Body and Soul (1947)
Before there was Raging Bull, Champ and Rocky series, there was 'Body and Soul'. It was played fantastically by John Garfield, the darling of the noirs and the pioneer of anti-heroes.
Besides Garfield's acting, the film is also commendable for its then advanced technique of filming of a live event, which set the mood well for the final clash.
We get a glimpse of William Conrad, who used to be famous in Malaysian TV in the 70s for the fat PI 'Cannon' and 'Jake and the Fatman' in the 90s, here thinner.
Even though the movie appears to be depicting the evils of the world of boxing, betting and how it is controlled by the mob, deep below the surface, it takes a swipe at the evils of capitalism. It shows how the lure of money clouds the mind of the young who feels that acquiring wealth is testimony of doing well in life. One fails to see the devastation done in the process of doing so, the heartaches, the broken hearts and morality lost.
In fact, most of those involved in the production of this movie, Garfield, wife, screenwriter and director were all later hurled by the US Government for suspected communists activities during the McCarthy era.
A young pugilist gets a deal to show his boxing skills. Along the way, when he was a small guy, he had his mother, his best buddy and his girl. As he climbed the ladder of success which was actually paved by a group of apparently good intentioned individuals, so he thinks, he loses his friendship, his love and self respect. He hangs around characters who are only eyeing his money and their share of their loot as he wins more and more matches. He even has to throw away fights so that mob can earn some money.
As in any good movie, the hero comes to his senses. He realises that there is more things at stake when you give away fights - your dignity, pride and the hope of all who look up at you, not just the prize money!
Before there was Raging Bull, Champ and Rocky series, there was 'Body and Soul'. It was played fantastically by John Garfield, the darling of the noirs and the pioneer of anti-heroes.
Besides Garfield's acting, the film is also commendable for its then advanced technique of filming of a live event, which set the mood well for the final clash.
We get a glimpse of William Conrad, who used to be famous in Malaysian TV in the 70s for the fat PI 'Cannon' and 'Jake and the Fatman' in the 90s, here thinner.
Even though the movie appears to be depicting the evils of the world of boxing, betting and how it is controlled by the mob, deep below the surface, it takes a swipe at the evils of capitalism. It shows how the lure of money clouds the mind of the young who feels that acquiring wealth is testimony of doing well in life. One fails to see the devastation done in the process of doing so, the heartaches, the broken hearts and morality lost.
In fact, most of those involved in the production of this movie, Garfield, wife, screenwriter and director were all later hurled by the US Government for suspected communists activities during the McCarthy era.
A young pugilist gets a deal to show his boxing skills. Along the way, when he was a small guy, he had his mother, his best buddy and his girl. As he climbed the ladder of success which was actually paved by a group of apparently good intentioned individuals, so he thinks, he loses his friendship, his love and self respect. He hangs around characters who are only eyeing his money and their share of their loot as he wins more and more matches. He even has to throw away fights so that mob can earn some money.As in any good movie, the hero comes to his senses. He realises that there is more things at stake when you give away fights - your dignity, pride and the hope of all who look up at you, not just the prize money!
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