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| Audie Murphy and Jeff Morrow |
Tommy Shea (Audie Murphy of Bad Boy) is a hot-tempered guy from the wrong side of the tracks who has a chip on his shoulder and a desire to make good. He goes to work for wealthy Robert Mallinson (Jeff Morrow) and trains for the ring with Mallinson's employee, Dave Bernstein (John McIntire). Tommy has a couple of fights, but his friend, Ray (Tommy Rall), gets him involved with crooked fight promoter Harry Cram (Howard St. John of Strait-Jacket);Tommy refuses to take a dive, however. Meanwhile he and Mallinson's daughter, Dorothy (Barbara Rush of Flight to Hong Kong), are falling in love. Dorothy hates the fight game as much as she hates her father, but she is still rooting for her boyfriend during the climactic bout. World in My Corner makes use of the familiar boxing cliches, but it has an interesting script, some well-written dialogue (by Jack Sher), fairly exciting fight scenes, and some very good acting. Audie Murphy had just starred in the film version of his autobiography, To Hell and Back, which was also directed by Jesse Hibbs, and he is more than competent in this picture, and very charming, with an easy, casual manner, a good way with a line, and a convincingly "bitter" persona. Rush is wonderful in the movie, as is Morrow. McIntire, St. John and a highly personable Tommy Rall also have their moments.Tragically, after all he went through during the war, Murphy died in a plane crash before his 46th birthday.
Verdict: Creditable if minor boxing saga with interesting aspects and a very likable Murphy. ***.
2 comments:
Apparently Murphy was a huge hero and heartthrob. My mom had a 1950s scrapbook full of clippings of James Dean, Elvis Presley--and Audie Murphy.
I still have yet to see one of his films. Will now have to get around to it!
-Chris
Murphy was the most decorated hero of WW 2, winning every award the Army could give out, and many medals of bravery. In one famous incident He held off a contingent of Nazis from atop a tank that was in danger of exploding any minute to save the lives of his buddies. At a very early age he took over the raising of his siblings after the death of their parents.
James Cagney took an interest in him but felt he didn't have the acting chops. Still, Murphy was persistent and got roles originally because of his fame and heroism -- it didn't hurt that he was good-looking as well. He was no Olivier, but he developed into a competent actor, mostly doing westerns in the latter half of his career. He developed severe PTSD.
A remarkable figure. Only JFK's grave gets more visitors than Murphy's.
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