Golden Boy

A great film. A (very) young William Holden "hits" the bulls-eye on this one. And, I always love to see Barbara Stanwyck's hard, street smart "heart of stone" turn to mush. In a story that won't present you with many surprises as it unfolds, this film is held together by many fine performances. It's from that magical time, long ago, when New York City was inhabited by hustlers and gangsters and boxing was king. It was also inhabited by those of strong family values, the ones fighting that constant battle of the "easy" way or the right way. The mainstay, in that era (in film, anyway), was the ultimate triumph of good. Here, it is a joy to behold. The right choices, by both Stanwyck and Holden, seem very apparent to the viewer, but the right choices are rarely the first ones taken.

Eventually, they can be taken......

In this adaptation of the famous Odets play, a young man must choose between music and boxing. In his star-making role, Holden looks impossibly young, and turns in a surprisingly strong performance, given his inexperience. Stanwyck is quite good in a typical role of a tough broad with a soft heart. She helped Holden overcome his jitters and the two developed a legendary friendship during the filming. Cobb, only seven years older than Holden, is schmaltzy but touching as the latter's father. Levene is wonderful as Holden's brother-in-law. Menjou overacts. Mamoulian is at his best when depicting the family life of the Bonapartes. The fight scenes are brief but effective.

Well-written and well-acted vehicle serves as William Holden's entree to stardom. He was just 21 and is easier to recognize in his opening scene by his voice rather than his boyish looks and longish hair. Regardless of what it took to get him to give this performance, it is one that will be long remembered. Barbara Stanwyck plays the tough cookie who discovers she has a heart of gold, reminiscent of her role later perfected in "Meet John Doe." When asked if she was Adolphe Menjou's girl, Barbara replies "I'm my mother's girl." Great cast of supporting character actors add to enjoyment of a solid production whose best scenes involve family and not the ring. Good camera work, especially of those fight scenes, excellent sets, and great direction make this a surprisingly good night's entertainment. I avoided it for years thinking this was just another fight movie -- it is not -- and am now sorry that I waited.

William Holden became a star as a result of this film, but there is no question that Barbara Stanwyck is the real star of this picture. She gives a performance that is beautifully layered and Her performance is nothing short of marvelous (My favorite line is when she says, "I'm my mother's girl"). And those beautiful shoulders!

Everyone knows the story of the boy who is torn between a life of boxing and music. The screenplay is a product of the times that it was written in. How else can you explain dialogue that glorifies men beating their wives? Or the leftist remarks that are spoken by the Bonaparte's friend, Mr. Carp? A black boxer named "Chocolate"?! Never happen today.

Everyone is great. Lee J. Cobb as an Italian is heartbreaking, even if his accent is laid on a little thick (It's like watching Laurence Olivier in "The Jazz Singer"). Sam Levene is good as the brother-in-law. And Joseph Calleia as Fuseli, is wonderful. When Stanwyck enters Holden's dressing room after the fight, he says, "Out Miss Moon, this ain't no cocktail lounge." Wonderful. I would love to see Pacino ham his way through this role.

But it is Miss Stanwyck who stands out. We can be thankful that she gave Holden his opportunity and fought to keep him. We can be even more grateful for this wonderful performance.

This is a wonderful, compelling, emotionally charged movie, with characters that are both interesting and likable. Of course, the central character of the movie is Joe Bonaparte, played by a young, gifted actor named William Holden. Joe's conflict, between his quest for fame as a prize fighter and his father's wish to become a concert violinist, although seemingly corny and contrived, actually works in this movie. And this can be attributed to the fine acting of all the players - Barbara Stanwyck, Lee J. Cobb, Adolph Menjou, and William Holden - who prove that high quality acting can transform a good script into a great script. One particularly intense scene is when Joe tries to play the violin - and he can't, leaving him devastated in the knowledge that he had squandered a gift and in the process had disappointed his father. This is a movie that is worth the time to watch and to enjoy.