Body and Soul

Rating:
Summary: Garfield Sizzles in Morality Play
Review: "Body and Soul" was the pride and joy of Enterprise Productions, an independent company located just off Melrose Avenue near RKO and Paramount. It was dedicated to developing productions for its superstar, John Garfield. This is a morality play in which New Yorker Garfield, playing a role not unlike his own life, rises above temptation, reclaims his respectability, and bows out his professional boxing career as winner and still champion.

After his father is killed, an accidental victim of a turf war involving New York gangland elements, Garfield turns to the world of professional boxing despite his mother Ann Revere's admonitions against it. His mind is made up after a government official shows up at their apartment to ask Revere questions concerning going on relief, or in today's parlance, welfare. Garfield finds the process dehumanizing, evicts the government worker, and enters the professional boxing realm, aided by the area's noted boxing manager, William Conrad.

Eventually Garfield hits the big time and wins the world championship, but sells his soul in a Faustian bargain to unscrupulous promoter Lloyd Gough. In the process his decent, highly ethical girlfriend Lillie Palmer drops him, saying she will not deal with him as long as the unsavory Gough guides his destiny. After that he takes up with opportunistic night club singer Hazel Brooks, who lives for luxury in the fast lane.

Gough hits his lowest point when matching Garfield with the talented and popular champion Canada Lee, whose manager beseeches him to quit due to brain damage. One more extra hard blow can do the champion in, he has been warned by doctors. Gough explains that Lee need not worry, and that he will tell Garfield that he should carry him and not land any hard blows. He then purposely neglects to tell Garfield, with Lee almost losing his life in the process. Garfield, feeling terrible, then gives Lee a job as a trainer.

Eventually Gough decides that it is Garfield's turn to lose to the up and coming young contender from Texas. Garfield is pressured to accept the dive. He even bets his entire purse on his challenger.

The championship bout is so boring that fans boo and taunt. Garfield pulls his punches and spends much time clinching. Then, in the next to last round, Gough initiates his doublecross by giving the go ahead to the challenger to use full strength on Garfield as he pummels the surprised champion and knocks him down.

"I'll kill him, I'll kill him," Garfield promises. By the time the round ends he has cleared his head. In the final round he devastates the challenger, knocks him out, and receives a standing ovation. He wins Palmer back and rejects an advance from Brooks.

When Gough tells Garfield afterwards that he has run a great risk in crossing him, the champion coolly replies, "What are you gonna do, kill me? Remember what you told me, 'Everybody dies.'"

James Wong Howe's photography of the fight scenes were staggeringly real. He did them while on roller skates, enabling him to keep up with the flow of action.

Director Robert Rossen and screenplay author Abraham Polonsky had a difference of opinion on the film's ending for awhile. Rossen, favoring a more realistic ending befitting a fighter who has crossed a major mob figure, shot a sequence of Garfield walking down a dark New York street, being gunned down, then shoved into a garbage can to serve as an example to anyone who dared cross the mob. Polonsky favored the ending that was ultimately used as Rossen told him after viewing both endings, "You were right. Your ending is better."

Enterprise made one more great film, with Polonsky adapting his own script and making his directorial debut in "Force of Evil," with Garfield playing a mob lawyer who reforms.

Rating:
Summary: Garfield Sizzles in Morality Play
Review: "Body and Soul" was the pride and joy of Enterprise Productions, an independent company located just off Melrose Avenue near RKO and Paramount. It was dedicated to developing productions for its superstar, John Garfield. This is a morality play in which New Yorker Garfield, playing a role not unlike his own life, rises above temptation, reclaims his respectability, and bows out his professional boxing career as winner and still champion.

After his father is killed, an accidental victim of a turf war involving New York gangland elements, Garfield turns to the world of professional boxing despite his mother Ann Revere's admonitions against it. His mind is made up after a government official shows up at their apartment to ask Revere questions concerning going on relief, or in today's parlance, welfare. Garfield finds the process dehumanizing, evicts the government worker, and enters the professional boxing realm, aided by the area's noted boxing manager, William Conrad.

Eventually Garfield hits the big time and wins the world championship, but sells his soul in a Faustian bargain to unscrupulous promoter Lloyd Gough. In the process his decent, highly ethical girlfriend Lillie Palmer drops him, saying she will not deal with him as long as the unsavory Gough guides his destiny. After that he takes up with opportunistic night club singer Hazel Brooks, who lives for luxury in the fast lane.

Gough hits his lowest point when matching Garfield with the talented and popular champion Canada Lee, whose manager beseeches him to quit due to brain damage. One more extra hard blow can do the champion in, he has been warned by doctors. Gough explains that Lee need not worry, and that he will tell Garfield that he should carry him and not land any hard blows. He then purposely neglects to tell Garfield, with Lee almost losing his life in the process. Garfield, feeling terrible, then gives Lee a job as a trainer.

