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{{Short description|1953 film by Basil Dearden}}
{{For|the ring used in the sport of boxing|Boxing Ring}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
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| name = The Square Ring
| name = The Square Ring
| image = "The_Square_Ring"_(1953).jpg
| image = "The_Square_Ring"_(1953).jpg
| image_size = 150px
| caption =
| caption =
| director = [[Basil Dearden]]
| director = [[Basil Dearden]]
| producer = [[Michael Relph]]
| producer = [[Michael Relph]]<br>'''executive'''<br>[[Michael Balcon]]
| writer = Alec Grahame
| writer = [[Robert Westerby]]<br>'''additional dialogue'''<br>Peter Myers<br>Alec Grahame
| based on = {{based on|''The Square Ring'' (play)|[[Ralph Peterson (writer)|Ralph Peterson]]}}
| based_on = [[The Square Ring (play)|the play by]] [[Ralph Peterson (writer)|Ralph Peterson]]
| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]]<br/>[[Robert Beatty]]<br>[[Joan Collins]]<br/>[[Maxwell Reed]]<br>[[Kay Kendall]]<br>[[Bernadette O'Farrell]]<br/>[[Bill Owen (actor)|Bill Owen]]
| starring = {{ubl|[[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]]|[[Robert Beatty]]|[[Maxwell Reed]]|[[Joan Collins]]|[[Kay Kendall]]|[[Bernadette O'Farrell]]|[[Bill Owen (actor)|Bill Owen]]}}
| music = Dock Mathieson
| music = [[Dock Mathieson]]
| cinematography = [[Otto Heller]]
| cinematography = [[Otto Heller]]
| studio = [[Ealing Studios]]
| studio = [[Ealing Studios]]
| editing = Peter Bezencenet
| editing = [[Peter Bezencenet]]
| distributor = [[General Film Distributors|GFD]] {{small|(UK)}}
| distributor = [[General Film Distributors|GFD]] (UK)
| released = {{film date|df=y|1953|07|13|UK}}
| released = {{film date|df=y|1953|07|13|UK}}
| runtime = 83 minutes
| runtime = 83 minutes
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| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| budget =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
}}


'''''The Square Ring''''' is a 1953 British film produced by [[Michael Relph]], directed by [[Basil Dearden]] and made at [[Ealing Studios]]. It stars [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]], [[Robert Beatty]] and [[Bill Owen (actor)|Bill Owen]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Warner|first=Jack|title=The Square Ring|date=1955-01-28|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046358/|last2=Beatty|last3=Owen|last4=Reed|first2=Robert|first3=Bill|first4=Maxwell|accessdate=2017-03-20}}</ref> The film, based on a stage play by [[Ralph Peterson (writer)|Ralph Peterson]],<ref name="Explore.bfi.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6b7222f4 |title=The Square Ring &#124; BFI &#124; BFI |publisher=Explore.bfi.org.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-04-03}}</ref><ref name="tvguide1">{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/the-square-ring/118804 |title=The Square Ring Trailer, Reviews and Schedule for The Square Ring &#124; TVGuide.com |publisher=Movies.tvguide.com |date= |accessdate=2014-04-03}}</ref> centres on one night at a fairly seedy boxing venue and tells the different stories of the various fighters and spectators.
'''''The Square Ring''''' is a 1953 British tragi-comic drama, directed by [[Basil Dearden]] and made at [[Ealing Studios]]. It stars [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]], [[Robert Beatty]] and [[Maxwell Reed]]. The film, based on a [[The Square Ring (play)|1952 stage play]] by [[Ralph Peterson (writer)|Ralph Peterson]], centres on one night at a fairly seedy boxing venue and tells the disparate stories of the fighters and the women behind them.


