The Square Jungle (1955)

A grocery clerk (Tony Curtis) is in danger of losing his father (Jim Backus) to alcoholism and his girl (Pat Crowley) through lack of career prospects. So he decides to become a professional boxer. Directed by Jerry Hopper (SECRET OF THE INCAS), this is a routine boxing drama with no surprises. We've seen it all before! Tony Curtis was on the verge of proving he could be a formidable actor in such films as TRAPEZE (1956) and SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957) but here, he's nothing more than a good looking contract player struggling with a cliched part in a mediocre boxing movie. In general, boxing movies don't interest me but even I know there are any number of superior boxing films than this. With Ernest Borgnine, David Janssen, Paul Kelly, Leigh Snowden, John Marley and Carmen McRae.