The Square Ring (1953 film)
| The Square Ring | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Basil Dearden |
| Written by | Alec Grahame |
| Produced by | Michael Relph |
| Starring | Jack Warner Robert Beatty Bill Owen |
| Cinematography | Otto Heller |
| Edited by | Peter Bezencenet |
| Music by | Dock Mathieson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) Republic Pictures (US) |
Release date | 13 July 1953 (UK) |
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
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, Robert Beatty and Bill Owen.[1] The film, based on a stage play by Ralph Peterson, [2][3] centers around one night at a fairly seedy boxing venue and tells the different stories of the various fighters and spectators.
Plot
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. These include a novice cheated of victory, a boxer who refuses to "throw" a fight, and a veteran trying to make a come-back who pays with his life. [4][3]
Cast
- Jack Warner as Danny Felton
- Robert Beatty as Jim 'Kid' Curtis
- Bill Owen as Happy Burns
- Maxwell Reed as Rick Martell
- George Rose as Whitey Johnson
- Bill Travers as Rowdie Rawlings
- Alfie Bass as Frank Forbes
- Ronald Lewis as Eddie Lloyd
- Sid James as Adams
- Joan Collins as Frankie
- Kay Kendall as Eve Lewis
- Bernadette O'Farrell as Peg Curtis
- Eddie Byrne as Lou Lewis
- Michael Golden as Warren
- Joan Sims as Bunty
- Sydney Tafler as 1st Wiseacre
- Alexander Gauge as 2nd Wiseacre
Production
The film was based on a 1952 play by Sydney-born author Ralph Peterson who arrived in London only the year before. Canadian actor Robert Beatty played the lead; he had no boxing experience so trained for two weeks in preparation for the role.[5]
Reception
Critical reception was mixed. One review called the film "uneven", accusing it of "veering between comedy and tragedy".[6]
References
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046358/
- ^ "The Square Ring | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ^ a b "The Square Ring Trailer, Reviews and Schedule for The Square Ring | TVGuide.com". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ^ "The Square Ring | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ^ "Film May End A 50-Year Jinx". The Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953). Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 21 June 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Radio Times. Guide to Films (2004). p.1328
External links
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