Lee J. Cobb (l) confronts William Holden, the Golden Boy. Image: Harvard Film Archive
If you look at the list of boxing movies on Wikipedia, you might be surprised to see how many have been made.
Every decade since the 1890s has seen a new crop of boxing films; the oldest listed is Leonard-Cushing Fight (1894), filmed in Thomas Edison’s Black Maria Studio in New Jersey.
By the 1930s, boxing movies were becoming more common. Twenty-nine were released during the Depression; six of those in 1939 alone.
One of those films, Golden Boy, is credited with being an Influential Force when it comes to boxing films, but we think others released that decade were more significant, e.g. The Champ (1931).
Golden Boy was based on the stage play by critically-acclaimed New York playwright, Clifford Odets, the Toast of 1930s New York Theatre-dom. It would be the last of the hugely successful Odets plays – his career trajectory had already started to stall – but that wasn’t yet apparent.
The play centres around a young man who is equally gifted at boxing and playing the violin. His father wants him to pursue music – he Scrimped For Years to buy his son a violin – but the young man ain’t no fool. He knows he could make a lotta dough in the boxing ring.
However, if he boxes, he risks ruining his hands, and playing the violin would be a Lost Opportunity. And just never mind all that moola his father spent on him, at the exclusion of other family members.
It’s worth noting Odets himself helped fund production of the play. Where did the money come from? Why, Hollywood, of course, where Odets went to write the screenplay for The General Died at Dawn – and it would not be the last time Odets would work in the film industry.
So the struggle between art and commerce, as explored in Golden Boy, may be a reflection of Odets’s own life: The clash between the Art of the Theatre and the Filthy Lucre of Hollywood.
I’m gonna put your name in lights, kid! Image: IMDb
Given its pedigree, then, Golden Boy, the movie, is surprisingly mediocre. It was William Holden’s first major film role, and he’s far from the fab, seasoned William Holden of the 1950s. The brass at Columbia Pictures wanted to fire him, but co-star Barbara Stanwyck proved to be a fierce Advocate on his behalf.
The dialogue is painful in places, although there are some gems. For example, Stanwyck tells a fresh Holden, “You’ve got plenty of speed, but in the wrong direction.”
In another scene, Holden’s manager Aldophe Menjou wants Stanwyck to manipulate the young man, but wonders if she’s up it. “I’m a dame from New York,” she replies, “and I know a dozen ways.”
Although the cast is superb (Stanwyck, of course, along with the delightfully crusty Menjou, and the slimy-yet-yet menacing Joseph Calleia), the romantic machinations are unconvincing.
Lee J. Cobb, who plays Holden’s father, makes the most of the material he’s given, but he’s unable to generate enough pathos, in our opinion.
However, despite all that, Golden Boy is a film with Heart, and when Tragedy Strikes, the choices with which Holden’s character has been grappling suddenly crystalize.
For all its faults, this film has an earnestness that endears you.
Gangster Joseph Calleia (r) muscles in on the action. Image: True Classics
And what of the boxing itself? We (yours truly) are not expert enough to say if the boxing looks “real” or “staged”. But when the climactic Boxing Scene starts, you can’t guess the outcome beforehand, which means the script did its Job.
The final boxing scene was filmed at Madison Square Gardens, where, according to IMDb, Holden was knocked unconscious during shooting. But the footage was never used because director Rouben Mamoulian felt it didn’t look authentic.
Golden Boy is dated – it feels like a Really Old movie – but some film enthusiasts list it among their favourites. It is worth a look, if you don’t expect too much.
This post is part of the Olympic Dreams Blogathon, hosted by 18 Cinema Lane.
Golden Boy starring Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou, William Holden. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. Written by Lewis Meltzer, Daniel Taradash, Sarah Y. Mason. Columbia Pictures, 1939 B&W, 99 mins.
Like you, I’m not a huge fan of Golden Boy. It just doesn’t fare well compared to boxing classics like Gentlemen Jim, Requiem for a Heavyweight, and Rocky. Heck, it’s not as entertaining as They Made Me a Criminal. But there’s a special “something” in the scenes between Stanwyck and Holden. When she accepted her honorary Oscar in 1982, she paid tribute to Holden with: “To my Golden Boy, wherever you are.”
Movies about sports, and boxe in particular, will always be made in Hollywood. Generally I don’t fall for them buy, as always, there era exceptions like Cinderella Man or Million Dollar Baby.
