Knockout (1941)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

William Clemens

Writers:

Michael Fessier (story)
M. Coates Webster (writer)

Release Date:

29 March 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

From Champ to Chump!

Plot Keywords:

Nightclub | Promoter | Hospital | Boxing | Revenge

Cast

Arthur Kennedy	...	Johnny Rocket, aka Kid Williams
Olympe Bradna	...	Angela Grinnelli
Virginia Field	...	Gloria Van Ness
Anthony Quinn	...	Mr. Harry Trego
Cliff Edwards	...	Pinky (credits) / Sleepy
Cornel Wilde	...	Tom 'Tommy' Rossi
Richard Ainley	...	Mr. George Allison
William Edmunds	...	Mr. Louis Grinnelli
Frank Wilcox	...	Denning
John Ridgely	...	Pat Martin
Ben Welden	...	Pelky
Vera Lewis	...	Mrs. Turner (scenes deleted)
Charles C. Wilson	...	Monigan (as Charles Wilson)
Edwin Stanley	...	Marion County Hospital Doctor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nat Carr	...	(scenes deleted)
Herbert Anderson	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Peter Ashley	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Abie Bain	...	Fighter (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey	...	Gloria's Butler (uncredited)
George Campeau	...	Reporter Next to Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Fiske Fight Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Noble 'Kid' Chissel	...	'Punch' Hawkins, a Fighter (uncredited)
David Clarke	...	Peters, a Fighter (uncredited)
Richard Clayton	...	Messenger (uncredited)
Billy Coe	...	Billy Coe, Kent Fight Timekeeper (uncredited)
Garrett Craig	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Tom Dugan	...	Zeke, Gloria's Photographer (uncredited)
Frank Faylen	...	Fighter in Locker Room (uncredited)
Tommy Garland	...	Jim Fiske, a Fighter (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Frank (uncredited)
Joe Gray	...	Kent, a Fighter (uncredited)
Creighton Hale	...	Second Reporter (uncredited)
Grace Hayle	...	Mrs. Smithers (uncredited)
Jack Herrick	...	Fighter Sitting on Johnny's Pants (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Reporter (uncredited)
William Hopper	...	First Reporter (uncredited)
J. Anthony Hughes	...	Mr. Ben Morton (uncredited)
John Indrisano	...	Johnny Indrisano, Kent Fight Referee (uncredited)
Edward Keane	...	Indianapolis Athletic Commission Official (uncredited)
John Kellogg	...	Murphy, a Fighter (uncredited)
David Kerwin	...	East Side Pug (uncredited)
Reid Kilpatrick	...	Fiske Fight Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Spike Mason	...	Fighter (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Doctor L. Madison (uncredited)
Larry McGrath	...	Al Mory, Fiske Fight Referee (uncredited)
Frank Moran	...	East Side Pug (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Kid Williams' Manager (uncredited)
Jimmy O'Gatty	...	East Side Pug (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley	...	Hanson Fight Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Steve Pendleton	...	Stanley, a Fighter (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Hanson Fight Referee (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Hawkins Fight Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Paul Phillips	...	Fighter (uncredited)
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Kovacs, a Fighter (uncredited)
Jack Richardson	...	Hanson Fight Watcher (uncredited)
Frank Riggi	...	Monk Hanson, a Fighter (uncredited)
Cy Schindell	...	Hawkins Fight Referee (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Nightclub Headwaiter (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Charlie, Kid Williams' Handler (uncredited)
Elliott Sullivan	...	East Side Pug (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Hanson Fight Watcher (uncredited)
Ulysses Williams	...	Boxer (uncredited)
Tom Wilson	...	Mac, Man in Gym (uncredited)
Jack Wise	...	Nightclub Photographer (uncredited)

Directed by
William Clemens

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Fessier		story
M. Coates Webster		writer

Produced by
Edmund Grainger	....	associate producer
Bryan Foy	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Ted D. McCord		(as Ted McCord)

Film Editing by
Doug Gould

Art Direction by
Stanley Fleischer

Costume Design by
Damon Giffard		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Elmer Decker	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Dolph Thomas	....	sound

Music Department
Sanford Green	....	composer: music cues (uncredited)
Cliff Hess	....	composer: music cues (uncredited)
Howard Jackson	....	composer: music cues (uncredited)
William Lava	....	composer: music cues (uncredited)
Heinz Roemheld	....	musical director (uncredited)
Max Steiner	....	composer: opening fanfare (uncredited)

Other crew
Gene Lewis	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1941) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Right to the Heart

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Approved

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Film debut of David Clarke.

Soundtrack:

Ave Maria

Headlines aplenty

There are newspaper headlines aplenty in this Bryan Foy produced programmer, but Knockout remains an above average 'B' film that will satisfy bottom of the bill fanciers. Arthur Kennedy stars as Johnny Rocket, a talented young pugilist who's got his eye on a new bride and a new job at a gym. But crafty manager Harry Trego(Anthony Quinn) soon intercedes in an effort to keep Rocket's golden gloves performing in the ring. Nicely shot by Ted McCord, the film is at its best when Rocket's life hits bottom when he gets in over his head with the smart set and wife Olympe Bradna leaves him. Bradna, a Frenchwoman, is the film's weak link, as she's unable to contain her Parisian accent whilst trying to portray the first generation daughter of a Brooklyn-based Italian immigrant. If you can overlook her shortcomings, however, you'll find this a satisfying example of the lost art of 'B' grade filmmaking.