Body and Soul (1947 film)
| Body and Soul | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Robert Rossen |
| Produced by | Bob Roberts |
| Written by | Abraham Polonsky |
| Starring | John Garfield Lilli Palmer Hazel Brooks Anne Revere William Conrad |
| Music by | Hugo Friedhofer |
| Cinematography | James Wong Howe |
| Editing by | Francis Lyon Robert Parrish |
| Studio | The Enterprise Studios |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | August 22, 1947 |
| Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Body and Soul is a 1947 film noir which tells the story of a boxer who becomes involved with crooked promoters. It stars John Garfield, Lilli Palmer, Hazel Brooks, Anne Revere and William Conrad.
The movie, written by Abraham Polonsky and directed by Robert Rossen, is considered the first great film about boxing; it's also a cautionary tale about the lure of money—and how it can derail even a strong common man in his pursuit of success.
Contents |
Plot [edit]
Charley Davis, against the wishes of his mother, becomes a boxer. As he becomes more successful the fighter becomes surrounded by shady characters, including an unethical promoter named Roberts, who tempt the man with a number of vices. Charley finds himself faced with increasingly difficult choices.
Reaction [edit]
The film received positive reviews when first released. Some modern film reviews find the film's message heavy handed today but most reviewers continue to praise Garfield's performance.[1]
TV Guide's review notes "The fight sequences, in particular, brought a kind of realism to the genre that had never before existed (James Wong Howe wore skates and rolled around the ring shooting the fight scenes with a hand-held camera). A knockout on all levels."[2]
It's known for its fight scenes which influenced Raging Bull (1980), whose popularity led to a 1981 Body and Soul remake.
Cast [edit]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| John Garfield | Charlie Davis |
| Lilli Palmer | Peg Born |
| Hazel Brooks | Alice |
| Anne Revere | Anna Davis |
| William Conrad | Quinn |
| Joseph Pevney | Shorty Polaski |
| Lloyd Gough | Roberts |
| Canada Lee | Ben Chaplin |
| Art Smith | David Davis |
Awards [edit]
It won the Academy Award for Film Editing and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (John Garfield) and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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