Body and Soul (1947)

A talented boxer's young career hits difficult terrain when an unethical promoter takes interest in him.

Director:

Robert Rossen

Writer:

Abraham Polonsky (original screenplay)

Stars:

John Garfield, Lilli Palmer, Hazel Brooks

Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Garfield	...	Charley Davis
Lilli Palmer	...	Peg Born
Hazel Brooks	...	Alice
Anne Revere	...	Anna Davis
William Conrad	...	Quinn
Joseph Pevney	...	Shorty Polaski
Lloyd Gough	...	Roberts (as Lloyd Goff)
Canada Lee	...	Ben Chaplin

Storyline

Charley Davis wins an amateur boxing match and is taken on by promoter Quinn. Charley's mother doesn't want him to fight, but when Charley's father is accidentally killed, Charley sets up a fight for money. His career blooms as he wins fight after fight, but soon an unethical promoter named Roberts begins to show an interest in Charley, and Charley finds himself faced with increasingly difficult choices.

---

Plot Keywords:

boxing match | boxing | bare chested male | fixed fight | boxing promoter | 

---

Taglines:

The story of a guy that women go for!

---

Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Sport

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

An Affair of the Heart

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Enterprise Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was originally supposed to have been a straight biography of three-time boxing champion Barney Ross. But when Ross publicly admitted that he had become a heroin addict from having received morphine to treat his wounds during WWII, the studio instead decided to turn the film into a fictionalized portrayal of Ross's boxing career. Ross sued and won a $60,000 settlement.

---

Goofs

In the first dressing room scene, there's a close-up of Quinn leaning against the wall. In the very next shot, he's standing a few feet in front of the wall, then backs up and leans against it again.

---

Quotes

Quinn: [to Alice] He could've had the whole world. So he leaned over sideways and grabbed you.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Man with Bogart's Face (1980)

---

Soundtracks

Am I Blue?
Composed by Harry Akst and Grant Clarke
Performed by Hazel Brooks

User Reviews

Fine performances

"Body and Soul" released by United Artists in 1947, was apparently made after actor John Garfield got out of his Warner Brothers contract. He had made many films with them, but wanted to be more independent. In this film, Garfield plays Charley Davis, a lower middle class New Yorker with a talent for boxing. Not unlike many boxers, certainly of that time period, using your fists for sport was a way out of your meager background. While I have never been a big fan of John Garfield and did not consider him a top notch actor of the golden age of Hollywood, this part does seem made for him. Garfield is quite good here, playing the conflicted Charley with skill and credibility. There are actually few real boxing scenes in the film, except for the end, and that is why labeling this as a 'boxing movie' seems a bit deceptive. There are capable supporting players, including the lovely Lili Palmer, who loves Charley. Robert Conrad and Lloyd Gough ably play the tough guy thugs who want Charley to sell his soul for money. A notable performance by African-American actor Canada Lee is striking - considering this is 1947 and is treated as an equal by the white actors. Garfield was known for his politically liberal views, and perhaps this is why he later ended up as an enemy of the Communist witch hunters in Washington. Garfield's untimely death at age 39 was a shock to many - his funeral was mobbed by thousands. Perhaps this elevated his image above the work he left behind in film - but still, this film and a handful of others are quite good.