==Premise==
==Premise==
Five stories that take place mainly in the locker room prior to and after various bouts during a single evening at a cheap boxing stadium: an ex champion, Docker Starkie, trying to make a comeback; Eddie Burke, a new boxer on the way up; Harry Coombes, a future chapmion; Rick Martell, a crooked fighter planning to throw a fight; Sailor Johnson, a punch drunk ‘has-been’; and Rowdie Rawlings, a black boxer. Danny Felton is the dressing room attendant who has seen fighters come and go. <ref name="Explore.bfi.org.uk"/><ref name="tvguide1"/>
Six stories that take place mainly in the locker room prior to and after various bouts during a single evening at a cheap boxing stadium: ex-champion Kid Curtis (the Docker Starkie role in the original play) attempting a comeback; Eddie Lloyd, a former amateur boxer making his professional debut; ‘Happy’ Burns a chirpy lightweight; Rick Martell, a crooked fighter planning to throw a fight; Whitey Johnson, a punch drunk ‘has-been’; and Rowdie Rawlings, a simple heavyweight. Danny Felton is the experienced ex-pro dressing room attendant.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{cast listing|
* [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]] as Danny Felton
* [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]] as Danny Felton
* [[Robert Beatty]] as Jim 'Kid' Curtis
* [[Robert Beatty]] as Jim 'Kid' Curtis
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* [[Sydney Tafler]] as 1st Wiseacre
* [[Sydney Tafler]] as 1st Wiseacre
* [[Alexander Gauge]] as 2nd Wiseacre
* [[Alexander Gauge]] as 2nd Wiseacre
⚫
* [[Max Osbiston]]
⚫
}}


⚫
==Production==
==Original 1952 Play==
The film was based on a 1952 play with the same name by Sydney-born radio writer [[Ralph Peterson (writer)|Ralph Peterson]] who arrived in London only the year before.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18287526 |title=LONDON ACCLAIMS AUSTRALIAN'S PLAY |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=35,831 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 October 1952 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The [[The Square Ring (play)|play debuted in October 1952]] and was immediately successful. Film rights were bought by [[Michael Balcon]] at Ealing. In November 1952 he announced [[John Mills]] would star, with [[Basil Dearden]] to direct and [[Michael Relph]] to produce.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131197833 |title=Adelaide man's play to be filmed – John Mills to star |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |volume=59 |issue=9,142 |location=South Australia |date=26 November 1952 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Relph later said he was reluctant to make the film as he felt box movies were bad box office.<ref name="sue">{{cite book|title=British Cinema of The 1950s The Decline of Deference|first1=Sue|last1= Harper|first2=Vincent|last2= Porter|publisher=Oxford University Press USA|year=2003|page=68}}</ref>
===Background===
He wrote it over a three-month period. Peterson was inspired by material he had learned from writing the 1950 radio play ''Come Out Fighting'', set in the world of boxing. <ref>[https://www-austlit-edu-au.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/austlit/page/8130659 ''Come Out Fighting''] at [[AustLit]]</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187641471 |title=Boxing Story for AR Serial Run |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=29612 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=24 March 1950 |accessdate=18 February 2019 |page=1 (THE AGE RADIO SUPPLEMENT) |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>


He sent the play to [[Anthony Quayle]], who he had met in Sydney, who agreed to put it on.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18504348 |title=Sydney Writer's London Stage Hit |newspaper=[[The Sunday Herald (Sydney)]] |issue=196 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 October 1952 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44021274 |title=Australian writer's success |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=20, |issue=26 |location=Australia, Australia |date=26 November 1952 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=31 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Eventually Mills dropped out and was replaced by Canadian actor Robert Beatty.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57765875 |title=Robert Beatty in boxing picture |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)|The Mail]] |volume=42 |issue=2,121 |location=South Australia |date=31 January 1953 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=3 (SUNDAY MAGAZINE) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He had no boxing experience so he trained for two weeks with [[Dave Crowley]] in preparation for the role.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18505639 |title=Film May End A 50-Year Jinx. |newspaper=[[The Sunday Herald (Sydney)|The Sunday Herald]] |location=Sydney |date=21 June 1953 |accessdate=10 July 2012 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


