Golden Boy (1939)

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:

Mon. Jan. 4

9:45 PM

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:

Lorna Moon: I'll make him fight.
Tom Moody: [with anger] How?
Lorna Moon: How? Oh, leave it to me Tom.
[pause]
Lorna Moon: I'm a dame from Newark, and I know a dozen ways.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Lullaby (Cradle Song)

Golden Boy- A Gem in A Golden 1939 Year ****

1939 remains a golden year for motion pictures and this film is absolutely no exception.

William Holden is excellent as a violin player turned boxer who sacrifices all for making money to help his father and be someone. The father is played in a positively brilliant performance by Lee J. Cobb. Cobb dons an Italian accent here and conveys utter sympathy as the poor shop owner who only wants the best for his son.

Adolphe Menjou and Barbara Stanwyck play lovers who stumble on Holden (Joe Bonaparte) and want to get him to the top to make the all important dough. Joseph Calleia plays the heavy here as a mafia-like gangster who wants a part of Joe as well.

Even with the fancy clothes and change in lifestyle, Holden was unable to convey the change unless this is what the author, Clifford Odets, wanted.

A tragedy ensues in the ring only to make Bonaparte a better person and Stanwyck, realizing her love for him, abandons Menjou as the two return to his father.

It should be noted that Bonaparte has a sister in the film, who gives a clumsy imitation of Gracie Allen. Sam Levene, plays her cab driver husband, in a role that was made for him.

Menjou, as the promoter, and Stanwyck, as a woman who regrets pushing Bonaparte in the ring, are excellent.

This is certainly an anti-boxing film