Rent Body and Soul (1947)

Boxing Noir. - Body and Soul review by Steve

This may be the most controversial film Hollywood ever made. Released on the threshold of the communist witch hunt, most of those involved were subsequently blacklisted, forced to abandon their career and in some cases, escape from the US to find work. Director Robert Rossen betrayed others to save himself.

It takes inspiration from the boxing pictures of the depression. John Garfield is a poor immigrant kid from the ghetto who takes up the fight game but is corrupted. It's a racket where poor kids beat up each other and take the risks while the wealthy rake off the rewards. And rig the winners and losers

And Garfield is superb as the tough, swaggering antihero who thinks with his fists and destroys everyone else. Though he's a redeemable stooge. Among the stalwart support cast there's a landmark performance from Canada Lee in probably the most dignified role for a black actor in Hollywood up to that time.

It's big on atmosphere, with the dramatic scenes shot film noir style, but the boxing contests are as real as a Weegee photograph. The narrative is overfamiliar and Rossen struggles to get it to move. There are better films which equate boxing with capitalism, but they were made in the long shadow of this one.