The All-American Boy * (1973, Jon Voight, Anne Archer, Nancie Phillips, Art Metrano) – Classic Movie Review 10,598

Writer-director Charles Eastman’s 1973 American drama film The All-American Boy stars Jon Voight as Vic Bealer, a moody young boxer from a small town in Texas, whizzed to success and worried about tomorrow. Known by his ring name of The Bomber, he suddenly walks away from his family, fiancée and fighting career, and starts relationships with small-town girls Janelle (E J Peaker) and Drenna (Anne Archer). Ned Glass plays his abandoned trainer Arty Bale.

This dour, downbeat and depressing drama did nothing to help the careers of talented Voight and Anne Archer (as Drenna Valentine) or little-known E J Peaker (as Janelle Sharkey).

The people-driven drama has little story, spread thinly and boringly over two hours, and the talented cast can do nothing to help it since their characters are as depressing as the piece.

As a portrait of small-town America, it just isn’t fit to touch the hem of The Last Picture Show. It is a waste of Voight in his prime.

Also in the cast are Carole Androsky, Gene Borkan, Ron Burns, Rosalind Cash, Jeanne Cooper, Peggy Cowles, Leigh French, Ned Glass, Bob Hastings, Art Mertrano, E J Peaker, Nancie Phillips, Kathy Mahoney and Harry Northup.

Eastman’s screenplay, an episodic story in six acts (The Manly Art in Six Rounds), bases the character of Vic Bealer on a man named Michael Dennis Galbraith who lived in Vacaville, California.

The film runs 118 minutes and was released by Warner Bros on 24 October 1973.

The All-American Boy is directed by Charles Eastman, runs 118 minutes, is made by Warner Bros, is released by Warner Bros, is written by Charles Eastman, is produced by Joseph T Naar, and is shot by Philip H Lathrop.

The cast are Jon Voight as Vic Bealer, Nancie Phillips as Connie Swooze, Art Metrano as Jay David Swooze, Kathy Mahoney as Shereen Bealer, Carole Androsky as Rodine Bealer, Jeanne Cooper as Nola Bealer, Peggy Cowles as Bett Van Daumee, Bob Hastings as Ariel Van Daumee, E J Peaker as Janelle Sharkey, Ned Glass as Arty Bale, Ray Ballard as Ring Announcer, Anne Archer as Drenna Valentine, Ron Burns as Larking, Harry Northup as Parker, Rosalind Cash as Poppy, Gene Borkan as Rockoff, Leigh French as Lovette, Jeff Thompson as High Valentine, Mac Chandler as Saragusa, Owen Harian as Knipchild, and Jaye P Morgan as Magda Valentine.

E J Peaker (born 1942) played Minnie Fay in the 1969 movie Hello, Dolly!.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,598

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com