I seem to recall the “heart” from my one youthful viewing but have not been able to muster up the enthusiasm to give it a rewatch despite the cast of favourites. When Mamoulian gives us a clinker (Summer Holiday comes to mind), he gives us a clinker!
Loved your write-up, Ruth. I have had Golden Boy in my (VHS) collection for literally decades, but I’ve never gotten very far into it. I’ve mainly wanted to see it for Holden’s performance, since Stanwyck was so instrumental in helping him with the role. I think I will bump it up on my list now!
Nice review and thanks for participating in my blogathon! I have never heard of this film, but I have seen two of William Holden’s movies. In fact, I reviewed one of them at the beginning of this year. Here’s the link if you want to check it out:
I never saw Raging Bull, and I wss going to write about it for this blogathon, but it didn’t pan out. I’ve heard great things about it. Did you see it in the theatre?
As the sports guy, IMHO the best boxing movies are…
5) When We Were Kings (documentary)
4) Champion
3) Requiem For A Heavyweight
2) Rocky
1) Raging Bull
Thanks for the list, J-Dub. You’ve listed a couple of films I’ve been meaning to see for a while (Raging Bull and When We Were Kings). Glad to see you included Rocky & Requiem, because I think they’re two of the best, too…not that I know much about it.
I’m not a fan of boxing movies, of which there seem to be SO many! Someone should do a movie about why people are obsessed with watching men pummel each other! That being said, I enjoyed your review!
Haha! I hear you. Boxing, as a sport, has always puzzled me, but I’m a sucker for these movies for whatever reason. Maybe because the stakes are always so high.
It is, indeed, not a very remarkable movie – I know I’ve reviewed it, but I don’t remember much of it. But young William Holden is surely a knock-out!
Greetings!
Thanks! Happily, for non-boxing fans, there isn’t much boxing until the end of the film, and even that is crucial to the story. No gratuitous violence.
I can’t get over how young Willian Holden looks in your photographs, I’m more familiar with him in his later films such as The Towering Inferno and The Wild Bunch. Boxing movies are a mixed bag, I’d say Then Set-Up with Robert Ryan is probably my favourite of this genre.
Executive Suite is one I’ve still not seen, despite the good things I’ve read about it. I’ll see if there’s a half-decent version on YouTube. And thanks for putting it on my radar. 🙂
I have a pet peeve about fighting movies, especially when it involves boxing or MMA, because as a practitioner myself, sometimes the Hollywood ‘extra-ness’ is just too much for my suspension of disbelief to handle. But maybe I should check out this movie!
I’ve heard other boxers/boxing aficionados say the same thing. Out of curiosity, what is your opinion of the boxing scenes in the original Rocky movie, if you’ve seen it?
I don’t have any complaints about Rocky. They looked like the know how to throw a punch or move in the ring. It’s just that the pivotal moments were a bit over-acted. Still, I understand that movies need to look fancier than real life, so I’ll give them that.
You want a stark comparison on the fake end of the spectrum though? Jean Claude Van Damme’s fight scenes (Bloodsport, Kickboxer, etc.) take the cake, lol.
Silver Screenings 
It’s hard for me to say no to Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden, but … in this case … if I came across it, I might give it a look. 🙂
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You should give it a look, if you get the chance. I was expecting Big Things from this film, but Barbara alone is worth the price of admission.
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Like you, I’m not a huge fan of Golden Boy. It just doesn’t fare well compared to boxing classics like Gentlemen Jim, Requiem for a Heavyweight, and Rocky. Heck, it’s not as entertaining as They Made Me a Criminal. But there’s a special “something” in the scenes between Stanwyck and Holden. When she accepted her honorary Oscar in 1982, she paid tribute to Holden with: “To my Golden Boy, wherever you are.”
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Apparently, William Holden sent flowers every year to Barbara Stanwyck in appreciation. It’s wonderful to hear these kinds of Hollywood stories.
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Movies about sports, and boxe in particular, will always be made in Hollywood. Generally I don’t fall for them buy, as always, there era exceptions like Cinderella Man or Million Dollar Baby.
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Cinderella Man is one I haven’t yet seen, but it appears many times on “Best Boxing Movie” lists. I’ll have to check it out.
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I seem to recall the “heart” from my one youthful viewing but have not been able to muster up the enthusiasm to give it a rewatch despite the cast of favourites. When Mamoulian gives us a clinker (Summer Holiday comes to mind), he gives us a clinker!
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Sadly, that is true. Golden Boy could’ve been one of the greats…but it just isn’t.
