The brown bomber
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The brown bomber |
| Original title | The Joe Louis Story |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1953 |
| length | 82 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Robert Gordon |
| script | Robert Sylvester |
| production | Stirling Silliphant |
| music | George Bassman |
| camera | Joseph C. Brun |
| cut | Dave Kummins |
| occupation | |
| |
The brown bomber (Original title: The Joe Louis Story ) is an American film biography by the director Robert Gordon from 1953. The film portrays the life and career of boxing world champion Joe Louis .
action
Journalist Tad McGeehan is friends with world boxing champion Joe Louis. It's October 1951 and Louis has just lost his battle against Rocky Marciano . McGeehan wistfully begins to write down the story of his friend.
Joe Louis, a teenager, lived in Detroit in 1932 . One day his friend Johnny Kingston takes him to boxing training. Joe misses his violin lesson. He comes home with a black eye, but continues to take boxing training instead of violin lessons. It soon becomes apparent that Joe is a talented boxer. Joe's mother discovers the secret of her son, who uses up the money for violin lessons for boxing training. She gives him her blessing in exchange for the promise that Joe will show full commitment.
In 1934 Joe wins the Golden Gloves . The manager Julian Black takes him under contract, the former boxer Jack Blackburn becomes his new coach. More victories followed, drawing the attention of the managers of Madison Square Gardens in New York City to him. Joe is not interested in working with Mike Jacobs, rather he is drawn to the attractive Marva Trotter. Joe signs the contract with Jacobs and travels to New York. Here he meets Marva again. They both start a relationship and get married. The wedding reception is interrupted by Jack Blackburn, who reminds Joe that he is fighting Max Baer . Joe wins the fight by KO in the fourth round. With the prize money he goes on an extensive shopping tour. Because of this tour he is quickly in debt. Joe's high spirits lead to a defeat against the German Max Schmeling . Joe has to admit that he didn't prepare properly for the fight.
The next two years he prepares for a rematch with Schmeling. He draws additional motivation from the news that Hitler's theory of Aryan superiority would be recognized if Schmeling were to win. In 1937 he became world champion after defeating Jim Braddock . In June 1938 there was a rematch with Schmeling, which Joe won by knocking out in the first round. Meanwhile, Marva demands a divorce, but Joe refuses it. He wants to save his marriage. In the following years Joe wins all fights. When the Second World War broke out , he joined the US Army as a recruit. His trainer Jack dies in 1942 and is succeeded by Mannie Seamon.
Joe returns from the war to live with his wife and newborn daughter. He realizes that he owes large taxes and is forced to return to the ring. Marva then demands a divorce again. After he was able to repay his debts, he resigned from boxing. Rumors of a comeback are coming up soon. His friend McGeehan tries to prevent Joe from making a comeback, but in 1951 Joe goes back to a fight against Rocky Marciano, which he loses.
Reviews
The Lexicon of International Films describes the work as a very friendly biography, which is characterized by excellent performance and the incorporated reports on boxing matches. The critics of the American Catholic Bishops' Conference criticized the generalization of the story, but praised the incorporated boxing reports, which contributed to a convincing honor of the great boxer.
background
The premiere took place on September 18, 1953. In Germany, the film was shown for the first time on April 5, 1957 in a version shortened by six minutes.
The incorporated reports show Joe Louis in his fights against Max Baer , Max Schmeling , Jim Braddock and Primo Carnera with reports by the journalist Walter Winchell . The jazz pianist Ellis Larkins can be seen in a minor role . In the game scenes, Max Schmeling was portrayed by William Thourlby. Leading actor Coley Wallace, who made his film debut here, beat Rocky Marciano in an amateur fight in 1948.
Web links
- The brown bomber in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ The brown bomber. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed December 11, 2017 .
- ↑ Critique of the USCCB (English)