With a sterling cast of Ralph Meeker, Leslie Caron and Louis Armstrong, plus song and dance, how could this Raoul Walsh musical drama film go wrong? Easy: terrible script!
Meeker plays a boxer at the height of his powers in New Orleans circa 1952 (when the film was made). You can tell it does not start off on a good foot when Meeker's character is named "Socks" Barbarossa. Oy Vey! Right before his big fight (while in the ring) Socks decides to throw in the towel and retire from boxing. It seems absurd but we're curious as to know why he quits. We find that out later and I must say that the reason is quite ludicrous.
Socks has a girlfriend Angela Evans (Leslie Caron) who likes to sing and dance ballet in a burlesque joint of all places. This is unbeknownst to her blind father Gus aka The Judge (Kurt Kasznar) who Angela takes care of. Kasznar's part as The Judge is awful has he has a terrible chip on his shoulder and is apparently bitter about his blindness.
The Judge particularly has it in for Socks because he pegs him as a "quitter" after he decided not to fight anymore. He also doesn't like the idea of Socks being with his daughter and tells her not to see him anymore.
But then Socks decides to join the army where he becomes a war hero in Korea and wins the Congressional Medal of Honor. The scene in Korea happens real quick-a cheesy scene involving stock footage-in which Socks blows up a bridge.
After returning home to much fanfare in New Orleans, The Judge initially turns down an offer of eye surgery from an eye specialist who Socks knew as a child (it was Socks who asked the guy to perform the surgery on The Judge). After the doctor lectures him about what a good guy Socks really is, The Judge finally swallows his pride and makes an appointment for the surgery.
The Judge has the operation and as far as I could tell it was unsuccessful (he was wearing dark glasses which blind people often do to cover their eyes). However The Judge learns a life lesson and claims he can now "see" (in other words, he's no longer bitter and apologizes to everyone including Socks for his earlier bad behavior).
And now Socks too must learn his life lesson. It all goes back to why he quit the fight business so suddenly-believe it or not he discovered that he has thinning hair and people could now see the scars on the top of his head where he was beaten by his father as a child (anyway he BELIEVES people can see the scars). Angela also has a hand in getting him to soften up. What's laughable is how the tough fighter initially folds up due to a childhood trauma which most "tough guys" would easily suppress.
Louis Armstrong seems to be the only black person in New Orleans playing the part of Shadow, who helps The Judge get around as well as playing the trumpet and singing when he gets the opportunity. Of course it's always good to see Louis Armstrong play and he wasn't a bad actor either. Leslie Caron was also a pretty good dancer although the ballet doesn't exactly fit in a burlesque hall.
Ralph Meeker is saddled with an incredibly goofy script and can do little with his part. The supporting cast features various unmemorable Runyonesque characters including trainer Pepi Donnato (Gilbert Roland) who just seems a little too nice to exist in the gruff boxing world. Newspaper report Gabe Jordan (John McIntire) provides the corny narration extolling the greatness of Socks after he makes his big comeback.
Meeker plays a boxer at the height of his powers in New Orleans circa 1952 (when the film was made). You can tell it does not start off on a good foot when Meeker's character is named "Socks" Barbarossa. Oy Vey! Right before his big fight (while in the ring) Socks decides to throw in the towel and retire from boxing. It seems absurd but we're curious as to know why he quits. We find that out later and I must say that the reason is quite ludicrous.
Socks has a girlfriend Angela Evans (Leslie Caron) who likes to sing and dance ballet in a burlesque joint of all places. This is unbeknownst to her blind father Gus aka The Judge (Kurt Kasznar) who Angela takes care of. Kasznar's part as The Judge is awful has he has a terrible chip on his shoulder and is apparently bitter about his blindness.
The Judge particularly has it in for Socks because he pegs him as a "quitter" after he decided not to fight anymore. He also doesn't like the idea of Socks being with his daughter and tells her not to see him anymore.
But then Socks decides to join the army where he becomes a war hero in Korea and wins the Congressional Medal of Honor. The scene in Korea happens real quick-a cheesy scene involving stock footage-in which Socks blows up a bridge.
After returning home to much fanfare in New Orleans, The Judge initially turns down an offer of eye surgery from an eye specialist who Socks knew as a child (it was Socks who asked the guy to perform the surgery on The Judge). After the doctor lectures him about what a good guy Socks really is, The Judge finally swallows his pride and makes an appointment for the surgery.
The Judge has the operation and as far as I could tell it was unsuccessful (he was wearing dark glasses which blind people often do to cover their eyes). However The Judge learns a life lesson and claims he can now "see" (in other words, he's no longer bitter and apologizes to everyone including Socks for his earlier bad behavior).
And now Socks too must learn his life lesson. It all goes back to why he quit the fight business so suddenly-believe it or not he discovered that he has thinning hair and people could now see the scars on the top of his head where he was beaten by his father as a child (anyway he BELIEVES people can see the scars). Angela also has a hand in getting him to soften up. What's laughable is how the tough fighter initially folds up due to a childhood trauma which most "tough guys" would easily suppress.
Louis Armstrong seems to be the only black person in New Orleans playing the part of Shadow, who helps The Judge get around as well as playing the trumpet and singing when he gets the opportunity. Of course it's always good to see Louis Armstrong play and he wasn't a bad actor either. Leslie Caron was also a pretty good dancer although the ballet doesn't exactly fit in a burlesque hall.
Ralph Meeker is saddled with an incredibly goofy script and can do little with his part. The supporting cast features various unmemorable Runyonesque characters including trainer Pepi Donnato (Gilbert Roland) who just seems a little too nice to exist in the gruff boxing world. Newspaper report Gabe Jordan (John McIntire) provides the corny narration extolling the greatness of Socks after he makes his big comeback.