Kid Galahad (1937)
Kid Galahad is a famous early boxing picture, so if you’re a fan of the genre, you might want to check it out. I was particularly interested because it was made in 1937 and the classic Golden Boy was made two years later. The latter received tons of accolades, launched the career of William Holden, and has lasted in audiences’ memories.
However, I found Kid Galahad to be a superior movie. First and foremost, Edward G. Robinson is the lead, and he has a very warm and likable screen persona. Even though Adolphe Menjou was fine in Golden Boy, he was not as easy to root for as Eddie G. Secondly, both films feature an Italian loving family, but Galahad’s was more believable in the nationality. Lee J. Cobb, as everyone knows, was not very believable as an Italian. Edward G. Robinson was fluent in Italian in real life, and to hear him rattle off the language easily to his mother felt like we were seeing him in his childhood kitchen. True, he wasn’t of Italian descent, but it certainly seemed like he was in Galahad.
There are those who love Clifford Odett’s play, but I found the earlier story more endearing. Instead of a violinist endangering his hands, an innocent bellhop gets sucked into a “one fight only” boxing match by two rival managers (Eddie G and Humphrey Bogart). – happens to have talent in the ring, and Eddie starts grooming him to be the next champ – with the condition that he always obeys him. Bette Davis, Eddie G’s moll, warns – against the kind of life boxing brings. Just as in Golden Boy, there’s a forbidden romance and the threat to the end of innocence.
I admit Bette was a bit miscast as a gangster’s moll; Barbara Stanwyck was far more convincing as the hardened manager’s live-in. Bette was too soft and sweet. Still, she got to wear some pretty dresses and show off her figure! If you like beefcake eye candy with your boxing flicks, or if you want to see the “original” version of Golden Boy, check it out.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Lucy's Movies" for posting!
More Edward G. Robinson movies here!
However, I found Kid Galahad to be a superior movie. First and foremost, Edward G. Robinson is the lead, and he has a very warm and likable screen persona. Even though Adolphe Menjou was fine in Golden Boy, he was not as easy to root for as Eddie G. Secondly, both films feature an Italian loving family, but Galahad’s was more believable in the nationality. Lee J. Cobb, as everyone knows, was not very believable as an Italian. Edward G. Robinson was fluent in Italian in real life, and to hear him rattle off the language easily to his mother felt like we were seeing him in his childhood kitchen. True, he wasn’t of Italian descent, but it certainly seemed like he was in Galahad.
There are those who love Clifford Odett’s play, but I found the earlier story more endearing. Instead of a violinist endangering his hands, an innocent bellhop gets sucked into a “one fight only” boxing match by two rival managers (Eddie G and Humphrey Bogart). – happens to have talent in the ring, and Eddie starts grooming him to be the next champ – with the condition that he always obeys him. Bette Davis, Eddie G’s moll, warns – against the kind of life boxing brings. Just as in Golden Boy, there’s a forbidden romance and the threat to the end of innocence.
I admit Bette was a bit miscast as a gangster’s moll; Barbara Stanwyck was far more convincing as the hardened manager’s live-in. Bette was too soft and sweet. Still, she got to wear some pretty dresses and show off her figure! If you like beefcake eye candy with your boxing flicks, or if you want to see the “original” version of Golden Boy, check it out.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Lucy's Movies" for posting!
More Edward G. Robinson movies here!