The play was all male but three women were added to the film.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47602384 |title=Good Morning! |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)]] |location=South Australia |date=4 November 1954 |access-date=19 May 2020 |page=2 |via=Trove }}</ref> The women included Kay Kendall and Joan Collins, who were both under contract to Rank. Kendall had just made ''Genevieve'' but it had not been released. Collins appeared opposite then husband Maxwell Reed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23230346 |title=Phillip to see 'Cruel Sea' premiere |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)]] |issue=33,225 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=27 February 1953 |accessdate=6 September 2020 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
⚫
==Production==
Film rights were bought by [[Michael Balcon]] at Ealing and [[John Mills]] was announced as star, with [[Basil Dearden]] to direct and [[Michael Relph]] to produce.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131197833 |title=Adelaide man's play to be filmed – John Mills to star |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |volume=59, |issue=9,142 |location=South Australia |date=26 November 1952 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Eventually Mills dropped out and was replaced by Canadian actor Robert Beatty.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57765875 |title=Robert Beatty in boxing picture |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)|The Mail]] |volume=42, |issue=2,121 |location=South Australia |date=31 January 1953 |accessdate=8 May 2016 |page=3 (SUNDAY MAGAZINE) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He had no boxing experience so he trained for two weeks in preparation for the role.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18505639 |title=Film May End A 50-Year Jinx. |newspaper=[[The Sunday Herald (Sydney)|The Sunday Herald]] |location=Sydney |date=21 June 1953 |accessdate=10 July 2012 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
Critical reception was mixed. One review called the film "uneven", accusing it of "veering between comedy and tragedy".<ref>Radio Times. Guide to Films (2004). p.1328</ref>
Critical reception was mixed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18516373 |title=Boxing Film With A Punch |newspaper=[[The Sunday Herald (Sydney)]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=5 July 1953 |access-date=19 May 2020 |page=6 |via=Trove }}</ref> One review called the film "uneven", accusing it of "veering between comedy and tragedy".<ref>Radio Times. Guide to Films (2004). p.1328</ref>
==1954 Novel==
Peterson adapted the play into a 1954 novel.
==1959 TV Adaptation==
The play was adapted for British TV in 1959 with [[Sean Connery]].<ref>[https://www-austlit-edu-au.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/austlit/page/8132045 1959 British TV version] at [[AustLit]]</ref>


==1960 TV adaptation==
{{Infobox film
| name = The Square Ring
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| director =
| producer =
| writer =
⚫
| based on = play by Ralph Peterson
| narrator =
| starring =
| music =
| cinematography =
| editing =
| studio = ABC
| distributor = ABC-2 (Sydney)
| released = 20 April 1960 (Sydney, live)
| runtime = 90 mins
| country = Australia
| language = English
| budget =
⚫
}}
The play was also adapted for Australian television in 1960. It was recorded live in Sydney.

Sydney boxing trainer Ern McQuillan was the technical advisor for the story. Joe Jenkins, who appeared often on television as a dancer, makes his acting debut as Rowdie Rawlings.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=Drama of the Ring|date=18 April 1960|page=19}}</ref>
===Cast===
*Don Barkham as Eddie Burke
*[[Guy Doleman]] as Harry Coombes<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51194518 |title=Big TV cover of the Rome Olympics |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=28, |issue=[?] |location=Australia, Australia |date=3 August 1960 |accessdate=18 February 2019 |page=55 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
*[[Jack Fegan]] as Docker Starkie
*Ken Goodlet as Sailor Johnson
*Joe Jenkins as Rowdie Rawling
*[[Owen Weingott]] as Rick Martell
*Edward Hepple as Danny Felton
*Al Thomas as the stadium manager
*Ben Gabriel
*Louis Wishart
⚫
*Max Osbiston
==1965 Radio Adaptation==
The play was adapted for radio in 1965.
===Cast===
*Dan Crosby
*Max Osbiston
*John Gray
*Edward Hepple
*John Armstrong
*Robert MacDara
*Alastair Duncan
*Richard Meikle
*Ben Gabriel
*James Congdon.
==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of boxing films]]
*[[List of television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1960s)]]


==References==
==References==
Line 128: Line 69:


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0046358|The Square Ring}}
* {{IMDb title|0046358|The Square Ring 1953 film}}
*[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91194/Square-Ring-The/ ''The Square Ring''] at [[TCMDB]]
*{{IMDb title|1784681}}
*[https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/work/14360 ''Square Ring'' Australian Theatre performances] at [[Ausstage]]
*[https://www.reelstreets.com/films/square-ring-the/ ''The Square Ring''] at Reel Streets

