After completing his military service, Walter Gulick takes a job as a sparring partner at a gym, the owner of which sees potential in Walter as a professional fighter—and takes him under his wing.
Elvis Presley
Walter Gulick
Gig Young
Willy Grogan
Lola Albright
Dolly Fletcher
Joan Blackman
Rose Grogan
Charles Bronson
Lew Nyack
David Lewis
Otto Danzig
Robert Emhardt
Maynard
Liam Redmond
Father Higgins
Judson Pratt
Howie Zimmerman
Ned Glass
Max Lieberman
George Mitchell
Harry Sperling
Roy Roberts
Jerry Bathgate
Michael Dante
Joie Shakes
Richard Devon
Marvin
Jeff Morris
Ralphie (as Jeffrey Morris)
Chris Alcaide
Danzig Hood (uncredited)
Ed Asner
Assistant District Attorney Frank Gerson (uncredited)
Mushy Callahan
Romero Fight Referee (uncredited)
Nick Dimitri
Boxer (uncredited)
Duke Fishman
Fight Crowd Member (uncredited)
Frank Gerstle
Romero's Manager (uncredited)
Joe Gray
Trainer (uncredited)
Al Haskell
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Jimmie Horan
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Kip King
Round Card Man at Romero Fight (uncredited)
George J. Lewis
Romero's Trainer (uncredited)
Ralph Moody
Peter J. Prohosko (uncredited)
Gil Perkins
Freddie (uncredited)
Bert Remsen
Max (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre
Bevis (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock
Bailey's Handler (uncredited)
Al Silvani
Training Camp Spectator (uncredited)
Sailor Vincent
Fight Cornerman (uncredited)
Red West
Opponent (uncredited)
Harry Wilson
Bailey Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Bill Zuckert
O'Grady (uncredited)
Director
Phil Karlson
Screenplay
William Fay
Story
Francis Wallace
November 27, 2020
7
_**Elvis travels to the Catskills and becomes a hit boxer**_
An ex-GI (Presley) returns to his rustic home town in upstate New York looking for employment as a mechanic. He's roped into becoming a boxer by a dubious manager-turned-innkeeper (Gig Young) while catching the eye of the man's kid sister (Joan Blackman). With the mentorship of his trainer (Charles Bronson), he quickly becomes the top-drawing champion dubbed Kid Galahad. Then the Mob tries to muscle in on the action. Lola Albright plays the innkeeper's significant other and assistant.
"Kid Galahad" (1962) was Elvis' 10th film of the 31 he did in his acting oeuvre. I prefer the more serious Elvis flicks, like "Roustabout" (1964's ), to the silly farces, like "Spinout" (1966), and "Kid Galahad" falls into the former bracket.
While boxing is a big part of the plot, don't expect the urban-situated "Rocky" films or "Southpaw" (2015). What sets "Kid Galahad" apart is the setting -- the awesome lodge in the mountains. In the story it's supposed to the Catskills (or maybe the Adirondacks), but it's obvious that the film was shot out West. Regardless, the locations are exemplary. Beyond that, the story is dramatic and compelling, not to mention there's a refreshing sense of warmth between the main characters.
The movie runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot in Idyllwild, California, with studio work done in Culver City.
GRADE: B
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00