Golden Boy (1939)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Golden boy |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1939 |
| length | 99 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Rouben Mamoulian |
| script |
Lewis Meltzer Daniel Taradash Sarah Y. Mason Victor Heerman |
| production |
Rouben Mamoulian William Perlberg |
| music | Victor Young |
| camera | Karl friend |
| cut | Otto Meyer |
| occupation | |
| |
Golden Boy is an American film based on the play of the same name by Clifford Odets . It was produced by Columbia Pictures in 1939 and helped protagonist William Holden to make his breakthrough. It was released in the US on September 5, 1939.
action
A young, promising violinist in need of money is faced with the question of whether he should earn money as a boxer, but risk hand injuries, or forego the big money. His father, Mr. Bonaparte senior, wants his son to develop his musical talent and buys him an expensive violin, but Joe Bonaparte persuades the nearly bankrupt manager Tom Moody to give him a try at boxing and gets up here quickly on. When he finally wants to make a different decision, Lorna initially keeps him going on Moody's behalf. But after the gangster Eddie Fuseli has expressed the wish to participate in the profit or "buy a piece of Joe", and after Joe fatally injured an opponent in the ring, both his and Lorna's attitude change. He retires from boxing and returns to his father and music.
background
The play of the same name by Clifford Odets, who was married to the actress Luise Rainer at the time, ran with some success on Broadway in the 1937/38 season and managed a total of 250 performances. The leading roles were played by Luther Adler and Frances Farmer . During the so-called road shows , i.e. the tour of the piece through the rest of the country, Nancy Carroll took on the female lead, while Elia Kazan and John Garfield also played the part of Joe.
With the purchase of the film rights by Columbia Pictures , a number of changes in the storyline came along. While the play ends with Joe's death in Lorna in a car accident, the studio called for a happy ending. The comments critical of capitalism in the play were also removed. Also, due to the strict censorship regulations of the time, the relationship between Lorna and Tom, who have a relationship in the play, had to be made less clear. Clifford Odets then refused to write the script.
However, the cast of the film was much more difficult. Jean Arthur was initially intended for the female role of Lorna Moon, the tough lady from Newark , but she declined. The second choice fell on Ann Sheridan , but Warner Brothers refused to loan the actress. In the end, Barbara Stanwyck took over the role, returning to the studio that made her star for the first time since 1933 and The Bitter Tea of General Yen .
A total of 65 actors were tested or considered for the role of Joe Bonaparte, including well-known names such as Robert Taylor and Tyrone Power . Studio boss Harry Cohn eventually wanted to hire Richard Carlson, but his involvement on Broadway prevented him from taking on the role. After all , it was Rouben Mamoulian who stood up for William Holden , who so far has only been seen as an extra or in tiny supporting roles. Barbara Stanwyck took on the newcomer and practiced the role very intensively with the inexperienced Holden throughout the filming. She also stood up for him when the studio wanted to replace William Holden after two weeks of shooting. Holden did a very good performance and signed a long-term contract with the studio. Every year until the end of his life, on the day Golden Boy began shooting , he would send a large bouquet of roses to Stanwyck to thank her for her help.
Reviews
“Melodrama based on a socially critical stage play that combines an accusation of business with boxing with an individual process of knowledge and change. An infrequently produced film, tailored entirely to the solidly acting actors, that achieves remarkable intensity. "
Award
Victor Young was nominated for an Oscar in the category of best film music in 1940 .
Web links
- Golden Boy in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Summary and criticism by Dennis Schwartz
Individual evidence
- ↑ Golden Boy. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .