Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch
Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch
	Theatrical poster
Directed by	Reginald LeBorg
Screenplay by	Henry Blankfort; Cyril Endfield
Based on	Joe Palooka; by Ham Fisher
Produced by	Hal E. Chester
Starring	Joe Kirkwood, Jr.; Knobby Walsh; Elyse Knox; Marcel Journet
Edited by	Otho Lovering
Music by	Edward J. Kay
Release date	1949;
Running time	65 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch is a 1949 American film directed by Reginald Le Borg. It was one in the series of Joe Palooka films for Monogram starring Leon Errol. It was co-written by Cy Endfield.^[1]

Plot

Joe heads for South America to fight the Latin champ and defend his title. Shipboard, he helps federal agents fight counterfeiters. He also spars with love interest Anne Howe ^[2]

Cast

Leon Errol as Knobby Walsh
Joe Kirkwood, Jr. as Joe Palooka
Elyse Knox as Anne Howe
Marcel Journet (actor) [fr] as Anton Kindel
Sheila Ryan as Myra Madison
Frank Sully as Looie
Ian Wolfe as Prof. Lilliquist
Walter Sande as Austin
Douglass Dumbrille as Capt. Lance
Douglas Fowley as Thurston
Eddie Gribbon as Canvasback
Ralph Graves as Dr. Colman
Roland Dupree as Bellboy
Gertrude Messinger as Nurse
Pedro de Cordoba as Museum Caretaker

Retrospective appraisal

In a “departure from for the series” this Joe Palooka’s adventure is set in the tropics of South America. As such, the film resembles the “jungle”-themed serials produced by Universal and Republic studios.^[3]

Film historian Wheeler W. Dixon surmises that “Monogram was running out of purely pugilistic situations for Palooka character” and accordingly moved the story “out of the locker room.”^[4] Dixon registers praise for LeBorg’s adroit direction:

LeBorg staged the film with great attention to lighting and set details, while relying mostly on stock footage and back-lot sets for what little “South American” ambiance the film could afford.^[5]

Notes

^ Dixon, 1992 p. 145-146: Directorial Credits
^ Dixon, 1992 p. 30
^ Dixon, 1992 p. 30
^ Dixon, 1992 p. 30
^ Dixon, 1992 p. 30

References

Dixon, Wheeler Winston. 1992. The Films of Reginald LeBorg: Interviews, Essays, and Filmography. Filmmakers No. 31 The Scarecrow Press, Metuchen, New Jersey. ISBN 0-8108-2550-3

External links

Media related to Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch (1949) at Wikimedia Commons
Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch at IMDb
Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch at TCMDB

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[1] Dixon, 1992 p. 145-146: Directorial Credits

[2] Dixon, 1992 p. 30

[3] Dixon, 1992 p. 30

[4] Dixon, 1992 p. 30

[5] Dixon, 1992 p. 30

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