Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch is a 1949 American film directed by Reginald Le Borg. It was one in the series of Joe Palooka films for Monogram starring Leon Errol. It was co-written by Cy Endfield.[1]
Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch | |
---|---|
Directed by | Reginald LeBorg |
Screenplay by | Henry Blankfort Cyril Endfield |
Based on | Joe Palooka by Ham Fisher |
Produced by | Hal E. Chester |
Starring | Joe Kirkwood, Jr. Knobby Walsh Elyse Knox Marcel Journet |
Edited by | Otho Lovering |
Music by | Edward J. Kay |
Release date |
|
Running time | 65 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
editJoe heads for South America to fight the Latin champ and defend his title. Shipboard, he helps federal agents fight counterfeiters. He also spars with love interest Anne Howe [2]
Cast
edit- Leon Errol as Knobby Walsh
- Joe Kirkwood, Jr. as Joe Palooka
- Elyse Knox as Anne Howe
- Marcel Journet (actor) as Anton Kindel
- Sheila Ryan as Myra Madison
- Frank Sully as Looie
- Ian Wolfe as Prof. Lilliquist
- Walter Sande as Austin
- Douglass Dumbrille as Capt. Lance
- Douglas Fowley as Thurston
- Eddie Gribbon as Canvasback
- Ralph Graves as Dr. Colman
- Roland Dupree as Bellboy
- Gertrude Messinger as Nurse
- Pedro de Cordoba as Museum Caretaker
Retrospective appraisal
editIn a “departure from for the series” this Joe Palooka’s adventure is set in the tropics of South America. As such, the film resembles the “jungle”-themed serials produced by Universal and Republic studios.[3]
Film historian Wheeler W. Dixon surmises that “Monogram was running out of purely pugilistic situations for Palooka character” and accordingly moved the story “out of the locker room.”[4] Dixon registers praise for LeBorg’s adroit direction:
LeBorg staged the film with great attention to lighting and set details, while relying mostly on stock footage and back-lot sets for what little “South American” ambiance the film could afford.[5]
Notes
editReferences
edit- Dixon, Wheeler Winston. 1992. The Films of Reginald LeBorg: Interviews, Essays, and Filmography. Filmmakers No. 31 The Scarecrow Press, Metuchen, New Jersey. ISBN 0-8108-2550-3
External links
edit- Media related to Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch (1949) at Wikimedia Commons
- Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch at IMDb
- Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch at TCMDB