Eventually Gough decides that it is Garfield's turn to lose to the up and coming young contender from Texas. Garfield is pressured to accept the dive. He even bets his entire purse on his challenger.

The championship bout is so boring that fans boo and taunt. Garfield pulls his punches and spends much time clinching. Then, in the next to last round, Gough initiates his doublecross by giving the go ahead to the challenger to use full strength on Garfield as he pummels the surprised champion and knocks him down.

"I'll kill him, I'll kill him," Garfield promises. By the time the round ends he has cleared his head. In the final round he devastates the challenger, knocks him out, and receives a standing ovation. He wins Palmer back and rejects an advance from Brooks.

When Gough tells Garfield afterwards that he has run a great risk in crossing him, the champion coolly replies, "What are you gonna do, kill me? Remember what you told me, 'Everybody dies.'"

James Wong Howe's photography of the fight scenes were staggeringly real. He did them while on roller skates, enabling him to keep up with the flow of action.

Director Robert Rossen and screenplay author Abraham Polonsky had a difference of opinion on the film's ending for awhile. Rossen, favoring a more realistic ending befitting a fighter who has crossed a major mob figure, shot a sequence of Garfield walking down a dark New York street, being gunned down, then shoved into a garbage can to serve as an example to anyone who dared cross the mob. Polonsky favored the ending that was ultimately used as Rossen told him after viewing both endings, "You were right. Your ending is better."

Enterprise made one more great film, with Polonsky adapting his own script and making his directorial debut in "Force of Evil," with Garfield playing a mob lawyer who reforms.

Rating:
Summary: Tough Guy Garfield at his Peak
Review: Body and Soul gets my vote as the best boxing film ever. This dark film noir masterpiece is still hard hitting (If somewhat dated)in the new millenium. Abraham Polonsky hit his zenith with this one as did Robert Rossen, and James Wong Howe's innovative photography (He filmed the fight scenes in the ring by wearing roolerskates with a camera attached to his chest) has yet to be equaled for it's graphic realism. However, it is John Garfield's riveting and desperate performance as The Champ pressured by mobsters to take a dive that is the real gem in this one. I feel that this was Garfield's finest ever characterization, and he was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Charlie Davis. Garfield's dark and brooding, rugged good looks are magnified ever the more so by Howe, and he physically looked the part of the prizefighter. The close up shots of the star are outstanding. The film is edited brilliantly, and the life and death battle at the film's climax is particularly brutal and exciting. If your'e a boxing and movie fan- This one is a "Can't Miss". The tough guy ghetto riser played by Garfield is so convincingly portrayed because it somewhat mirrored his real-life circumstances and upbringing. Five Big Stars!

Rating:
Summary: Tough Guy Garfield at his Peak
Review: Body and Soul gets my vote as the best boxing film ever. This dark film noir masterpiece is still hard hitting (If somewhat dated)in the new millenium. Abraham Polonsky hit his zenith with this one as did Robert Rossen, and James Wong Howe's innovative photography (He filmed the fight scenes in the ring by wearing roolerskates with a camera attached to his chest) has yet to be equaled for it's graphic realism. However, it is John Garfield's riveting and desperate performance as The Champ pressured by mobsters to take a dive that is the real gem in this one. I feel that this was Garfield's finest ever characterization, and he was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Charlie Davis. Garfield's dark and brooding, rugged good looks are magnified ever the more so by Howe, and he physically looked the part of the prizefighter. The close up shots of the star are outstanding. The film is edited brilliantly, and the life and death battle at the film's climax is particularly brutal and exciting. If your'e a boxing and movie fan- This one is a "Can't Miss". The tough guy ghetto riser played by Garfield is so convincingly portrayed because it somewhat mirrored his real-life circumstances and upbringing. Five Big Stars!

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST BOXING FILMS
Review: Body and Soul is a gripping tale about one of the most corrupt sports, both now and then: boxing. As we watch "the Champ" emerge from poverty, aching to hit the big time, we understand why he would make a Faustian bargain with the sleazy big-time boxing promoter. The Champ figures he'll be smart and shrewd enough to be the one pulling the strings, but of course he is deluded, and when the promoter tells him to lose a big fight, the Champ finally has to wrestle with his conscience. The big fight is the movie's spectacular climax.

My two main complaints are that the Champ's girlfriend Peg (played by Lilli Palmer) is a stock character: the wholesome girl who tries to guide her boyfriend down the right path and waits like an angel, ready to forgive all, for her wayward boyfriend to return to her fold. Also, the ending is a cop-out. PLOT SPOILER TO FOLLOW. While it is inspiring to see the Champ refuse to throw the fight, we know that as a result the promoter probably will try to kill him, so the happy ending as the Champ and Peg walk off in each other's arms after the big fight is premature. The point of the film is that the Champ's reckless actions had gotten himself into a no-win situation: either he would throw the fight and lose his integrity or he would not throw the fight and would lose his life. The film's happy ending covers over that tragedy and dilutes the moral of the story.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST BOXING FILMS
Review: Body and Soul is a gripping tale about one of the most corrupt sports, both now and then: boxing. As we watch "the Champ" emerge from poverty, aching to hit the big time, we understand why he would make a Faustian bargain with the sleazy big-time boxing promoter. The Champ figures he'll be smart and shrewd enough to be the one pulling the strings, but of course he is deluded, and when the promoter tells him to lose a big fight, the Champ finally has to wrestle with his conscience. The big fight is the movie's spectacular climax.

