Iron Man (1951)

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

W.R. Burnett (novel)
George Zuckerman (writer) ...

Release Date:

18 August 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He's all man in the ring -- or anywhere!

Plot:

An ambitious coal miner is talked into becoming a boxer by his gambler brother.

Plot Keywords:

Booing | Pennsylvania | Beefcake | Boxing | Bare Chested Male

Cast

Jeff Chandler	...	Coke Mason
Evelyn Keyes	...	Rose Warren
Stephen McNally	...	George Mason
Rock Hudson	...	Tommy 'Speed' O'Keefe aka Kosco
Joyce Holden	...	'Tiny' Ford, Photographer
Jim Backus	...	Max Watkins
James Arness	...	Alex Mallick (as Jim Arness)
Steve Martin	...	Joe Savella
Doris Cole	...	Billie
Mushy Callahan	...	Referee
George Baxter	...	Herb Riley

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Jeff Chandler and Rock Hudson had an affair during filming.

Quotes:

Rose Warren: [on the men in her life] Yes, I'm thinking about Speed and I'm thinking about Coke.

Movie Connections:

Version of Some Blondes Are Dangerous (1937)

Interesting Story, Dissapointing fight sequences

Jeff Chandler plays Coke Mason a coal miner who has a "killer like fighting instinct when provoked). His brother George (Stephen McNally) recognises this and convinces Coke that fighting will earn him more than enough money to open up the radio shop he dreams of owning with his Gal Rose (Evelyn Keyes).

Thats about all of the plot I will give away. The movie also starred a young Rock Hudson who plays the "nice guy" Tommy Speed O'Keefe ( I can understand how Rock was a ladies favourite).

The storyline did enough to keep me interested however the fight scenes which really are crucial to the character development of Coke Mason were atrocious. Yes the movie is 49 years old now, but Chandler's attempt at demonstrating ring skills were laughable. He looks more like the HunchBack of Notre Dame rather than a deranged "maniac fighter". His opponents would have more likely buckled over in laughter at seeing his stance.

To ensure that Jeff Chandler came over as a nice guy by movies end and ensure a happy ending for all, Coke goes from dirty to clean by movies end and wins the respect of all. It would have been a better plot for Coke to self destruct and chronicle how the win at all costs attitude can destroy you. I assume however that at the time Chandler wanted to remain a fan favourite and good guys did that.

I gave the movie a 6/10.