Hilarious pre censorship code boxing farce with Jummy Durante and Stuart Erwin, this homespun Vs city comedy about fixed boxing matches pre dates the Robert Wise classic by 15 years. It's an altogether different tone but with a similar theme: set-up boxing bouts. This one is played for laughs and sappy romance.....the attraction here definitely being the very rude and outright vulgarity of the comedy. Durante is flapping about snozzling his ridiculous comedy style with double meaning retorts and, glamorpuss bra-less nightclub floozie Lupe Velez whilst clearly not wearing underwear beneath her silk gowns has a neckline plunge so low it's a wonder viewers didn't see the map of Tasmania, so to speak. One outright hilarious scene with a French waiter saying "Oui Oui" repeatedly gets yelled at by an exasperated Durante who says "Alfonse! Will you stop wee weeing all over the place". Durante's theme song "Inka Dinka Doo" was obviously a gramophone hit in this era and gets a show spot all to itself. The laughter of Depression viewers in giant old theaters would have lifted the roof on many occasions in this one hour sparring match of one-liners. Everyone gets walloped, even Mother belts Hubby's showgirl pick-up square on the jaw in reel one. Stuart Erwin plays his usual "aww gee" hick character, and James Cagney's lookalike brother (astonishingly so) William, plays Mc Swatt the bad dude boxer also chasing Lupe's hemline. It's a very funny film. The DVD disc available in shops in Oz is OK, more like a DVD rom with some grainy pixilation. Made by Reliance Pictures, who sound like Majestic or Liberty or Chesterfield Pictures, all poverty row outfits of the time, I have a suspicion it is again, a faux Tiffany Production: they folded in 1932 but clearly kept the lot running as various other "name" brands used the facilities. The production values of PALOOKA a very good with the style of decor and design of a Tiffany Production.
15 Reviews
a good adaptation of a classic comic strip
kidboots13 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
"Joe Palooka" was a comic strip created in 1921 by Ham Fisher. It was about a big, good natured prize fighter who didn't like to fight, a defender of the little guy who couldn't defend himself - a white knight. When it was first bought to the screen in 1934 everything worked so well. Stuart Erwin was Joe, a character he had perfected over the years. Jimmie Durante was excellent as Knobby Walsh and was there ever a more beautiful "Anne" than Mary Carlisle. The wonderful character actress Marjorie Rambeau played Joe's mother Mayme and the ever reliable Robert Armstrong was Joe's dad Pete "Goodtime" Palooka
Mayme Palooka is sick of her husband's wandering ways - after finding him celebrating his latest boxing win with Trixie (Thelma Todd in a bit part) she takes her son to the country determined not to let him be a boxer. Years later while Joe is delivering eggs, he meets the dynamic Knobby Walsh , who convinces him to become a prize fighter. He is all set to fight McSwatt (William Cagney, looking uncannily like his brother - even with the same speech and mannerisms!!!). After knocking out McSwatt, he inherits McSwatt's girlfriend. Lupe Velez is vibrant as Nina, the vampy cabaret singer. "Poor little bracelet - 'ee looks so lonely by 'eeself" - Nina,angling for another diamond bracelet.
After a couple of weeks Joe has gone to the dogs, believing his own publicity. Fighting takes a back seat to toothpaste and mouthwash endorsements. His mother turns up with Anne to see if she can lick him back into shape. After Joe drunkenly challenges McSwatt to a grudge match Knobby doesn't think Joe stands a chance. Then Pete Palooka shows up in time to train him for his big fight.
This film is a showcase for Jimmy Durante and his zany brand of comedy. "He's no more a champ than you are an Indian" - "I am an Indian - my name is "Sitting Pretty"" - Knobby's reply to a disgruntled manager. "There's a guy after my own heart" Knobby says, "yeah with a big knife" his offsider replies. He even sings his signature tune, "Inka Dinka Doo".
Recommended.
- he was great in the role.
Mayme Palooka is sick of her husband's wandering ways - after finding him celebrating his latest boxing win with Trixie (Thelma Todd in a bit part) she takes her son to the country determined not to let him be a boxer. Years later while Joe is delivering eggs, he meets the dynamic Knobby Walsh , who convinces him to become a prize fighter. He is all set to fight McSwatt (William Cagney, looking uncannily like his brother - even with the same speech and mannerisms!!!). After knocking out McSwatt, he inherits McSwatt's girlfriend. Lupe Velez is vibrant as Nina, the vampy cabaret singer. "Poor little bracelet - 'ee looks so lonely by 'eeself" - Nina,angling for another diamond bracelet.
After a couple of weeks Joe has gone to the dogs, believing his own publicity. Fighting takes a back seat to toothpaste and mouthwash endorsements. His mother turns up with Anne to see if she can lick him back into shape. After Joe drunkenly challenges McSwatt to a grudge match Knobby doesn't think Joe stands a chance. Then Pete Palooka shows up in time to train him for his big fight.
This film is a showcase for Jimmy Durante and his zany brand of comedy. "He's no more a champ than you are an Indian" - "I am an Indian - my name is "Sitting Pretty"" - Knobby's reply to a disgruntled manager. "There's a guy after my own heart" Knobby says, "yeah with a big knife" his offsider replies. He even sings his signature tune, "Inka Dinka Doo".
Recommended.
Palooka Family Values
bkoganbing6 February 2015
This feature length film based on Ham Fisher's comic strip Joe Palooka has Stu Erwin cast as quite a different Palooka than Fisher created. In the strip Joe Palooka is a clean living Jack Armstrong/Frank Merriwell type, defender of the weak and downtrodden when he's not in the ring. Erwin is clean living all right but no one would ever cast him as a Jack Armstrong.