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Loved your write-up, Ruth. I have had Golden Boy in my (VHS) collection for literally decades, but I’ve never gotten very far into it. I’ve mainly wanted to see it for Holden’s performance, since Stanwyck was so instrumental in helping him with the role. I think I will bump it up on my list now!
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It’s worth seeing William Holden in this role, and noting what a much different actor he would be after WWII. Stanwyck is utterly fab here, as always.
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Nice review and thanks for participating in my blogathon! I have never heard of this film, but I have seen two of William Holden’s movies. In fact, I reviewed one of them at the beginning of this year. Here’s the link if you want to check it out:
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Thanks for dropping by, and for sharing the link. 🙂
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You’re welcome!
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Great post..
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Thanks, Gill! I hope you’re havung a good weekend. 🙂
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Barbara Stanwyck seems to have been extremely fiesty. Will have to hunt down a biography!
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PS Also love you to enter this… https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/2021/07/06/blogathon-announcing-the-no-true-scotsman-blogathon/
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I have been thinking about it – love the idea. Just haven’t decided on a film yet…
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Looking forward to hearing from you. I know you will come out with an interesting read.
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Is Raging Bull the best boxing movie? I’m no expert, but it’s really good.
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I never saw Raging Bull, and I wss going to write about it for this blogathon, but it didn’t pan out. I’ve heard great things about it. Did you see it in the theatre?
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Yes. Haven’t seen it since then.
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That alone shows what a powerful movie it is.
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As the sports guy, IMHO the best boxing movies are…
5) When We Were Kings (documentary)
4) Champion
3) Requiem For A Heavyweight
2) Rocky
1) Raging Bull
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Thanks for the list, J-Dub. You’ve listed a couple of films I’ve been meaning to see for a while (Raging Bull and When We Were Kings). Glad to see you included Rocky & Requiem, because I think they’re two of the best, too…not that I know much about it.
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Great list. Body and Soul (1947) is pretty good too.
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I’m not a fan of boxing movies, of which there seem to be SO many! Someone should do a movie about why people are obsessed with watching men pummel each other! That being said, I enjoyed your review!
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Haha! I hear you. Boxing, as a sport, has always puzzled me, but I’m a sucker for these movies for whatever reason. Maybe because the stakes are always so high.
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It is, indeed, not a very remarkable movie – I know I’ve reviewed it, but I don’t remember much of it. But young William Holden is surely a knock-out!
Greetings!
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Young William Holden was almost unrecognizable at first, I thought.
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Never been a lover of boxing but you make these movies sound watchable!
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Thanks! Happily, for non-boxing fans, there isn’t much boxing until the end of the film, and even that is crucial to the story. No gratuitous violence.
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I can’t get over how young Willian Holden looks in your photographs, I’m more familiar with him in his later films such as The Towering Inferno and The Wild Bunch. Boxing movies are a mixed bag, I’d say Then Set-Up with Robert Ryan is probably my favourite of this genre.
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The young William Holden is almost unrecognizable, isn’t he?
The Set-Up is such a good movie, and you’ve reminded me it’s time to see it again.
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It’s flawed for sure. I kinda liked it though. Anyhow, I much prefer Stanwick and Holden in Robert Wise’s Executive Suite.
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Executive Suite is one I’ve still not seen, despite the good things I’ve read about it. I’ll see if there’s a half-decent version on YouTube. And thanks for putting it on my radar. 🙂
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Executive Suite is very good! You won’t be disappointed!
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I actually like this film, a bit cheesy but good. And Lee J. Cobb is over-the-top corny, which is great lol
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Haha! You’re right about that. Lee J. Cobb is a bit over the top, but I cant help but love that character.
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I have a pet peeve about fighting movies, especially when it involves boxing or MMA, because as a practitioner myself, sometimes the Hollywood ‘extra-ness’ is just too much for my suspension of disbelief to handle. But maybe I should check out this movie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard other boxers/boxing aficionados say the same thing. Out of curiosity, what is your opinion of the boxing scenes in the original Rocky movie, if you’ve seen it?
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I don’t have any complaints about Rocky. They looked like the know how to throw a punch or move in the ring. It’s just that the pivotal moments were a bit over-acted. Still, I understand that movies need to look fancier than real life, so I’ll give them that.
You want a stark comparison on the fake end of the spectrum though? Jean Claude Van Damme’s fight scenes (Bloodsport, Kickboxer, etc.) take the cake, lol.
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