. Strauss	...	Mr. Carp
Don Beddoe	...	Borneo
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Halton	...	Newspaperman (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #5368)

Filming Locations:

Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden - 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

William Holden was considered not to be up to the role in the film, however Barbara Stanwyck urged producers to keep him in the picture, and succeeded. In 1978, at the The 50th Annual Academy Awards (1978) (TV), before starting the presentation of the sound award, William Holden publicly thanked Stanwyck for what she did.

Quotes:

Eddie Fuseli: This your girl?
Lorna Moon: I'm my mother's girl.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Sunset Blvd.': A Look Back (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Funiculi, Funicula

Involving Story With Good Characters

I found this to be a pretty solid movie with some interesting characters. It was a shock at first to see William Holden this young. I had known him at that time as an older guy. In this film, he looked about 19 and didn't even have the deep voice I was accustomed to hearing. I didn't Lee J. Cobb, either, who played Holden's father, a Jewish man with a beard. Barbara Stanwyck, meanwhile, played her typical role: tough gal with a soft heart underneath.

Story-wise, there were a couple of holes in it near the end which lowered my rating a tiny bit. No stranger, in a big fight, would be allowed to walk into a fighter's dressing room right before the bout. In fairness, I've seen that in other classic films, too, even to the point of the boxer being in his room totally alone and anyone walking in. I don't think so!!!!

Anyway, outside of those little things, it was a well-done and involving story that got me hooked in from the start. I've watched this twice and enjoyed it both times. Now I am just waiting for a DVD of this.