KID GALAHAD

US, 1937, 102 minutes, Black and white.
Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Wayne Morris, Jane Bryan, Harry Carey.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.

Kid Galahad is a strong boxing film from the 1930s. It focuses on a young bellhop, an innocent and naive young man, who is propelled into the boxing industry. The film focuses principally on his manager, Edward G. Robinson, in one of those ultra-dynamic fast-speaking role. His mistress is played by Bette Davis, very interesting in a totally sympathetic character and performance. She in some ways is able to balance Robinson’s temper. However, the villain of the piece is played by Humphrey Bogart, a rival manager who is in essence a gangster. Wayne Morris portrays the bellhop with a strange name, Ward Guisenberry, which everybody laughs at. However, Bette Davis refers to him as a Galahad and that becomes his boxing name. In the supporting cast is Jane Bryan as Robinson’s sister, the romantic connection with Kid Galahad. Harry Carey is the sympathetic trainer.

The film was directed by Michael Curtiz, the Hungarian migrant who directed an enormous variety of genres at Warner Bros, winning an Oscar for Casablanca.

The film was reworked for the Humphrey Bogart vehicle in 1941, Wagons Roll at Night, with the setting as a circus. The film was remade as a vehicle for Elvis Presley, keeping the essence of the story and characters, plus some songs. Because of the Presley vehicle, the 1937 film was renamed The Battling Bellhop for television distribution at the time.

1. The popularity of boxing films? This film in the 1930s, something of a pioneer? Setting up the tradition?

2. Warner Bros production values, the 1930s, black and white photography, the tough and unvarnished style, the strong cast, the score?

3. Boxing in the 1930s, the industry, managers, trainers, the fighters themselves? The gangster backgrounds? Money, betting, promotion? The role of the media? The public?

4. Edward G. Robinson’s portrait of Nick, his appearance, fast-talking, saying there were to be no feelings in the boxing world? His temper, firing people, his treatment of Silver? His distance from his family, yet protective of his sister? His relationship with Louise, calling her Fluff, her supporting him, speaking the truth to him? His watching the bouts, the bets, Turk and the rivalry, the party after the fight, the discovery of the truth about Turk and the betting? A put-up job? Seeing Ward, the KO, the possibilities for him to be a fighter?

5. Bette Davis’s performance as Fluff, sympathetic, singing songs in the clubs, her controlling Nicky, her kindness at the party, helping Ward, calling him Galahad? His name, her infatuation with him? His not noticing?

6. Nick and Silver, the letting go of the initial boxer, taking on Galahad, Galahad’s ambitions, happy to be a champion, the training, the fights, the knockouts, Nick and his control, Galahad obeying him? Galahad and his going to Nick’s home, the mother, the sister? Nick’s anger? His vicious behaviour? Setting up the media information, the betting against Galahad? The attack? Louise and Marie at the bout, their anxiety? Their being able to change Nick’s attitude, Galahad winning?

7. Ward, his name, the innocent, awkward, not knowing about the drinks, defending Louise, the knockout, Turk and his humiliation, cutting his trousers, everybody laughing? His accepting Nick’s proposal? Louise trying to talk him out of it? The fights, the effect, the money to buy a farm?

8. Winning the initial bout, escaping to New York, going to the farm, Nick’s mother, Marie, falling in love? Marie going to New York? Nick driving to the farm, his anger? His trying to dominate Marie? Their going to the nightclub, Louise singing, Turk and his boxer, the clash, the photos, the media treatment?

9. Humphrey Bogart as Turk, vicious, his gangster background, the bets, the bribes, provoking Ward? The media, setting up the championship fight, the photographer after the victory, the setup, Galahad in the shower block, Turk with the gun, Nick and his intervention? The confrontation, the shootout? Turk dying? Nick and his final words?

10. Marie and Galahad, the happy ending? Louise and her walking alone along the street?