KILLER McCOY

US, 1947, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Mickey Rooney, Brian Donlevy, Ann Blyth, James Dunne, Tom Tully, Sam Levine.
Directed by Roy Rowland.

Killer Mc Coy is a boxing film with Mickey Rooney as a contender for a heavyweight championship. The film shows his background, his work with his father, a washed-out vaudeville star who likes to perform in public, forcing his son into the act. In reaction against him, especially with the father's unreliability and alcohol. Brian Donlevy plays a crooked promoter who exploits the young man. He encounters his daughter, played by Ann Blyth, who is not aware of what her father does.

The film has predictable material, but is presented with some vigour, especially the boxing sequences. This was a film for Mickey Rooney to make a transition from his youthful roles, especially Andy Hardy, to more adult roles. While he was a durable actor, he did not have the expected career that his earlier roles might have led to.

1.A boxing film? The tradition of boxing films? Central characters, their struggles, training, bouts, victories, losses?

2.The black and white photography, US 1947, the world of boxing, the world of poverty, affluence? The musical score?

3.The title, Mickey Rooney, his screen presence? As a young boy, with his father, his father and the pressures to do the vaudeville act, his unwillingness? Yet his devotion to his father? His father's travelling, alcoholism, unreliability? Tommy's reaction? His skill at boxing, his being taken up and promoted? His relationship with Cecil Walsh, with Happy?

4.The encounter with Jim Caighn, tough, ruthless, his office, the interview? His seeing value in Tommy? The promotion, the training, the fights, his power?

5.Sheila, her father, the meeting with Tommy, their going out, her reaction, her falling in love, her support of Tommy?

6.The boxing sequences, the difficulties, the training, the bouts? The pressure on Tommy? His reaction? His violent reaction, the injuries? His saving his reputation?

7.Father Ryan, his interest in Tommy, his advice, support?

8.The minor characters in the boxing world, trainers, followers, bets? Managers?

9.An interesting variation on boxing themes?