The Ring (1952)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Kurt Neumann

Writers:

Irving Shulman (novel)
Irving Shulman (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 September 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A young Mexican-American in East Los Angeles uses the boxing ring to make a better life for himself and his family, and learns as much about being a Latino in a white society as he does about boxing. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Gerald Mohr	...	Pete Ganusa
Rita Moreno	...	Lucy Gomez
Lalo Rios	...	Tomas 'Tommy' Cantanios aka Tommy Kansas
Robert Arthur	...	Billy Smith
Robert Osterloh	...	Freddy Jack
Martin Garralaga	...	Vidal Cantanios
Art Aragon	...	Himself
Jack Elam	...	Harry Jackson
Peter Brocco	...	Barney Williams
Robert Shayne	...	Jimmy - Aragon's Manager
Julia Montoya	...	Rosa
Lillian Molieri	...	Helen Cantanios
Pepe Hern	...	Rick
Victor Millan	...	Pablo
Tony Martinez	...	Go-Go

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16

Company:

King Brothers Productions

Raging Toro

"This is Los Angeles: sprawling metropolis of the west. It's a beautiful city. It walks like a young giant from the mountains down to the sea. It has shiny buildings and modern freeways. Almost engulfed by the city surrounding it lies a little street "Olvera street." A street that appears to be forgotten by time."

Thus starts the movie with tourists taking pictures of "the lazy Mexicans."

A Mexican family falls on hard times when the father is laid off. Bad timing, it turns out. The family had just bought new furniture and are very proud of the blue sofa and matching chairs (the film is b&w so the chairs look grey to us). "Send it back!" demands the father. The son says he will get a job to help pay for the furniture but the father says "you are only a boy." Storming out of the house the son goes to "the clubhouse" to see his friends. Harassed by bigoted white police and denied service by white owned businesses "Tommy" lets his rage out and gets in a fight.

Tommy is seen fighting by a talent scout - one who is interested in making Tommy a professional fighter. "Don't you want to be something? Do you want to be pushed around like your dad?" Tommy is convinced and "Tommy Kansas" is born.

Tommy's father thinks it's a disgrace. "I am a poor man, but I am not a brute!" But the rest of the family is behind him. "If you do not give up fighting you will leave this house!" exclaims his father as he storms off.

I will admit to not being a big boxing fan. This film, however, kept my interest. The main character "Tommy" is well played and his transformation from naive street kid to young seasoned boxer makes this film worthwhile.