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DramaRomance

Golden Boy

- A Famous Play.....Now A Great Picture!

Despite his talent as a musician, a city boy decides to become a boxer. He's successful as a fighter — much to the dismay of his parents. When gangsters try to buy a piece of him, he begins to have second thoughts.

Release Date : 1939-09-05

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Columbia Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck

Character Name : Lorna Moon

Original Name : Barbara Stanwyck

Gender : Female

Adolphe Menjou

Character Name : Tom Moody

Original Name : Adolphe Menjou

Gender : Male

William Holden

Character Name : Joe Bonaparte

Original Name : William Holden

Gender : Male

Lee J. Cobb

Character Name : Mr. Bonaparte

Original Name : Lee J. Cobb

Gender : Male

Joseph Calleia

Character Name : Eddie Fuseli

Original Name : Joseph Calleia

Gender : Male

Sam Levene

Character Name : Siggie

Original Name : Sam Levene

Gender : Male

Edward Brophy

Character Name : Roxy Lewis

Original Name : Edward Brophy

Gender : Male

Beatrice Blinn

Character Name : Anna 'Duchess'

Original Name : Beatrice Blinn

Gender : Female

William H. Strauss

Character Name : Mr. Carp

Original Name : William H. Strauss

Gender : Male

Don Beddoe

Character Name : Borneo

Original Name : Don Beddoe

Gender : Male

Stanley Andrews

Character Name : Driscoll, Fight Official

Original Name : Stanley Andrews

Gender : Male

Gordon Armitage

Character Name : Fighter

Original Name : Gordon Armitage

Gender : Male

Earl Askam

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : Earl Askam

Gender : Male

Al Bayne

Character Name : Fighter

Original Name : Al Bayne

Gender : Male

Don Brodie

Character Name :

Original Name : Don Brodie

Gender : Male

Dora Clement

Character Name : Ill Ringsider Who Won't Leave

Original Name : Dora Clement

Gender : Female

Irving Cohen

Character Name : Ex-Pug

Original Name : Irving Cohen

Gender : Male

Eddie Coke

Character Name : Photographer

Original Name : Eddie Coke

Gender : Male

Dorothy Comingore

Character Name : Fight Spectator

Original Name : Dorothy Comingore

Gender : Female

Onest Conley

Character Name : Jimmy, Chocolate Drop's Brother

Original Name : Onest Conley

Gender : Male

Sayre Dearing

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Sayre Dearing

Gender : Male

Eddie Fetherston

Character Name : Reporter Wilson

Original Name : Eddie Fetherston

Gender : Male

Tommy Garland

Character Name : Fighter

Original Name : Tommy Garland

Gender : Male

Mickey Golden

Character Name : Fighter

Original Name : Mickey Golden

Gender : Male

Alfred Grant

Character Name : Daniel, Chocolate Drop's Older Brother

Original Name : Alfred Grant

Gender : Male

Joe Gray

Character Name : Fighter

Original Name : Joe Gray

Gender : Male

James 'Cannonball' Green

Character Name : Chocolate Drop

Original Name : James 'Cannonball' Green

Gender : Male

Kit Guard

Character Name : Ringsider

Original Name : Kit Guard

Gender : Male

Sam Hayes

Character Name : Broadcaster

Original Name : Sam Hayes

Gender : Male

Frank Jenks

Character Name : Pepper White

Original Name : Frank Jenks

Gender : Male

Anne Kay

Character Name : Fat Woman

Original Name : Anne Kay

Gender : Male

John Kerns

Character Name : Fighter

Original Name : John Kerns

Gender : Male

Charles Lane

Character Name : Reporter Drake

Original Name : Charles Lane

Gender : Male

Al Lang

Character Name : Fight Second

Original Name : Al Lang

Gender : Male

Ian McEwing

Character Name : Referee

Original Name : Ian McEwing

Gender : Male

Larry McGrath

Character Name : Referee

Original Name : Larry McGrath

Gender : Male

Pat McKee

Character Name : Fight Spectator

Original Name : Pat McKee

Gender : Male

Alex Melesh

Character Name : Stranger

Original Name : Alex Melesh

Gender : Male

Frank Mills

Character Name : Fight Spectator Rapidly Chewing Gum

Original Name : Frank Mills

Gender : Male

Bruce Mitchell

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Bruce Mitchell

Gender : Male

Roy Moore

Character Name : Lucky Nelson

Original Name : Roy Moore

Gender : Male

Lee Phelps

Character Name : Ring Announcer

Original Name : Lee Phelps

Gender : Male

Charles Randolph

Character Name : Referee

Original Name : Charles Randolph

Gender : Male

Cyril Ring

Character Name : Extra in Moody's New Office

Original Name : Cyril Ring

Gender : Male

Clinton Rosemond

Character Name : Chocolate Drop's Father

Original Name : Clinton Rosemond

Gender : Male

Syd Saylor

Character Name : Ringsider Next to Pa Bonaparte

Original Name : Syd Saylor

Gender : Male

Cy Schindell

Character Name : Fighter

Original Name : Cy Schindell

Gender : Male

Charles Sherlock

Character Name : Reporter Saying 'That's Too Bad'

Original Name : Charles Sherlock

Gender : Male

Robert Sterling

Character Name : Elevator Boy

Original Name : Robert Sterling

Gender : Male

Landers Stevens

Character Name : Ringsider with Ill Woman

Original Name : Landers Stevens

Gender : Male

Charles Sullivan

Character Name : Referee

Original Name : Charles Sullivan

Gender : Male

Harry Tyler

Character Name : Mickey, Pepper White's Handler

Original Name : Harry Tyler

Gender : Male

Minerva Urecal

Character Name : Grocery Customer

Original Name : Minerva Urecal

Gender : Female

Dave Willock

Character Name : Arena Call Boy

Original Name : Dave Willock

Gender : Male

John Wray

Character Name : Chocolate Drop's Manager

Original Name : John Wray

Gender : Male

Jack Stewart

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : Jack Stewart

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Golden Boy in film form is almost brilliant. Joe Bonaparte is a gifted violinist, but poverty bites hard and he tries his hand at the noble art of pugilism, he proves to be a natural and a career at the top beckons, but does he risk damaging his hands and ending his interest in another noble art? Angst abound as this Rouben Mamoulian adaptation of the Clifford Odets play hits a dramatic spot, whilst simultaneously firmly being only of its time. It hasn't aged well, its dialogue and character portrayals quite simply would be scoffed at now, but this is 1939 and one really has to have the fortitude to appreciate the late 30s sensibilities to enhance the viewing experience. We follow Joe Bonapart (a wonderful and fresh faced debut from William Holden) as he is torn apart by those closest to him, family pressures, love interests and spurious heavies, all combine to pull him from pillar to post. It makes for a riveting viewing, yet after two thirds of intense character build up I found the film to be something of a let down entering the final round. Those familiar with the stage version of Golden Boy will be aware of a vastly different ending to the one we get on film, and it's a shame that the makers here wasn't brave enough to give what I believe to be the ending the film deserves. Another irritant to me was the performance of Joseph Calleia as Eddie Fuseli, where there should be menace from this gangster type fellow, we instead get over the top spivery that ultimately is way too much. Still the direction from Mamoulian perfectly frames the main characters, and Barbara Stanwyck adds a touch of class to the proceedings as the duplitious Lorna Moon. Also of note is the score from Victor Young, whilst the production value is very high indeed. Golden Boy is a film I certainly recommend to friends interested in classic cinema, but sadly to me it will always stop short of being a true classic, something I feel that the original ending would possibly have given it. 7/10