Stu is the son of an Armstrong though, Robert Armstrong plays Pete Palooka his dad, former champion who could not lay off the booze and the women. That caused a split with his wife show girl Marjorie Rambeau and she quit the stage and raised Erwin out in the country on a farm with lots of clean living and a wholesome girl played by Mary Carlisle wants to marry him.
But a chance encounter with fight manager Knobby Walsh played by the one and only Jimmy Durante has Erwin convinced to follow his dad into the boxing game. And another fluke has him beating champion William Cagney and not only inheriting his title but also his girlfriend Lupe Velez.
Now that's one cast of colorful players that should alone make you want to see this film. Even if it's not what creator Ham Fisher had in mind Palooka is still a nice film with a few sly innuendos that those who love those before the Code films will appreciate.
Written into the film is Jimmy Durante in a drunken stupor singing one of his famous songs Inka-Dinka-Doo. And there's nothing like the come hither glance that only Lupe Velez can give to any man. That woman could seduce Truman Capote.
Not a great one as far as boxing films are concerned but still some fine entertainment.
Stu is the son of an Armstrong though, Robert Armstrong plays Pete Palooka his dad, former champion who could not lay off the booze and the women. That caused a split with his wife show girl Marjorie Rambeau and she quit the stage and raised Erwin out in the country on a farm with lots of clean living and a wholesome girl played by Mary Carlisle wants to marry him.
But a chance encounter with fight manager Knobby Walsh played by the one and only Jimmy Durante has Erwin convinced to follow his dad into the boxing game. And another fluke has him beating champion William Cagney and not only inheriting his title but also his girlfriend Lupe Velez.
Now that's one cast of colorful players that should alone make you want to see this film. Even if it's not what creator Ham Fisher had in mind Palooka is still a nice film with a few sly innuendos that those who love those before the Code films will appreciate.
Written into the film is Jimmy Durante in a drunken stupor singing one of his famous songs Inka-Dinka-Doo. And there's nothing like the come hither glance that only Lupe Velez can give to any man. That woman could seduce Truman Capote.
Not a great one as far as boxing films are concerned but still some fine entertainment.
palooka OK
lschwartz10619 August 2007
Surprisingly spry given that this film is a premise to film antiquity. I always knew who Jimmy Durante was as a late boomer, but I had never seen him in his prime until this movie. I'm glad I did. He doesn't pretend to be an actor and delivers his lines with a uniform delivery. He's not a very funny man, but a weird oddity as an entertainer, the likes of whom would never ever be taken seriously in today's world of commodified entertainers. What's another point of interest in this film is the appearance of a William Cagney,brother of James....I assume the older of the two. Cagney's first scene when he shows up to his fight pie-eyed is a rather realistic and understated portrayal of drunkenness. There is plenty of drinking in this movie and many people get drunk. What's also an unexpectedly nice touch to this film is that the RELATIONSHIPS ARE BELIEVABLE. Filial conflict peppers this film in that the protagonist has to wrestle with his divided loyalty as cornered by his mother and father. Sometimes the film veers off into unbelievable ridicularity that could never respect the viewer; like when Durante wobbles drunkenly down the street, smashes a showcase window, then enters the display and starts his riinka-dinnk routine on the display's piano The least acquired appreciation for the film is its presence of Runyan-esquire toughs. These actors are CHARACTERS, not celebrities acting in obvious vehicles. Worth a look.
Full of clichés, but still very likable.
planktonrules13 November 2009
Wow. PALOOKA might have just about every boxing cliché known to films, yet somehow it manages to be very likable and a great film for lovers of old B-movies. Much of this is because the dialog hums and the stars do the most with the material.
Stu Erwin plays Joe Palooka--a farm boy who is discovered by a boxing promoter (Jimmy Durante) and becomes a nation-wide sensation. Erwin is good as a country boy though he is an odd choice to play the title character. In the comic, Joe was a heavyweight boxer but Erwin is pretty scrawny--and far from physically imposing. Despite the odd casting, Erwin is pretty good. Plus, able supporting characters help his performance quite a bit.
I am surprised to admit this, but probably the best actor in the film was Jimmy Durante. In the past I have been HIGHLY critical of some of his films, though the fault wasn't entirely Durante's. MGM foolishly paired him with Buster Keaton in sound films--even though Keaton's style was the polar opposite of Durante's. Keaton was a silent comic and Durante was brash and loud--very, very loud! Here, however, his insanely loud and dynamic persona actually works--much like it did in Hollywood PARTY. I liked how he constantly poked fun at himself and the ending with him and his new wife was wonderful--you just have to see it to believe it.
As for the plot, there are so many familiar plot elements--the bad woman who turns Joe's attention away from his virtuous girlfriend and boxing, the mother who is determined that her son won't throw his life away in the ring, the estranged father, etc., etc., etc.. Yet, despite all this it is also highly entertaining and fun throughout. A very good B film that is more enjoyable and fun than its score of 6 would usually indicate.
Stu Erwin plays Joe Palooka--a farm boy who is discovered by a boxing promoter (Jimmy Durante) and becomes a nation-wide sensation. Erwin is good as a country boy though he is an odd choice to play the title character. In the comic, Joe was a heavyweight boxer but Erwin is pretty scrawny--and far from physically imposing. Despite the odd casting, Erwin is pretty good. Plus, able supporting characters help his performance quite a bit.
I am surprised to admit this, but probably the best actor in the film was Jimmy Durante. In the past I have been HIGHLY critical of some of his films, though the fault wasn't entirely Durante's. MGM foolishly paired him with Buster Keaton in sound films--even though Keaton's style was the polar opposite of Durante's. Keaton was a silent comic and Durante was brash and loud--very, very loud! Here, however, his insanely loud and dynamic persona actually works--much like it did in Hollywood PARTY. I liked how he constantly poked fun at himself and the ending with him and his new wife was wonderful--you just have to see it to believe it.
