The Square Ring
6.8 /10 1 Votes
Director Basil Dearden Production Ealing Studios Duration Language English | 6.6/10 IMDb Genre Drama Cinematography Otto Heller Country United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Release date 13 July 1953 (1953-07-13) (UK) Based on The Square Ring (play)
by Ralph Peterson Writer Ralph W. Peterson (play), Robert Westerby (screenplay), Peter Myers (additional dialogue), Alec Grahame (additional dialogue) Directors Basil Dearden, Michael Relph Cast Jack Warner (Danny Felton), Robert Beatty (Jim 'Kid' Curtis), Bill Owen (Happy Burns), Sid James (Adams), Joan Collins (Frankie)Similar movies Rocky , Rocky II , Rocky III , Rocky V , Southpaw , The Transporter Refueled | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Square Ring is a 1953 British film produced by Michael Relph, directed by Basil Dearden and made at Ealing Studios. It stars Jack Warner, Robert Beatty and Bill Owen. The film, based on a stage play by Ralph Peterson, centres on one night at a fairly seedy boxing venue and tells the different stories of the various fighters and spectators.
Contents
- Kings of the square ring 1976 dutch vhs trailer
- Plot
- Cast
- Original Play
- Production
- Reception
- 1960 TV Adaptation
- References
Kings of the square ring 1976 dutch vhs trailer
Plot
Five stories that take place mainly in the locker room prior to and after various bouts during a single evening at a cheap boxing stadium. These include a novice cheated of victory, a boxer who refuses to "throw" a fight, and a veteran trying to make a come-back who pays with his life.
Cast
Original Play
The film was based on a 1952 play with the same name by Sydney-born radio writer Ralph Peterson who arrived in London only the year before. He wrote it over a three-month period. Peterson was inspired by material he had learned from writing the radio play Come Out Fighting, set in the world of boxing. He sent the play to Anthony Quayle, who he had met in Sydney, who agreed to put it on.
Production
Film rights were bought by Michael Balcon at Ealing and John Mills was announced as star, with Basil Dearden to direct and Michael Relph to produce. Eventually Mills dropped out and was replaced by Canadian actor Robert Beatty. He had no boxing experience so he trained for two weeks in preparation for the role.
Reception
Critical reception was mixed. One review called the film "uneven", accusing it of "veering between comedy and tragedy".
1960 TV Adaptation
The play was also adapted for Australian TV in 1960.
Cast
References
The Square Ring WikipediaThe Square Ring IMDb The Square Ring themoviedb.org