- Published in The Veterans
Ward "Kid Galahad" Guisenberry
In what we feel was one of the better boxing pictures in the “Golden Era”, Kid Gallahad gives us the story of Ward Guisenberry, a farm boy turned boxer with so much power he instantly becomes a top contender.
That is the simple synopsis as Ward was discovered by Nick Donati (Edward G. Robinson) a boxing promoter who got screwed over by one of his boxers who took a 25,000 bribe from Turkey Morgan, a mobster (Humphrey Bogart). Following a drinking binge, Donati and his girlfriend Fluff (Bette Davis) discover a bellhop who rushed to Fluff’s defense when accosted.
Sensing he has something special, Guisenberry, now with the nickname of “Kid Galahad” enters the professional ranks and starts destroying everyone in his path by knockout. The kid remains loyal to Donati even when approached by Morgan, and continues on until he is ready for a title shot.
Donati turns on his young protégé upon learning that he was involved with his sister and in the championship fight gives him erroneous advice to attach the champion head on, knowing that it was the wrong tactic. He also laid a significant wager on Kid Galahad to lose, which Turkey Morgan learns of and after confronting Donati makes a sizable $150,000 wager himself. Galahad, sensing that what he is doing is wrong changes tactics and wins the fight and championship by knockout. You can guess what happened to Donati after that can’t you?
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Kid Gallahad (1937)
Actor:
Wayne Morris
Role Portrayed:
Boxer
Why You Should Vote For Him:
He is a champion with impeccable character. There aren’t that many fictional boxers from this era that can say that.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
The character may have had the movie named after him, but his story was almost secondary to what was going on around him.