*[https://www-austlit-edu-au.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/austlit/page/8130783 1952 play] at [[AustLit]]
*[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3194722&isAv=N Infomation from 1960 TV production] at [[National Archives of Australia]]
{{Basil Dearden}}
{{Basil Dearden}}
{{Raymond Menmuir}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Square Ring, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Square Ring (1953 film), The}}
[[Category:1953 films]]
[[Category:1953 films]]
[[Category:1950s drama films]]
[[Category:1953 drama films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:British sports drama films]]
[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:British boxing films]]
⚫
[[Category:British sports films]]
⚫
[[Category:Boxing films]]
[[Category:Ealing Studios films]]
[[Category:Ealing Studios films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Basil Dearden]]
[[Category:Films directed by Basil Dearden]]
⚫
[[Category:British drama films]]
[[Category:1960 television plays]]
[[Category:Films set in England]]
[[Category:Films set in England]]
[[Category:British films based on plays]]
[[Category:British films based on plays]]
⚫
[[Category:1950s sports drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:British black-and-white films]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1950s British films]]
⚫
[[Category:Works by Ralph Peterson]]
[[Category:English-language sports drama films]]

Latest revision as of 02:04, 6 November 2024

The Square Ring
Directed byBasil Dearden
Written byRobert Westerby
additional dialogue
Peter Myers
Alec Grahame
Based onthe play by Ralph Peterson
Produced byMichael Relph
executive
Michael Balcon
Starring
CinematographyOtto Heller
Edited byPeter Bezencenet
Music byDock Mathieson
Production
company
Distributed byGFD (UK)
Release date
  • 13 July 1953 (1953-07-13) (UK)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Square Ring is a 1953 British tragi-comic drama, directed by Basil Dearden and made at Ealing Studios. It stars Jack Warner, Robert Beatty and Maxwell Reed. The film, based on a 1952 stage play by Ralph Peterson, centres on one night at a fairly seedy boxing venue and tells the disparate stories of the fighters and the women behind them.

Premise

[edit]

Six stories that take place mainly in the locker room prior to and after various bouts during a single evening at a cheap boxing stadium: ex-champion Kid Curtis (the Docker Starkie role in the original play) attempting a comeback; Eddie Lloyd, a former amateur boxer making his professional debut; ‘Happy’ Burns a chirpy lightweight; Rick Martell, a crooked fighter planning to throw a fight; Whitey Johnson, a punch drunk ‘has-been’; and Rowdie Rawlings, a simple heavyweight. Danny Felton is the experienced ex-pro dressing room attendant.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The play debuted in October 1952 and was immediately successful. Film rights were bought by Michael Balcon at Ealing. In November 1952 he announced John Mills would star, with Basil Dearden to direct and Michael Relph to produce.[1] Relph later said he was reluctant to make the film as he felt box movies were bad box office.[2]

Eventually Mills dropped out and was replaced by Canadian actor Robert Beatty.[3] He had no boxing experience so he trained for two weeks with Dave Crowley in preparation for the role.[4]

The play was all male but three women were added to the film.[5] The women included Kay Kendall and Joan Collins, who were both under contract to Rank. Kendall had just made Genevieve but it had not been released. Collins appeared opposite then husband Maxwell Reed.[6]

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception was mixed.[7] One review called the film "uneven", accusing it of "veering between comedy and tragedy".[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Adelaide man's play to be filmed – John Mills to star". The News. Vol. 59, no. 9, 142. South Australia. 26 November 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 8 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Harper, Sue; Porter, Vincent (2003). British Cinema of The 1950s The Decline of Deference. Oxford University Press USA. p. 68.
  3. ^ "Robert Beatty in boxing picture". The Mail. Vol. 42, no. 2, 121. South Australia. 31 January 1953. p. 3 (SUNDAY MAGAZINE). Retrieved 8 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Film May End A 50-Year Jinx". The Sunday Herald. Sydney. 21 June 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 10 July 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Good Morning!". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 4 November 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Phillip to see 'Cruel Sea' premiere". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 33, 225. Victoria, Australia. 27 February 1953. p. 16. Retrieved 6 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Boxing Film With A Punch". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 5 July 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Trove.
  8. ^ Radio Times. Guide to Films (2004). p.1328
[edit]
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