Knobby discovers young hunk Palooka and trains him to fight the reigning champ, also drunken sot, Al McSwatt.Knobby discovers young hunk Palooka and trains him to fight the reigning champ, also drunken sot, Al McSwatt.Knobby discovers young hunk Palooka and trains him to fight the reigning champ, also drunken sot, Al McSwatt.
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
- Smokey
- (as Snowflake)
Brooks Benedict
- Slugs - Blacky's Associate
- (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone
- Second House Detective
- (uncredited)
André Cheron
- First Headwaiter
- (uncredited)
Alfonso Corelli
- Violin Player in Orchestra
- (uncredited)
Gordon De Main
- Photographers' Official
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe movie wound up in the Public Domain years after release as the original copyright holder neglected to renew the copyright. Because of this, various VHS and DVD releases, many of which are of inferior quality, have been released over the years.
- Quotes
Doc Wise: He's no more a champ than you're an Indian.
Knobby Walsh: I am an Indian; and my name is Sittin' Pretty.
- SoundtracksThe Band Played On
(1895) (uncredited)
Music by Chas. B. Ward
Lyrics by John F. Palmer
Played at the theatre
Featured review
Palooka Family Values
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.
helpful•20
- bkoganbing
- Feb 6, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Great Schnozzle
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 26 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content