Golden Boy

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Golden Boy

1939

1h 39m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

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6 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Handsome Joe Bonaparte (William Holden) is a fine violin player, but he decides to try boxing instead. His father (Lee J. Cobb) tries to persuade him not to throw away his musical talent, but Joe is determined to make some money. He is helped by promoter Tom Moody (Adolphe Menjou), whose girlfriend, Lorna Moon (Barbara Stanwyck) also encourages the young pugilist. Joe is successful, but he becomes disillusioned with the fight game when a tragedy in the ring leads to darker times.

Pare Lorentz

McCall's

Odets’ incredible gift of characterization still comes through the inept direction, and bad acting, and William Holden, as the youngster, does a fair job.

Dec 27, 2023

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Elena de la Torre

Cine-Mundial

William Holden... has unreservedly succeeded under [director Rouben Mamoulian's] careful guidance. [Full review in Spanish]

May 24, 2021

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Despite a compromised version and imposed happy ending, Odets' sports melodrama still holds emotional and dramatic power due to the acting of William Holden, then 21, in a role that catapulted him to overnight stardom and Stanwyck as the dame from Newark

Rated: B+

Mar 19, 2008

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Golden Boy is a disappointment, but not without its moments.

Jan 3, 2008

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Bullz-Eye.com

Rated: 3/5

Nov 24, 2007

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Mamoulian's film holds together even if it can't completely overcome all its clichés.

Rated: B

Sep 6, 2006

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Steve D

Solid but predictable boxing film with great acting.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/20/23

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John M

Outstanding performances by everyone! All should see this classic. When I heard Holden was in the movie, I wanted to see it and did, and when he came on the screen I did not know it was him! When the boxing actually is shown to the audience it was really thrilling and then out of no where came the fatal blow. Shocking!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/02/18

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ashley h

Golden Boy is a decent film. It is about Joe Bonaparte wants to be a boxer despite his musical talent. Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden give good performance. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Rouben Mamoulian did an alright job. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and romance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

William Holder's first movie - comes on too strong as does Lee J. Cobb. Musician becomes boxer. Stanwyck and Menjou were good. Also Caesar Romero.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie. William Holden stars in this film as a violinist turned boxer. He must choose in the end whether to follow his passion for music or to help make a wealthier life as a boxer, but being a boxer isn't as easy as it seems to be. With nice performance from Barbara stanwyck, lee j Cobb, adolphe menjou and Joseph calleia, and also, with a superb music accompanying the scenes, this, in my opinion, was a fantastic movie to watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A young man is tempted to give up his talent for the violin to start a career in prizefighting, encouraged by an unscrupulous manager and his seductive girlfriend. The screenplay is far from perfect and goes downhill from start to end. Holden and Stanwick give good performances.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Rouben Mamoulian

Director

Barbara Stanwyck

Lorna Moon

Adolphe Menjou

Tom Moody

William Holden

Joe Bonaparte

Lee J. Cobb

Mr. Bonaparte

Joseph Calleia

Eddie Fuseli

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Synopsis

Handsome Joe Bonaparte (William Holden) is a fine violin player, but he decides to try boxing instead. His father (Lee J. Cobb) tries to persuade him not to throw away his musical talent, but Joe is determined to make some money. He is helped by promoter Tom Moody (Adolphe Menjou), whose girlfriend, Lorna Moon (Barbara Stanwyck) also encourages the young pugilist. Joe is successful, but he becomes disillusioned with the fight game when a tragedy in the ring leads to darker times.

Director: Rouben Mamoulian
Producer: William Perlberg
Screenwriter: Lewis Meltzer, Daniel Taradash, Sarah Y. Mason, Victor Heerman
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 22, 2016
Runtime: 1h 39m