As a fight fan I cringe when I see films like Rocky, Kid Gallahad or Golden Boy. They might as well be from Republic serials. Every punch a hay maker. Every punch connecting. But this film shows what two top professionals can do. Sure, the action is unrealistically non-stop but the punches are thrown properly and the connection rate (until the final rounds) realistic. This is enough to make Prizefighter and the Lady the best fight film ever.
I was terrifically impressed by Max Baer. He held his own with consummate professionals. Was he awkward in some scenes? Yes. But isn't this how you would expect a guy that he was playing to react? And his turn at show business, while of no value to the film, was the kind of thing famous people routinely did in that age.
The rest of the cast was uniformly good. Willy the gangster was a difficult assignment pulled off with originality and rare perception. The basic story may be well-used but done with complete believability and with interesting twists. Fight fans, see this film.
I was terrifically impressed by Max Baer. He held his own with consummate professionals. Was he awkward in some scenes? Yes. But isn't this how you would expect a guy that he was playing to react? And his turn at show business, while of no value to the film, was the kind of thing famous people routinely did in that age.
The rest of the cast was uniformly good. Willy the gangster was a difficult assignment pulled off with originality and rare perception. The basic story may be well-used but done with complete believability and with interesting twists. Fight fans, see this film.