Stars: Gerald Mohr, Rita Moreno, Jack Elam
Director: Kurt Neumann
Writer: Irving Shulmam
A young Mexican-American in East Los Angeles uses the boxing ring to make a better life for himself and his family, and learns as much about being a Latino in a white society as he does about boxing. Written by Irving Shulman, who also wrote the original treatment for Rebel Without a Cause, which catapulted James Dean to stardom!
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The last boxer that Tommy fought was Kid Azteca, Champion of the Mexican Republic in 1932 but resident of the Texan border towns in the 1930s and 1940s, he spoke English almost like a native. When he had to fight Mexican rivals , he insulted them with English swear words, infuriating them and making them to lose control of themselves, he then proceeded to take advantage of the situation.
In the movie there are some difficult to detect misfits: Rita MorenoΒ΄s granny at 33:43 speaks with an accent and intonation of the 19th century High Class of Mexico; it still retained a whiff of 18th century Spaniard Aristocrats. It doesnΒ΄t fit with a poor immigrant family. That accent disappeared in Mexico by the 1960s.
And while Tommy is dancing around w jump ropes his Dad hangs himself and sis starves.
Never understood how you could volontarily hit someone for no reason π€¦
Not a great actor but a beautiful smile that lights up the screen
Hmmm so Americans had discriminating laws for blacks and Mexicans…I thought it was only for blacks
Tomas 1952 = pete dav son snl
"The Lazy Mexican." White folks are something else. I'm supposed to be a "Drunk Indian," according to some White folks. I've heard it many times, hurled towards me. It's just because I'm Native. And, I don't even drink. White folks are something else.
Good cop in the cafe!
TYPICAL MOVIE OF HOLLYWOOD PUSHING STEREO TYPES AND RACIAL DIVISION. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK.
I was at the Teamsters Gym when the gym scenes were being shot.
Man racism has not changed! Caucasion persausion Lolππ ππ
The stupid white women in the beginning of the movie is the lazy one, them people needed the Mexicans days to do everything for them, because they were so lazy to do the lawn, babysitting (which save a lot of Angelo babies from neglect due to fact and their nature, they never had time for their kids) and other simple task that was look down upon.
white americans are the most prejudiced in the world… argh!
I love the seamed stockings!! So much class.
Great find!
The more things change, the more they stay the same. π
Still treating Mexicans like shit, nothings changed!!!!
They're just as lazy and entitled now as they were then.
When the city was beautiful..now…pure hell
A movie worth watching…how different and serene back in the 40/50s.
thanks.
Great movie. Good to see Jimmyyyyy Lennnnonnn as the ring announcer. Reminds me of Friday Night at The Olympic on Channel 5 in Los Angeles watching it with my dad RIP as a kid. He was the guy that inspired Michael Buffer in his long drawn-out words in introductions.
@1:09:20
This is a great story!
@59:57 The cop is John Crawford…he was in a 'Twilight Zone ;episode.
Lou from NYU
I was alive and well in 1952 Los Angeles. Mexicans were scorned. I loved this movie that shows this shameful racism in all its "glory". Irony: On the other hand the "Spanish" rancho period of 100 years before was adored, as shown in the play Ramona that was the favored play to go to for many years. As if this was an entirely different culture from the Mexican culture of 1952 – NOT.
Nice movie,thank you! π Proud to be Mexican American π π π
A beautiful new blue sofa, we would have looked good on it! Lol!
Thanks for another gem PizzaFlix. Love your work.
His girlfriend is beatiful – AWESOME movie…π
Never realised they had a particular film night for mexicand
Wonderful film. Profound, enduring, engaging. There are so many movies I would never have found — had it not been for my cine-angel PizzaFlix. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Anyone recognize PEPETO from The Real McCoys……nice to see a movie Ive Never seen
He Would have Had to Fight in the Amateur Ranks first, before getting his First Pro Fight. Andy Ruiz had 110 Amateur Fights before turning Pro.
Don't know where you find these PF. Great pic. Happen to have a friend who volunteers helping out a a city boxing club. He himself is a powerful guy at 71 I think. Hear the stories and you realize how dangerous it is. He trains a lot of regular folks who train just for the workout and never fight. One is a petite girl who is a flyer for Circ de Sole. Says she's an amazing athlete and can actually box very well. Doesn't fight just keeps in excellent shape. Who'd a thunk?
jack elam was an accountant before going into acting. one of my favorites, espec in western
This was a good movie of growing up and learning something.
Γot fan of Ms. Moreno
Agree she was a stunner for sure. Yet….no more talented then HUNDREDS of other girls in Hollywood waiting for a chance to become a star. Read her book. Liked her much less after. Don't feel to this day she did anything for anyone but herself ! In her senior years there was a short time when she did develope as an actor, but no Betty Davis ( the best of them all ). The rest of the cast in this film were far better . For the time the message of this movie went over most American heads. Today …..well not sure it would even be made let alone viewed on the BIG screen.
Excellent MOVIE π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
Worth WATCHING ANYTIME βββββββββββββββ
Good movie…but those high school kids sure looked older than 16 to 20 years of age they look about 30 years and older..but then in the US they used to have to keep repeating their classes if they failed the exams LOL
I would be so good at laying around! Iβm Italian but I can be the lazy Italian!
And to think that Rita Moreno was just my ago in 1960. Too bad we never met (wishful thinking…).
Boxing is a terrible sport. I won't watch it.
What a great film.!!!
Excellent. shows certainΒ peoples ignorance to peoples Creed and Colour is represented in 50s America. Thanks for uploading.