Iron Man (1951)

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

W.R. Burnett (novel)
George Zuckerman (writer) ...

Release Date:

18 August 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He's all man in the ring -- or anywhere!

Plot:

An ambitious coal miner is talked into becoming a boxer by his gambler brother.

Plot Keywords:

Booing | Pennsylvania | Beefcake | Boxing | Bare Chested Male

Cast

Jeff Chandler	...	Coke Mason
Evelyn Keyes	...	Rose Warren
Stephen McNally	...	George Mason
Rock Hudson	...	Tommy 'Speed' O'Keefe aka Kosco
Joyce Holden	...	'Tiny' Ford, Photographer
Jim Backus	...	Max Watkins
James Arness	...	Alex Mallick (as Jim Arness)
Steve Martin	...	Joe Savella
Doris Cole	...	Billie
Mushy Callahan	...	Referee
George Baxter	...	Herb Riley

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Jeff Chandler and Rock Hudson had an affair during filming.

Quotes:

Rose Warren: [on the men in her life] Yes, I'm thinking about Speed and I'm thinking about Coke.

Movie Connections:

Version of Some Blondes Are Dangerous (1937)

JEFF CHANDLER AT HIS BEST

Jeff Chandler as 'Coke' in IRON MAN is the first cousin of Kirk Douglas' 'Midge' in CHAMPION. Both are driven by a need to dominate and destroy, that comes from a deep-seated anger. It is to Chandler's credit that Coke is at all sympathetic. Particularly effective is the almost animalistic boxing style driven by inner turmoil. "When I box I'm fighting for my life" says Coke in one revealing scene. This film contains what may be Chandler's best and least-seen performance. Despite his character's mounting brutality, the actor maintains interest and sympathy for Coke, never going over the top. It's a finely shaded portrayal, requiring more than physicality from Chandler, who excels in the many conflicted close-up shots in the first half of the film.

Evelyn Keyes is dependable here, but the actress is much better only two years later in 99 RIVER STREET. This is a cast of big men. Chandler and Rock Hudson (who looks incredible) tower over Steve McNally (himself not a small man). But then all are in Munchkin Land when James Arness appears in the ring with Chandler: Arness was HUGE--trim and well-proportioned--but BIG. His character is a far cry from 'Matt Dillon', and may surprise his fans. Former lawyer McNally is excellent as always and Jim Backus does plenty with his cynical sports-writer character.

Joseph Pevney was a fine actor and here he shows an assurance directing others. Not only is most of the cast at its best, but there are several very strong, dramatically potent scenes.

IRON MAN is not a great film on the near-poetic level of THE SET-UP, CHAMPION or BODY AND SOUL, but its realistic style and acting performances make it more than worthy company for the classic boxing pictures.