As for the plot, there are so many familiar plot elements--the bad woman who turns Joe's attention away from his virtuous girlfriend and boxing, the mother who is determined that her son won't throw his life away in the ring, the estranged father, etc., etc., etc.. Yet, despite all this it is also highly entertaining and fun throughout. A very good B film that is more enjoyable and fun than its score of 6 would usually indicate.
Welcome to a man's sport where the women are tougher than the men.
mark.waltz1 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I'm referring to the audience and the women who love the men in the ring of course. The story starts in the early 1900's when the senior Palooka (Robert Armstrong) was champ and his wife (the ultra tough Marjorie Rambeau) caught him in a compromising position with a prize-fighting groupie (Thelma Todd). Kicking him to the curb, she doesn't expect their infant son to grow up to be in the same profession, but cut 30 years, and young Joe Palooka (Stuart Erwin) does exactly that after an encounter with boxing manager Jimmy Durante during which time he knocks out a current champ. Heading off to the big city without his mother's knowledge, he ends up one of the top fighters, and after beating up a challenger (William Cagney), he wins over Cagney's girl (Lupe Velez) and heads towards the championship much to his mother's chagrin.
Between groupies Todd and Velez and fighting wife Rambeau, the women are just as prepared for a fight as the men in their lives. In fact, Rambeau walks out on Armstrong with no words unspoken, even giving her rival something she'll never forget. Velez isn't the tough cookie of the "Mexican Spitfire" series she did years later, but she's certainly more scheming and even gets to perform a nightclub number. Durante gets to perform a drunken version of "Inka Dinka Doo", his signature song. The lovable Louise Beavers plays Rambeau's housekeeper, commenting on country life, "The only rooster I want to see is a black one walking down Lennox Avenue towards me". Fast-moving and witty, this also has several moral lessons about the issues of what it takes to be a prize- fighter. You may confuse William Cagney with a certain other actor with the same last name with good reason.
Between groupies Todd and Velez and fighting wife Rambeau, the women are just as prepared for a fight as the men in their lives. In fact, Rambeau walks out on Armstrong with no words unspoken, even giving her rival something she'll never forget. Velez isn't the tough cookie of the "Mexican Spitfire" series she did years later, but she's certainly more scheming and even gets to perform a nightclub number. Durante gets to perform a drunken version of "Inka Dinka Doo", his signature song. The lovable Louise Beavers plays Rambeau's housekeeper, commenting on country life, "The only rooster I want to see is a black one walking down Lennox Avenue towards me". Fast-moving and witty, this also has several moral lessons about the issues of what it takes to be a prize- fighter. You may confuse William Cagney with a certain other actor with the same last name with good reason.
Alias the Champ
lugonian5 March 2017
PALOOKA (United Artists, 1934), an Edward Small Production for Reliance Pictures, directed by Benjamin Stoloff, is a boxing comedy based on then popular comic strip character by the name of "Joe Palooka," as created by Ham Fischer. Starring Jimmy Durante in his first leading role, the title character goes to the third billed Stuart Erwin, a yokel farm boy who develops himself into a prizefighter like his once famous father.
The under five minute prologue opens in the horse and buggy/gas-lit "Shine On, Harvest Moon" 1890s era of New York City's Broadway district that presents Joe Palooka as the infant son of famous boxer, Pete Palooka (Robert Armstrong), notable for his corkscrew punch. Pete enters the backstage entrance of the theater to meet with his wife, Mayme (Marjorie Rambeau), in her dressing room to get a good luck kiss from her for the upcoming fight. After winning the boxing title, Pete has a victory party, forgetting his promise to spend it with Mayme. Mayme, however, enters the celebration where she catches her womanizing husband with Trixie (Thelma Todd), which thus ends their relationship in marriage. Twenty years later, Mayme, a retired entertainer country living on a farm in Brookfield, New York, has done well raising her son, Joe (Stuart Erwin), now a young yokel helping with the farm chores. While driving down the road to deliver eggs to the train station for his mother, Joe witnesses an incident on the side of the road involving a prizefighter, "Dynamite" Wilson (Al Hill) socking Knobby Walsh (Jimmy Durante) for money owed him. In Knobby's defense, Joe knocks out Dynamite in one punch, thus, having Knobby talking Joe into becoming his prizefight manager once he learns of Joe being the son of the grand champ in his day. Because Mayme wants nothing to do with fighters and her association with husband, Pete, Joe tells his mother about acquiring a big city job working for Knobby in "the leather business," while his best girl, Anne Howe (Mary Carlisle), knows and keeps his secret. Mayme, however, learns the truth while listening to a sports radio program and hopes her son "gets his block knocked off." Although Joe is not a natural fighter as his father, he does have a stroke of luck fighting with Al McSwatt (William Cagney, James Cagney's look-alike brother), who arrives drunk at City Stadium in Paterson, N.J., unable to function at his best. Now that Joe is phony champion through a series of fixed fights arranged by Knobby, Nina Madero (Lupe Velez), a cabaret entertainer, changes her affections from McSwatt to Joe, changing the country boy yokel to an over-confident, obnoxious leather-pusher, no longer the good boy his mother had raised nor the prizefighter Knobby had earlier discovered. If that's not enough, McSwatt wants to have a rematch fight against Joe Palooka to win back Mona's false love and affections.
Other members of the cast include: Franklin Ardell ("Doc' Wise, McSwatt's Manager); Tom Dugan ("Whitey," Joe's trainer); Louise Beavers (Crystal, the Palooka Maid); Frederick "Snowflake" Toones ("Smokey"); Stanley Fields ("Blackie"); Gus Arnheim and his Orchestra; and Rolfe Sedan (Alphonse, the Dressmaker). Look quickly for Guinn Williams ("Slats") in one brief scene at the start of the movie. Though there are several songs credited for PALOOKA, only "Would You Like Me a Little Bit More?" (sung by Lupe Velez in the Paradise Club sequence); and Jimmy Durante's signature song, "Inka-Dinka Do" are performed.
