The Square Jungle (1955)

Grocery clerk Eddie Quaid, in danger of losing his father to alcoholism and his girl Julie through lack of career prospects, goes into boxing. His cop friend McBride finances him; ex-con ... See full summary »

Director:

Jerry Hopper

Writer:

George Zuckerman

Stars:

Tony Curtis, Pat Crowley, Ernest Borgnine

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tony Curtis	...	Eddie Quaid / Packy Glennon
Pat Crowley	...	Julie Walsh
Ernest Borgnine	...	Bernie Browne
Paul Kelly	...	Jim McBride
Jim Backus	...	Pat Quaid
Leigh Snowden	...	Lorraine Evans
John Daheim	...	Al Gorski (as John Day)
Joe Louis	...	Himself
David Janssen	...	Jack Lindsay
Carmen McRae	...	Singer
John Marley	...	Tommy Dillon, Referee
Barney Phillips	...	Dan Selby
Joseph Vitale	...	Tony Adamson (as Joe Vitale)
Kay Stewart	...	Mrs. Gorski

Storyline

Grocery clerk Eddie Quaid, in danger of losing his father to alcoholism and his girl Julie through lack of career prospects, goes into boxing. His cop friend McBride finances him; ex-con Bernie Browne trains him. Three years later, he is a challenger for the championship, and Julie re-enters his life. Can she win him back from a predatory blonde? And why does the prospect of Eddie's winning worry Bernie more than his losing?

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Plot Keywords:

boxing

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 1956 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Der Schläger von Chicago

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Curtis and Borgnine do well enough with very familiar material

This movie's plot was all-too-familiar even in 1955. It is basically a reworking of Golden Boy with a bit of Body And Soul and two or three others mixed in. Some of the dialog is similarly recycled, but there are a few intriguing new lines providing some food for thought. Mostly though, if you are a fan of boxing movies, the two lead performances and the brisk pacing makes this one worth passing time with. Tony Curtis wouldn't have been my first choice for the lead in a boxing movie, but he brings surprising grit and ambition to the role. Borgnine is dead-on perfect as the tough-but...make that just plain tough manager who has to overcome his disappointment for the flaws in Curtis' character to take him back under his wing. John Marley is a standout as a referee vulnerable to intimidation.