The Crowd Roars (1938)

A young boxer gets caught between a no-good father and a crime boss when he starts dating the boss's daughter, although she doesn't know what daddy does for a living.

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

George Bruce (story), Thomas Lennon (screenplay),

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Edward Arnold, Frank Morgan

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Taylor	...	Thomas 'Tommy' / 'Killer' McCoy
Edward Arnold	...	Jim Cain, aka James W. Carson
Frank Morgan	...	Brian McCoy
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Sheila 'Shelia' Carson
William Gargan	...	Johnny Martin
Lionel Stander	...	'Happy' Lane
Jane Wyman	...	Vivian
Nat Pendleton	...	'Pug' Walsh
Charles D. Brown	...	Bill Thorne
Gene Reynolds	...	Tommy McCoy, as a boy
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Pete Mariola
Donald Douglas	...	Murray
Isabel Jewell	...	Mrs. Martin
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Father Patrick Ryan

Storyline

A young boxer gets caught between a no-good father and a crime boss when he starts dating the boss's daughter, although she doesn't know what daddy does for a living.

---

Plot Keywords:

training | male in bathtub | gunfight | new york city | madison square garden manhattan new york city | 

---

Taglines:

DRAMA! YOUR THRILL OF A LIFETIME! (original print ad - all caps)

---

Genres:

Action | Drama

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

La foule en délire

Filming Locations:

Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Taylor has more bare-chest scenes here than in any of his other movies.

---

Goofs

Maureen O'Sullivan is credited onscreen as "Sheila Carson", but her car license is made out to "Shelia Carson", which is also the way she signs her name.

---

Quotes

Brian McCoy: Why, Tommy's right has the kick of a Missouri mule, the speed of a striking cobra, and the aim of William Tell.

---

Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Robert Taylor (1962)

---

Soundtracks

"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"
(1912)
Music by Ernest Ball
Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff
Sung by Gene Reynolds in a show

User Reviews

Robert Taylor as a professional boxer?!

I like Robert Taylor films and every time one comes on TV, I am sure to watch it. However, despite my enjoying his movies, I must admit that the casting in "The Crowd Roars" is simply insane. The idea of the Taylor playing a professional boxer is just ludicrous. He simply comes off as too scrawny and too pretty. His moniker, "Killer" McCoy, seems awfully silly.

The begins with Frank Morgan the ne'er-do-well father of a nice young boy who eventually grows up and is then played by Taylor. In the interim, the rotten father exploits his kid in every possible way in order to avoid having to get a real job. Eventually, Taylor makes his mark as a boxer--and up and coming fighter who is befriended by the champion (William Gargan). Along the way two serious problems occur. First, Morgan blows through his son's money like mad and never shows any regard for his meal ticket! This gets so bad, he eventually sells his son's contract! Why Taylor has anything to do with this jerk is beyond me--there is NOTHING redeeming about him (perhaps this is a weakness of the film, actually--making the father too unlikable and selfish--fortunately, this was mitigated at the end). Second, along the way towards to the top, Taylor meets up in the ring with his friend. The Champ is now old and retired--and comes out of retirement because he needs the money. In this fight, the Champ goes down and stays down--dead. Taylor freaks out and, temporarily, leaves the fight game--too upset to continue. But, as his father wouldn't let him go to school or learn a decent trade, he's only good as a fighter and is forced to return.

By this point, Taylor is owned by a wealthy guy (Edward Arnold) who, for some reason, wants to remain completely incognito. And, he instructs Taylor to tell no one about their arrangement. Along the way, he meets Arnold's charming daughter (Maureen O'Sullivan) and it's pretty obvious that they'll fall in love. In addition, there is a plot involving a kidnapping just before 'the big fight'! Overall, a moderately engaging but oddly cast film. It's got quite a few clichés but because the actors are so good it still is enjoyable--even if it completely lacks realism.