Aside from watching early Jimmy Durante with full head of dark hair with his familiar (sometimes forced) mannerisms to get his quota of laughs, and the casting of Stuart Erwin in the title role, there's that Mexican Spitfire Lupe Velez arousing much attention as the flirtatious Mona, who is called a "tramp" by Joe's mother. Robert Armstrong, better known for his leading role in KING KONG (RKO Radio, 1933), makes a satisfactory former boxing champion hoping to win back both wife and son in the latter portion of the story. Marjorie Rambeau, (in a performance that makes one think of actress, Gladys George) essays both younger and later middle-aged portrayal as a tough gal with conviction, even down to packing a wallop as good as her boxer husband.
Initially theatrically released at 86 minutes, PALOOKA was later reissued with Astor Picture distribution in edited form of 74 minutes along with elimination of Thelma Todd's (1906-1935) name from the opening cast credits. The reissues have been those that were made available to television for many years.) PALOOKA also became a 45 minute featurette on public television's "Matinee at the Bijou" in the early 1980s). It was also in the early 1980s that PALOOKA, now a public domain movie title, was distributed to video cassette (and later DVD) by various distributors. Only the Hal Roach Company was the only distributer to release the film to home video in complete 86 minute edition. In later years, American Movie Classics cable channel broadcast the complete/unedited PALOOKA during the 1999/2000 season.
Although Joe Palooka and Knobby Walsh were later portrayed a decade later by Joe Kirkwood Jr. and Leon Errol in a second feature film series for Monogram Studios (1946-1951), it's the Jimmy Durante and Stuart Erwin combination that's better known for being amusingly good to the last punch. Inka Dinka Do. (**1/2 boxing gloves)
The under five minute prologue opens in the horse and buggy/gas-lit "Shine On, Harvest Moon" 1890s era of New York City's Broadway district that presents Joe Palooka as the infant son of famous boxer, Pete Palooka (Robert Armstrong), notable for his corkscrew punch. Pete enters the backstage entrance of the theater to meet with his wife, Mayme (Marjorie Rambeau), in her dressing room to get a good luck kiss from her for the upcoming fight. After winning the boxing title, Pete has a victory party, forgetting his promise to spend it with Mayme. Mayme, however, enters the celebration where she catches her womanizing husband with Trixie (Thelma Todd), which thus ends their relationship in marriage. Twenty years later, Mayme, a retired entertainer country living on a farm in Brookfield, New York, has done well raising her son, Joe (Stuart Erwin), now a young yokel helping with the farm chores. While driving down the road to deliver eggs to the train station for his mother, Joe witnesses an incident on the side of the road involving a prizefighter, "Dynamite" Wilson (Al Hill) socking Knobby Walsh (Jimmy Durante) for money owed him. In Knobby's defense, Joe knocks out Dynamite in one punch, thus, having Knobby talking Joe into becoming his prizefight manager once he learns of Joe being the son of the grand champ in his day. Because Mayme wants nothing to do with fighters and her association with husband, Pete, Joe tells his mother about acquiring a big city job working for Knobby in "the leather business," while his best girl, Anne Howe (Mary Carlisle), knows and keeps his secret. Mayme, however, learns the truth while listening to a sports radio program and hopes her son "gets his block knocked off." Although Joe is not a natural fighter as his father, he does have a stroke of luck fighting with Al McSwatt (William Cagney, James Cagney's look-alike brother), who arrives drunk at City Stadium in Paterson, N.J., unable to function at his best. Now that Joe is phony champion through a series of fixed fights arranged by Knobby, Nina Madero (Lupe Velez), a cabaret entertainer, changes her affections from McSwatt to Joe, changing the country boy yokel to an over-confident, obnoxious leather-pusher, no longer the good boy his mother had raised nor the prizefighter Knobby had earlier discovered. If that's not enough, McSwatt wants to have a rematch fight against Joe Palooka to win back Mona's false love and affections.
Other members of the cast include: Franklin Ardell ("Doc' Wise, McSwatt's Manager); Tom Dugan ("Whitey," Joe's trainer); Louise Beavers (Crystal, the Palooka Maid); Frederick "Snowflake" Toones ("Smokey"); Stanley Fields ("Blackie"); Gus Arnheim and his Orchestra; and Rolfe Sedan (Alphonse, the Dressmaker). Look quickly for Guinn Williams ("Slats") in one brief scene at the start of the movie. Though there are several songs credited for PALOOKA, only "Would You Like Me a Little Bit More?" (sung by Lupe Velez in the Paradise Club sequence); and Jimmy Durante's signature song, "Inka-Dinka Do" are performed.
Aside from watching early Jimmy Durante with full head of dark hair with his familiar (sometimes forced) mannerisms to get his quota of laughs, and the casting of Stuart Erwin in the title role, there's that Mexican Spitfire Lupe Velez arousing much attention as the flirtatious Mona, who is called a "tramp" by Joe's mother. Robert Armstrong, better known for his leading role in KING KONG (RKO Radio, 1933), makes a satisfactory former boxing champion hoping to win back both wife and son in the latter portion of the story. Marjorie Rambeau, (in a performance that makes one think of actress, Gladys George) essays both younger and later middle-aged portrayal as a tough gal with conviction, even down to packing a wallop as good as her boxer husband.
