- DIRECTOR:
Michael Curtiz
- ACTORS:
Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Wayne Morris, Jane Bryan, Harry Carey, William Haade, Soledad Jiménez
- PLOT:
An innocent bellhop (Morris) is recruited to become the next big boxing champ so long as nobody sells him out first.
- EVALUATION:
A decent boxing picture helped tremendously by Robinson and Davis, the latter of whom probably never played a more likable character the rest of her career. (Even the film's other characters constantly mention how swell she is!)
- WRITING:
Full of silly nicknames like "Fluff" and "Turkey" and the occasional eruption of mangled Italian.
- FILMING:
The boxing scenes are exciting enough and there are a few nice glimpses of New York, but the most interesting shots are acts of violence shown in silhouette, presumably to satisfy the censors.
- BEST PART:
Seeing Robinson and Davis at the heights of their talents.
- TRIVIA:
The filmed was retitled "The Battling Bellhop" for TV in order to avoid confusion with the 1962 Elvis-starring musical.
- STINGER:
Mama Donati speakin-a-the Italian!
