Golden Boy

"Golden Boy" is an interesting movie. Anything starring Barbara Stanwyck is worth seeing; in this movie, Stanwyck's jaded toughness and intelligence make her likeable, vulnerable (has any other actress ever been able to portray toughness and vulnerability at the same time, the way she did?), and fascinating to watch. William Holden is obviously inexperienced here, but there are moments during this film when you catch a glimpse of his future greatness and his underlying ability...even though Stanwyck was 11 years older than Holden, their love story is always believeable. Stanwyck had an ageless quality about her, and about her appearance...you never counted the years, you were so blown away by her acting brilliance. Adolph Menjou is one of those actors taken for granted, as a rule...but he was a very fine actor and does a great job in his role here. If you haven't seen "Golden Boy," you're missing an interesting experience.

A young man is torn between being a violinist and a prizefighter. Lifelong friends since this 1939 film, Bill Holden always gave credit to Stanwyck for helping him with his rather difficult role of Joe Bonaparte, the Golden Boy of the title. Very green as an actor, Holden had a tough battle to succeed in the role; Stanwyck spent time giving him acting advice(she had acted in films a dozen years already) and her coaching was in no small part of an amazing performance coming from such a novice. Barbara is in typical excellent form; her Lorna Moon is blunt and without illusions (she usually was, wasn't she?) - clearly a woman who "knows the score". Much of the film seems oversimplified today with unneccesary sentiment with Lee J. Cobb in a rather overwrought performance as Joe's "You-a-gooda-boy" Italian pop. However, the picture retains solid virtues in the authentic fight scenes and the "real" performances of three pros: Stanwyck, Menjou and Calleia. In a year too rich with fabulous movies (It's highly doubtful that 1939 will EVER be matched again for the number of superlative movies released in a single year) Golden Boy did mediocre business. Holden sent Stanwyck a single red rose on the anniversary of G.B.'s release date annually for the rest of his life-he felt that indebted to her for her immeasureable help.

I've never been a fan of "old" movies, but this one is truly amazing in it's depth and scope of character study. A young man named joe bonaparte has just turned 21 and he has an oppurtunity to box and make real money, but if he boxes he can't play his violon. He may also damage his hands in the boxing ring and forever damaging his ability to play the instrument which has been his love for the better part of his life. Joe must decide what path to follow, the one that his father has encouraged him to go forth all through his childhood or the one that will yield satisfaction for him in the present. END