Initially theatrically released at 86 minutes, PALOOKA was later reissued with Astor Picture distribution in edited form of 74 minutes along with elimination of Thelma Todd's (1906-1935) name from the opening cast credits. The reissues have been those that were made available to television for many years.) PALOOKA also became a 45 minute featurette on public television's "Matinee at the Bijou" in the early 1980s). It was also in the early 1980s that PALOOKA, now a public domain movie title, was distributed to video cassette (and later DVD) by various distributors. Only the Hal Roach Company was the only distributer to release the film to home video in complete 86 minute edition. In later years, American Movie Classics cable channel broadcast the complete/unedited PALOOKA during the 1999/2000 season.
Although Joe Palooka and Knobby Walsh were later portrayed a decade later by Joe Kirkwood Jr. and Leon Errol in a second feature film series for Monogram Studios (1946-1951), it's the Jimmy Durante and Stuart Erwin combination that's better known for being amusingly good to the last punch. Inka Dinka Do. (**1/2 boxing gloves)
Inka Dinka Palooka
wes-connors10 October 2010
Based on Ham Fisher's famous comic strip boxing hero
A flashback opening reveals middleweight Stuart Erwin (as Joe Palooka) was left with mother Marjorie Rambeau (as Mayme) by womanizing champion father Robert Armstrong (as Pete)
Twenty years later, Ms. Rambeau holds her years well. But, son Erwin seems to have aged an extra decade. Still, Erwin enters the ring, after being admired fighting by manager Jimmy Durante (as Knobby Walsh). Mr. Durante pushes Erwin into action, promoting him as the new "Palooka" (after his famous father).
Erwin wins the championship crown from William Cagney (as Al McSwatt), who is disadvantaged by arriving drunk for the title bout. Erwin also wins Mr. Cagney's hotsy-totsy girlfriend Lupe Velez (as Nina Madero). All of this puts yokel Erwin on the fast lane, upsetting mama and home-town sweetheart Mary Carlisle (as Anne). Note that "Reliance Pictures" makes Bill Cagney up to look exactly like his big brother, James "Jimmy" Cagney. Ms. Velez wears some eye-popping low-cut gowns. And, Durante introduces his top ten hit "Inka Dinka Doo".
**** Palooka (1/26/34) Benjamin Stoloff ~ Jimmy Durante, Stuart Erwin, Lupe Velez, William Cagney
Erwin wins the championship crown from William Cagney (as Al McSwatt), who is disadvantaged by arriving drunk for the title bout. Erwin also wins Mr. Cagney's hotsy-totsy girlfriend Lupe Velez (as Nina Madero). All of this puts yokel Erwin on the fast lane, upsetting mama and home-town sweetheart Mary Carlisle (as Anne). Note that "Reliance Pictures" makes Bill Cagney up to look exactly like his big brother, James "Jimmy" Cagney. Ms. Velez wears some eye-popping low-cut gowns. And, Durante introduces his top ten hit "Inka Dinka Doo".
**** Palooka (1/26/34) Benjamin Stoloff ~ Jimmy Durante, Stuart Erwin, Lupe Velez, William Cagney
Cleavage, cleavage, cleavage and some boxing
1930s_Time_Machine5 March 2024
You'll know the ancient Greek myth of the Sirens: beautiful woman-like creatures who were so utterly alluring they would lure sailors onto the rocks to die. The spirit of those temptresses lived on in the equally alluring shape of Lupe Vélez. SO HEED MY WARNING: just because you have heard that Lupe Vélez wears the lowest cut, gravity-defying, sexiest dress ever created (clearly by some powerful dark magic), be like Odysseus and ignore the temptation. If you don't you'll be sorry because the last thing you want to do is suffer an hour and a half of this!
You often hear the word Palooka in pictures from the 30s and 40s which I'd always though was just one of those many slang insults which were thrown around - seemingly not! It comes from this film - or rather from a massively popular American newspaper comic strip called 'Joe Palooka' on which this film was based. A PALOOKA is a not very bright, sometimes violent but not malevolent thug. 'Moose' played by Mike Mazurki in FAREWELL MY SWEET is probably the perfect example. As much as the etymology is quite interesting, the film is not. It's probably because the characters are taken from a comic strip that they're one dimensional. Maybe back when people were reading "The Funnies" they'd enjoy seeing these drawings come to life but for us now this feels flat and lifeless.
It starts off promising enough with a great cast: you'll recognise Otis Harlan (Happy from SNOW WHITE), Robert Armstrong, Thelma Todd and the wonderful Marjorie Rambeau..... but that's all in flashback. After ten minutes the story starts properly and we end up with the B team taking over. From then on the whole thing rapidly goes downhill. After an hour you'll be hating yourself for deciding to watch this.
Even though his character is based on a comic strip drawing Stuart Erwin is terrible, absolutely terrible, absolutely horrendously terrible in this. His character, like the one he played in MAKE ME A STAR is, as they might have said back in the 30s 'feeble minded.' His character's flaws and issues were intrinsic to the story of MAKE ME A STAR, they made you sympathise with him, he came across as a real person and you were desperate to be able to do something to help him. In this you feel you'd want to lock him up in the attic. He's lazily written, appallingly acted and doesn't seem to be directed at all. He is an idiot so ridiculous that he lacks any credibility or authenticity and since you can't believe he's real, you can't like him, you don't care about him and you certainly don't find him funny.
Even worse is Jimmy Durante. It seems he was around forever but I have never seen him ever before. I'm no spring chicken but I've never heard of this person until now - how lucky I am!. Just watch some of this and you'll understand why nobody today knows who Jimmy Durante is. Heavens to Murgatroyd, as Snagglepuss used to exclaim, he's unbelievably awful!
That the only thing worth watching in this tiresome picture, beside seeing why James Cagney's brother's acting career never went anywhere, is an attractive young Mexican lady who couldn't act very well in a sexy outfit clearly shows what rubbish this is. She is quite pretty but nothing is worth the payment of an hour and a half of Jimmy Durante. As a more palatable alternative, she did look rather breath-taking in THE HALF NAKED TRUTH but you would have to put up with an hour and a half of Lee Tracy - nothing like as bad as Mr Durante.
