The Square Ring (1953 film): Difference between revisions
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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Film rights were bought by [[Michael Balcon]] at Ealing |
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> |
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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> |
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> |
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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 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. 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> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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Revision as of 10:55, 6 September 2020
| The Square Ring | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Basil Dearden |
| Written by | Robert Westerby additional dialogue Peter Myers Alec Grahame |
| Based on | the play by Ralph Peterson |
| Produced by | Michael Relph executive Michael Balcon |
| Starring | Jack Warner Robert Beatty Joan Collins Maxwell Reed Kay Kendall Bernadette O'Farrell Bill Owen |
| Cinematography | Otto Heller |
| Edited by | Peter Bezencenet |
| Music by | Dock Mathieson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | GFD (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Square Ring is a 1953 British film noir, directed by Basil Dearden and made at Ealing Studios. It stars Jack Warner, Robert Beatty and Bill Owen. The film, based on a stage play by Ralph Peterson, centres on one night at a fairly seedy boxing venue and tells the different stories of the various fighters and spectators.
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 champion; 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.
Cast
- Jack Warner as Danny Felton
- Robert Beatty as Jim 'Kid' Curtis
- Maxwell Reed as Rick Martell
- Joan Collins as Frankie
- Kay Kendall as Eve Lewis
- Bernadette O'Farrell as Peg Curtis
- Bill Owen as Happy Burns
- George Rose as Whitey Johnson
- Bill Travers as Rowdie Rawlings
- Alfie Bass as Frank Forbes
- Ronald Lewis as Eddie Lloyd
- Sid James as Adams
- 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 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]
Eventually Mills dropped out and was replaced by Canadian actor Robert Beatty.[2] He had no boxing experience so he trained for two weeks with Dave Crowley in preparation for the role.[3]
The play was all male but three women were added to the film.[4] The women included Kay Kendall and Joan Collins. Collins appeared opposite then husband Maxwell Reed.[5]
Reception
Critical reception was mixed.[6] One review called the film "uneven", accusing it of "veering between comedy and tragedy".[7]
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Good Morning!". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 4 November 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Boxing Film With A Punch". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 5 July 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 19 May 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ Radio Times. Guide to Films (2004). p.1328