My two main complaints are that the Champ's girlfriend Peg (played by Lilli Palmer) is a stock character: the wholesome girl who tries to guide her boyfriend down the right path and waits like an angel, ready to forgive all, for her wayward boyfriend to return to her fold. Also, the ending is a cop-out. PLOT SPOILER TO FOLLOW. While it is inspiring to see the Champ refuse to throw the fight, we know that as a result the promoter probably will try to kill him, so the happy ending as the Champ and Peg walk off in each other's arms after the big fight is premature. The point of the film is that the Champ's reckless actions had gotten himself into a no-win situation: either he would throw the fight and lose his integrity or he would not throw the fight and would lose his life. The film's happy ending covers over that tragedy and dilutes the moral of the story.

Rating:
Summary: Body and Soul
Review: Charlie Davis grew up poor but proud, a brash young kid with fists of stone and an appetite for the better life. John Garfield plays Davis in BODY AND SOUL, one of the starkest morality plays Hollywood has ever produced.
BODY AND SOUL is deeply cynical and enjoys a pessimism untainted by many promises of redemption. People don't fall in love in the world Charlie is so eager to join - they negotiate angry contracts with each other. William Conrad plays Charlie's manager who at one point loses his girl to Charlie. In a happier moment Conrad once told her, "Remember, first mink and then ermine." It's a constant theme in the movie - everything is for sale, and the more of you you shell out the better the reward. The girl's bitter fall from Charlie's grace takes her back to Conrad and his rabbit fur territory. Conrad welcomes her back with a snarled "Looks like you're back in my league." "I don't know," she says, "you're getting kind of old." Conrad ends this little woo-pitching session with the pleasant observation that "You could use a new paint job yourself." This is a Social Darwinism without much sociability and one where all the predators are keeping score.
About the only light radiated in Charlie's life come from girlfriend Peg and his mother, both long-suffering forgivers. But the lure of the Damned overshadows that of the Graced. The former dress better and have bigger toys. Besides, we imagine Charlie tells himself, I can always step away when I've had my fill....
BODY AND SOUL was custom made for its star and plays to all his strengths. John Garfield shines in this career defining role that fits him like a glove - a pugnacious and cocky kid from the wrong side of town chases the brass ring and stumbles when he runs into something tougher than his fists and immune to his wise cracks. Garfield's other great acting asset was his ability to explore the dark corners of his soul and take the audience along for a melancholy tour. Garfield is corruptible, but incapable of being corrupt. His mortal attempt to reclaim his soul is announced with one of the greatest tough guy lines in movie history: "What are you gonna do, kill me? We all gotta die."
An essential movie.





Rating:
Summary: OK but lacks depth
Review: I bought this videotape because I like boxing and heard this movie was one of the best boxing movies ever made along with "Raging Bull". The movie was pretty good but lacks the artistic depth of "Raging Bull". In fact, the movie really isn't even about boxing but is a straight morality play. The boxing is incidential. In the movie, the characters are either good or bad, with little grey, except for the Garfield character. Of course, good triumphs and the hero gets the girl. This makes the film a little boring on both an intellectual and emotional level. Anyone more interested in boxing, and being challenged intellectually and emotionally, is better off with "Raging Bull".

Rating:
Summary: Body and Soul
Review: John Garfield offers one of his most memorable roles in this thrilling boxing expose. He's up and coming fighter Charley Davis, a tough kid being pulled in opposite directions by his family and by the local mob kingpin. Academy Award-nominated script from Abe Polonsky (who'd collaborate with Garfield again in "Force of Evil"), the directorial debut of Robert Rossen, and the usual stellar photography from super-D.P. James Wong Howe. Great support comes from Canada Lee (like Garfield, a victim of the Blacklist) as a fellow fighter.

Rating:
Summary: Classic John Garfield, Classic Fight Film
Review: John Garfield offers one of his most memorable roles in this thrilling boxing expose. He's up and coming fighter Charley Davis, a tough kid being pulled in opposite directions by his family and by the local mob kingpin. Academy Award-nominated script from Abe Polonsky (who'd collaborate with Garfield again in "Force of Evil"), the directorial debut of Robert Rossen, and the usual stellar photography from super-D.P. James Wong Howe. Great support comes from Canada Lee (like Garfield, a victim of the Blacklist) as a fellow fighter.