You often hear the word Palooka in pictures from the 30s and 40s which I'd always though was just one of those many slang insults which were thrown around - seemingly not! It comes from this film - or rather from a massively popular American newspaper comic strip called 'Joe Palooka' on which this film was based. A PALOOKA is a not very bright, sometimes violent but not malevolent thug. 'Moose' played by Mike Mazurki in FAREWELL MY SWEET is probably the perfect example. As much as the etymology is quite interesting, the film is not. It's probably because the characters are taken from a comic strip that they're one dimensional. Maybe back when people were reading "The Funnies" they'd enjoy seeing these drawings come to life but for us now this feels flat and lifeless.
It starts off promising enough with a great cast: you'll recognise Otis Harlan (Happy from SNOW WHITE), Robert Armstrong, Thelma Todd and the wonderful Marjorie Rambeau..... but that's all in flashback. After ten minutes the story starts properly and we end up with the B team taking over. From then on the whole thing rapidly goes downhill. After an hour you'll be hating yourself for deciding to watch this.
Even though his character is based on a comic strip drawing Stuart Erwin is terrible, absolutely terrible, absolutely horrendously terrible in this. His character, like the one he played in MAKE ME A STAR is, as they might have said back in the 30s 'feeble minded.' His character's flaws and issues were intrinsic to the story of MAKE ME A STAR, they made you sympathise with him, he came across as a real person and you were desperate to be able to do something to help him. In this you feel you'd want to lock him up in the attic. He's lazily written, appallingly acted and doesn't seem to be directed at all. He is an idiot so ridiculous that he lacks any credibility or authenticity and since you can't believe he's real, you can't like him, you don't care about him and you certainly don't find him funny.
Even worse is Jimmy Durante. It seems he was around forever but I have never seen him ever before. I'm no spring chicken but I've never heard of this person until now - how lucky I am!. Just watch some of this and you'll understand why nobody today knows who Jimmy Durante is. Heavens to Murgatroyd, as Snagglepuss used to exclaim, he's unbelievably awful!
That the only thing worth watching in this tiresome picture, beside seeing why James Cagney's brother's acting career never went anywhere, is an attractive young Mexican lady who couldn't act very well in a sexy outfit clearly shows what rubbish this is. She is quite pretty but nothing is worth the payment of an hour and a half of Jimmy Durante. As a more palatable alternative, she did look rather breath-taking in THE HALF NAKED TRUTH but you would have to put up with an hour and a half of Lee Tracy - nothing like as bad as Mr Durante.
Young inocent rustic becomes boxing champ on a fluke and is temporarilly led astray by preditory cabaret singer. In the end loses title but regains his true love and the simple life.( Slightly richer as his
houndspirit13 March 2000
Warning: Spoilers
This film is a great pre production code period piece. It would have been severly censored just a short time later. Durante is unique and defines the word manic. Oddly in his body language he often remind me of Woody Allen and there is some slight physical resembalance as well.Also, speaking of look alikes, we must include James Cagney's brother who plays McSwatt. I noticed this before I realized who the actor was . Were he to do a vocal immitation the effect would have been complete. I wonder if he was ever tempted to do so. After all Bob Crosby in his early recordings was clearly immitating brother Bing. All in all nicely done and well worth watching.
Worth Seeing Only For Lupe Velez
ccthemovieman-118 July 2007
I got a kick out of this film for the first half of it, but it got so stupid with the main characters that I had a hard time finishing it. However, it was still worth a look to see Lupe Valez. I had read what a strange character she was in real life, and that she was sexy woman, so at least I have now seen her. She was a very pretty lady and not shy, either. This film just made it under the wire before the Hays Code came along, so Lupe showed us about all of her breasts. They weren't anything noteworthy, but she certainly showed what she had and a year later, she would have been forced to cover up.
Stu Erwin plays the boxer "Joe Palooka." He plays a really inept fighter and stupid guy in general who is endearing for awhile but wears thin. The same goes for Jimmy Durante's role of fight manager "Knobby Walsh." He really wears thin.
Anyway, this is typical early '30s material which means very corny and dated in the humor and romance department, sometimes hilarious and a bit racy and edgy but one that bogs down midway through.
Stu Erwin plays the boxer "Joe Palooka." He plays a really inept fighter and stupid guy in general who is endearing for awhile but wears thin. The same goes for Jimmy Durante's role of fight manager "Knobby Walsh." He really wears thin.
Anyway, this is typical early '30s material which means very corny and dated in the humor and romance department, sometimes hilarious and a bit racy and edgy but one that bogs down midway through.
Be Yourself Part 2
view_and_review1 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
After seeing Stuart Erwin in "Make Me a Star" (1932) I saw that he was perfect for the role of small town, naive, country boy. "Make Me a Star" was so good because he was so good at the milk-drinking, "aw shucks," wannabe actor trying to make it in Hollywood. In "Palooka" Stuart Erwin was once again the naive country boy, but this time he was a prize fighter.
Stuart Erwin played Joe Palooka, son of boxing legend Pete Palooka (Robert Armstrong). His mother Mayme Palooka (Marjorie Rambeau) had left his father years ago due to his boozing and infidelity. She resettled in the country where she could raise Joe away from the city, away from its vices, and away from his father.
The course of Joe's life changed when he happened to meet Knobby Walsh (Jimmy Durante), a boxing manager, on a country road. Knobby saw Joe knock out his fighter and wanted to sign him right away. That was the first sign that Knobby was a terrible manager.
