The Square Ring *** (1953, Jack Warner, Robert Beatty, Maxwell Reed, Joan Collins, Kay Kendall, Bernadette O’Farrell, Bill Owen, Sidney James) – Classic Movie Review 11,429

Ealing Studios 1953 British boxing drama The Square Ring is a mix of comedy and tragedy, and stars Jack Warner, Robert Beatty, Joan Collins and Kay Kendall.

Director Basil Dearden and producer Michael Relph’s 1953 British boxing drama The Square Ring is a mix of comedy and tragedy and stars Jack Warner, Robert Beatty, Maxwell Reed, Joan Collins, Kay Kendall, Bernadette O’Farrell, Bill Owen, Sidney James, Sydney Tafler, Eddie Byrne, Alfie Bass, Joan Sims, Ronald Lewis, George Rose and Alexander Gauge.

Ambitious producer-director team Relph and Dearden take a bleary-eyed look behind the scenes at a British provincial boxing arena, in a lesser-known Ealing Studios multi-drama unfolding mainly in the locker room around bouts during a single evening at the cheap boxing stadium. There are six stories in this soaper centred on the fighting aspirations of a group of young ring hopefuls plus, centrally, an ex-champ called Jim ‘Kid’ Curtis (Beatty) bidding for a comeback at the expense of his marriage to Peg Curtis (O’Farrell) and at danger to his life. Jack Warner also stars as the experienced ex-pro dressing room attendant Danny Felton.

Also Ronald Lewis plays former amateur boxer Eddie Lloyd making his professional debut; Bill Owen plays chirpy lightweight Happy Burns; Maxwell Reed plays crooked fighter Rick Martell planning to throw a fight; George Rose plays punch-drunk has-been Whitey Johnson, and Bill Travers plays simple heavyweight Rowdie Rawlings.

A tepid, strictly second-class, cliché-ridden script, dealing in stereotypes rather than characters, doesn’t prevent a top-class, redolent cast, covering the extraordinary spectrum of talent from Warner to Collins to James, from giving it their best shot. It is enjoyable hokum with a sentimental streak and just a touch of edge, which successfully gets the adrenalin pumping. Director Dearden ensures a strong reek from the sweaty smell of the basically tawdry situation, the seedy boxing venue and the often rather pathetic characters.

The screenplay by Robert Westerby, Peter Myers (additional dialogue) and Alec Grahame (additional dialogue) is based on Ralph W Peterson’s play, which was a hit when it opened in October 1952, prompting Michael Balcon to buy the film rights for Ealing Studios. Producer Relph however said he was reluctant to make the film as he felt boxing movies were not box office.

The main cast are Jack Warner as Danny Felton, Robert Beatty as Jim ‘Kid’ Curtis, Maxwell Reed as Rick Martell, Joan Collins as Frankie, Kay Kendall as Eve Lewis, Bernadette O’Farrell as Peg Curtis, Bill Owen as Happy Burns, George Rose as Whitey Johnson, Bill Travers as Rowdie Rawlings, Alfie Bass as Frank Forbes, Ronald Lewis as Eddie Lloyd, Sidney James as Adams, Eddie Byrne as Lou Lewis, Michael Golden as Warren, Joan Sims as Bunty, Sydney Tafler as first wiseacre, Alexander Gauge as second wiseacre, Vic Wise and Michael Golden.

Canadian actor Robert Beatty had no boxing experience so he trained for two weeks with British boxer Dave Crowley to prepare for the role.

The play was all male but four women were added to the film, Bernadette O’Farrell, Joan Sims. Kay Kendall and Joan Collins, who appeared opposite her then husband Maxwell Reed (married 1952; separated in 1954; divorced 1956).

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,429

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