Review: Kid Galahad (1937)


When opportunistic boxing manager Donati (Edward G. Robinson) witnesses hayseed bellhop Wayne Morris knock out the heavyweight champ after the latter insults Donati’s good-hearted mistress nicknamed ‘Fluff’ (Bette Davis), Donati sees dollar signs in the big lug. Dubbed ‘Kid Galahad’, he becomes a big deal pretty quickly. Donati organises a fight with the champ’s mobster manager Turkey (Humphrey Bogart), but because the jealous Donati suspects that The Kid has a thing for his sister (Jane Bryan) and that ‘Fluff’ has a romantic interest in The Kid too, Donati may not have The Kid’s best interests at heart, even less so than usual as he starts seeing red. Harry Carey plays the veteran ‘cut man’ working for Donati, whilst Soledad Jiminez plays Donati’s loving, immigrant mother.

 

Pretty enjoyable boxing movie from 1937 directed by Michael Curtiz (“The Adventures of Robin Hood”, “Casablanca”) and scripted by Seton I. Miller (“The Adventures of Robin Hood”, “Ministry of Fear”). There’s some pretty big stars on show here and at least one terrific character actor to boot. Later remade with Elvis, this version’s an easy watch, even if Bette Davis’ character feels rather beneath her mammoth talents (She had already made “Jezebel” by this stage, for instance). The supporting performances by a slightly amateurish Jane Bryan (who seems to think she’s in a silent movie) and a miscast Soledad Jiminez (flagrantly awful as Edward G. Robinson’s immigrant mother) don’t do much for the feminine side of things either.

 

Personally, I think this basic set-up was done far more effectively in “The Harder They Fall”, with Bogart in the Edward G. Robinson role, pretty much. This is no world-beater, but it’s an entertaining film, and Robinson in particular is excellent. He’s played a lot of roles, but I think he was born for this one. He’s a perfect huckster/promoter/con artist. It’s unquestionably Robinson’s show here. Davis is perfectly fine, and looks surprisingly young given it would only be another four years before she played Regina in “The Little Foxes”. It’s not a great role (especially in the latter half), and having her play a nightclub singer was a bit unfortunate, but she’s otherwise good in it, and surprisingly attractive. I never thought of Davis as a looker, to be honest. It’s nice, if unusual, to see her so young and affable on screen. It’s not the best use of her, but it’s certainly interesting to see a different side of her. Bogey is the heavy in the film and is in rock-solid form, though he looks remarkably thin. Wayne Morris is OK as the innocent nice guy bellhop/boxer. Harry Carey gives nice support as the veteran ‘cut man’, even if like Davis, he sort of disappears in the second half.

 

This one’s not trying to cure cancer or reinvent the wheel, it’s just there to be enjoyed and indeed you’ll have a good time with this one. But then go and watch “The Harder They Fall”, to see a much meatier film on this subject.

 

Rating: B-

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