Knobby wouldn't take no for an answer, so he kept at Joe until he signed a contract. Of course, Joe would have to then figure out a way to sneak off to New York without telling his mother why.
Joe made it to New York, and through another break he got a fight with the champ, Al McSwatt, who was played by James Cagney's brother William Cagney (they could be identical twins). Joe had gotten beat so bad his first time in the ring that McSwatt's manager wanted to book Joe as another softie for McSwatt to defeat.
McSwatt wound up losing. It wasn't because Joe was so good, it was because McSwatt was so drunk. He'd been boozing all day with his gold digging girlfriend Nina Madero (Lupe Velez), so when Joe gave him a few punches to the body he fell and couldn't get back up. McSwatt lost his belt and his girl to Joe that night and Joe would go on to become exactly what his mother feared he'd become: a self-indulged jerk.
The problem I had with this movie was how thin all of the characters were. I know that in comedies nuance and layers aren't a big priority, but these characters were too one-dimensional.
Take Nina (Lupe Velez) for instance. She was a gold digger. Fine. She was such an unscrupulous gold digger she left McSwatt before the ref counted to ten. It didn't make sense unless you're going full parody, which they weren't. And even worse than that, she was the reason McSwatt lost. She kept him out drinking when he should've been getting prepared to fight. I would think that as a professional gold digger she knows how her bread is buttered and she'd try to keep her goose laying golden eggs.
Everyone else was equally shallow and devoid of any real thought. Joe got suckered by Nina so easily a child could've seen through her tricks. He even ignored his manager to be with her. One moment he wanted to marry her, then after he got clobbered by McSwatt in a rematch he was back to his hometown girl Ann (Mary Carlisle).
Ann was so simple that the moment Joe lost Nina and turned his attention back to her, she was ready and waiting.
Knobby was nothing but hot air and also lacked brains. 1.) He thought Joe was a fighter just because he knocked out a guy who wasn't ready for the punch. 2.) He was done with Joe after one fight that he clearly didn't train him for. 3.) He bet against Joe after giving a deadly gangster assurances that Joe would win. For that he would've lost his life in another movie. 4.) He married Nina, the gold digger, in the end.
Of all the characters, only Mayme had sense and consistency. She won in the end, but the ending was also foolishly pollyanna. "Palooka" was really another "Be Yourself" which just so happen to also feature Robert Armstrong.
Free on Tubi.
Stuart Erwin played Joe Palooka, son of boxing legend Pete Palooka (Robert Armstrong). His mother Mayme Palooka (Marjorie Rambeau) had left his father years ago due to his boozing and infidelity. She resettled in the country where she could raise Joe away from the city, away from its vices, and away from his father.
The course of Joe's life changed when he happened to meet Knobby Walsh (Jimmy Durante), a boxing manager, on a country road. Knobby saw Joe knock out his fighter and wanted to sign him right away. That was the first sign that Knobby was a terrible manager.
Knobby wouldn't take no for an answer, so he kept at Joe until he signed a contract. Of course, Joe would have to then figure out a way to sneak off to New York without telling his mother why.
Joe made it to New York, and through another break he got a fight with the champ, Al McSwatt, who was played by James Cagney's brother William Cagney (they could be identical twins). Joe had gotten beat so bad his first time in the ring that McSwatt's manager wanted to book Joe as another softie for McSwatt to defeat.
McSwatt wound up losing. It wasn't because Joe was so good, it was because McSwatt was so drunk. He'd been boozing all day with his gold digging girlfriend Nina Madero (Lupe Velez), so when Joe gave him a few punches to the body he fell and couldn't get back up. McSwatt lost his belt and his girl to Joe that night and Joe would go on to become exactly what his mother feared he'd become: a self-indulged jerk.
The problem I had with this movie was how thin all of the characters were. I know that in comedies nuance and layers aren't a big priority, but these characters were too one-dimensional.
Take Nina (Lupe Velez) for instance. She was a gold digger. Fine. She was such an unscrupulous gold digger she left McSwatt before the ref counted to ten. It didn't make sense unless you're going full parody, which they weren't. And even worse than that, she was the reason McSwatt lost. She kept him out drinking when he should've been getting prepared to fight. I would think that as a professional gold digger she knows how her bread is buttered and she'd try to keep her goose laying golden eggs.
Everyone else was equally shallow and devoid of any real thought. Joe got suckered by Nina so easily a child could've seen through her tricks. He even ignored his manager to be with her. One moment he wanted to marry her, then after he got clobbered by McSwatt in a rematch he was back to his hometown girl Ann (Mary Carlisle).
Ann was so simple that the moment Joe lost Nina and turned his attention back to her, she was ready and waiting.
Knobby was nothing but hot air and also lacked brains. 1.) He thought Joe was a fighter just because he knocked out a guy who wasn't ready for the punch. 2.) He was done with Joe after one fight that he clearly didn't train him for. 3.) He bet against Joe after giving a deadly gangster assurances that Joe would win. For that he would've lost his life in another movie. 4.) He married Nina, the gold digger, in the end.
Of all the characters, only Mayme had sense and consistency. She won in the end, but the ending was also foolishly pollyanna. "Palooka" was really another "Be Yourself" which just so happen to also feature Robert Armstrong.
Free on Tubi.
Non stop laughter
frankd-647669 July 2018
I found this gem in the bargain bin but it is a must see for anyone interested in classic movies. I am a huge Jimmy Durante fan and he was terrific, but I thought Lupe Valez stole the show. She was an incredible comedic actress who died much too young. She lead a tragic life but you would never know it by her performance here. Jimmy Durante was just non stop in your face comedy. He was a great entertainer with heart and intensity. Also, William Cagney did a wonderful job as Al McSwatt and Marjorie Rambeau was unforgettable as Mayme Palooka. This had me laughing from start to finish and the ending was the biggest laugh of all.
