The Big Punch (1948 film)

The Big Punch is an American drama boxing film released in 1948. The film was directed by Sherry Shourds and produced by Saul Elkins. It stars Gordon MacRae, Lois Maxwell, Wayne Morris, Mary Stuart and Eddie Dunn. It is considered to be an American film noir,[2][3] and was MacRae's film debut, after signing a five-year contract with Warner Bros.

The Big Punch
Poster for The Big Punch
Directed bySherry Shourds
Produced bySaul Elkins
Written byGeorge Carleton Brown
Bernard Girard
StarringGordon MacRae
Lois Maxwell
Wayne Morris
Mary Stuart
Eddie Dunn
Music byWilliam Lava
CinematographyCarl Guthrie
Edited byFrank Magee
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
June 25, 1948
Running time
80 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$227,000[1]
Box office$670,000[1]

Maxwell would become known later as Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond film series.

Plot

New York City boxer Johnny Grant (MacRae) has been ordered by his manager to "throw" his next match, but Johnny double-crosses him and knocks out his opponent instead. The manager decides to get even; he kills a police officer and frames the boxer for the murder.

Johnny leaves town and hides out with Chris Thorgenson (Morris), a pastor, in a small Pennsylvania town. Johnny phones his girlfriend, Midge Parker (Stuart), and asks that she hire a private detective to clear his name. Chris helps him get a job at the local bank, but Johnny is blackmailed into robbing the bank. Johnny refuses and plots to run away, but Chris stops him.

A police chief identifies Johnny as the wanted killer. Karen Long (Maxwell) convinces the chief to let them find the real murderer, and she and Chris go to New York to help find him. The real killer is revealed, and now that his name has been cleared, Johnny returns to New York.[3][4]

Cast

The following is a partial list of actors appearing in the film. The movie marked MacRae's film acting debut, after being signed to a five-year contract with Warner Bros. Maxwell would later be cast in the role of Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise from 1962 - 1985,[5] and Stuart went on to appear in the soap operas, Search for Tomorrow (35 years), One Life to Live and Guiding Light.[6]

Reviews and reception

Variety said of MacRae's film debut, "He should get along in films, presenting an easy personality and an ability to read lines credibly. He doesn't need vocalizing to sell himself."[7]Leonard Maltin said that the film was a "serviceable melodrama".[8] The Internet Movie Database rates it as 6.6/10, based on user reviews. The Screen Guild Theater broadcast a thirty-minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 3, 1949 (episode 412) with Wayne Morris reprising his film role.[9]

Box Office

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $493,000 domestically and $177,000 foreign.[1]

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See also

References
  1. Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 28 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
  2. Andrew Spicer (March 19, 2010). Historical Dictionary of Film Noir. Scarecrow Press. pp. 225–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7378-0.
  3. Michael F. Keaney (2003). Film noir guide: 745 films of the classic era, 1940–1959. McFarland and Company. pp. 66. ISBN 978-0-7864-6366-4.
  4. Sandra Brennan. "The Big Punch (1948)". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  5. "Lois Maxwell". The Telegraph. October 1, 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  6. Myrna Oliver (March 4, 2002). "Mary Stuart, 75; Star of 'Search for Tomorrow,' 'Guiding Light'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  7. James Robert Parish; Michael R. Pitts (1 January 2003). Hollywood Songsters: Garland to O'Connor. Taylor & Francis. pp. 516–. ISBN 978-0-415-94333-8.
  8. Leonard Maltin. "The Big Punch (1948)". TCM. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  9. "Missing Episode - The Big Punch". Radio Arcana. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
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