"Palooka" (1934) has wonderful actor work by Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez, and Robert Armstrong
DavidAllenUSA14 February 2015
"Palooka" (1934) has wonderful actor work by Jimmy Durante, Lupe Velez, and Robert Armstrong
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This movie is an example of extremely good acting worth seeing, but brought down by not-so-good directing, script writing, and dull casting choices (esp. Stuart Erwin, the lead "Joe Palooka" protagonist character).
The movie was made in 1933, though 1934 is given as its release date of record.
Robert Armstrong starred in King Kong (1933), made in 1932, but not released until 1933, possibly not until after the much less famous "Palooka" (1934) movie was made and/or released.
His role as Joe Palooka's father is minor, but very well acted.
For me, the most spectacular part of this movie, and the reason I gave it a highest possible rating, is the unexpected and serious actor work of Jimmy Durante.
In several scenes in this movie, Jimmy Durante breaks character away from his usual and familiar comic exasperated buffoon character, and becomes a serious actor portraying scenes of riveting, serious intensity.
He gets angry and threatens people and isn't nice about it....intends to scare them, and obviously succeeds.
He becomes scary and does a very good job at portraying that.
Jimmy Durante could obviously have been a serious actor in gangster pictures of the Edward G. Robinson type, or unique movies which might have been labeled "the Jimmy Durante type."
Who can say?
I've watched his comic and musical performances my whole life starting in the early 1950's when I was 9 years old and he appeared and starred in TV's "The Colgate Comedy Hour."
I've seen him in MGM musicals co-starring with Frank Sinatra and Esther Williams and others, always as a comic "second banana."
But his performance in "Palooka" (1934) in perhaps 30 seconds total of serious scenes is very new for me, and quite wonderful (I am a retired SAG-AFTRA movie actor....worked 55 years as an actor before retiring, also taught college level movie history for 5 years, and I appreciate excellent actor work, which Durante displayed in "Palooka.")
Lupe Velez is yet another good actor (actress) in this movie.
Her career and life was brief, and she died young (in the 1940's in her 30's).
But she is electric in every movie I've seen her in from "The Gaucho" (1928 MGM - Silent) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. to this movie, and others.
She was an actress with true "star quality," an electric magnetism which seems to "jump off the screen" into the audience and is always sure to delight them.
Few ever had it or have it now, but Lupe Valez, Jimmy Durante, and Robert Armstrong all had it, and are all in this movie.
Any movie buff or scholar who desires to study and experience high quality, charismatic actor work....top of the "food chain" acting.... should see this movie, and be patient with it's flaws and shortcomings.
Acting teachers should use this movie to show acting students what good acting is, and what can and has happened to good actors in otherwise flawed movies.
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This movie is an example of extremely good acting worth seeing, but brought down by not-so-good directing, script writing, and dull casting choices (esp. Stuart Erwin, the lead "Joe Palooka" protagonist character).
The movie was made in 1933, though 1934 is given as its release date of record.
Robert Armstrong starred in King Kong (1933), made in 1932, but not released until 1933, possibly not until after the much less famous "Palooka" (1934) movie was made and/or released.
His role as Joe Palooka's father is minor, but very well acted.
For me, the most spectacular part of this movie, and the reason I gave it a highest possible rating, is the unexpected and serious actor work of Jimmy Durante.
In several scenes in this movie, Jimmy Durante breaks character away from his usual and familiar comic exasperated buffoon character, and becomes a serious actor portraying scenes of riveting, serious intensity.
He gets angry and threatens people and isn't nice about it....intends to scare them, and obviously succeeds.
He becomes scary and does a very good job at portraying that.
Jimmy Durante could obviously have been a serious actor in gangster pictures of the Edward G. Robinson type, or unique movies which might have been labeled "the Jimmy Durante type."
Who can say?
I've watched his comic and musical performances my whole life starting in the early 1950's when I was 9 years old and he appeared and starred in TV's "The Colgate Comedy Hour."
I've seen him in MGM musicals co-starring with Frank Sinatra and Esther Williams and others, always as a comic "second banana."
But his performance in "Palooka" (1934) in perhaps 30 seconds total of serious scenes is very new for me, and quite wonderful (I am a retired SAG-AFTRA movie actor....worked 55 years as an actor before retiring, also taught college level movie history for 5 years, and I appreciate excellent actor work, which Durante displayed in "Palooka.")
Lupe Velez is yet another good actor (actress) in this movie.
Her career and life was brief, and she died young (in the 1940's in her 30's).
But she is electric in every movie I've seen her in from "The Gaucho" (1928 MGM - Silent) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. to this movie, and others.
She was an actress with true "star quality," an electric magnetism which seems to "jump off the screen" into the audience and is always sure to delight them.
Few ever had it or have it now, but Lupe Valez, Jimmy Durante, and Robert Armstrong all had it, and are all in this movie.
Any movie buff or scholar who desires to study and experience high quality, charismatic actor work....top of the "food chain" acting.... should see this movie, and be patient with it's flaws and shortcomings.
Acting teachers should use this movie to show acting students what good acting is, and what can and has happened to good actors in otherwise flawed movies.
Not Joe Palooka
davost30 March 2023
If they're not going to refer to the source in any conceivable way, they should use a different name. Doughy milk toast Stu Erwin can be quite good in the right roles but not as Joe Palooka or any fighter. Yeesh. However it is a real treat to see a completely out of control Jimmy Durante and a completely out of control Lupe Velez. The rest of the cast is interesting enough, I always like Robert Armstrong and it's fun to see Cagney's brother, Billy though he doesn't have nearly the character or screen presence of Jimmy. The whole story is just plain dumb but it gets a rave for that little gem, Lupe Velez and that master of farce, Jimmy Durante.
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