Site Admin
Ward "Kid Galahad" Guisenberry
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
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.
Walter "Kid Galahad" Gulick
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
Ugh. A remake in name only from the brilliant 1937 film of the same movie, we see Elvis Presley don the boxing gloves (and of course sing for no reason) in Kid Galahad, where he is a mechanic turned boxer. Well, if you want to vote for the King, this is it, but we can say there are more (though not many) unrealistic looking boxers than Presley.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
Kid Gallahad (1961)
Actor:
Elvis Presley
Role Portrayed:
Boxer
Why You Should Vote For Him:
Watch the original and than make a case if you can.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
Elvis as a boxer?
Vernon K. Simpson/King Kelly
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
When a baseball crashes through College Professor, Vernon K. Simpson window it destroys his lab equipment mixing his chemicals he discovers “methylethylpropylbutyl” a substance that repels wood. With this knowledge (basically creating the first pseudo-performance enhancing drug, or the super spitball) he becomes a Pitcher for St. Louis under the moniker of “King Kelly”. It is a cute film, but why must there always be cheating in Baseball?
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
It Happens Every Spring (1949)
Actor:
Ray Milland
Role Portrayed:
St. Louis Pitcher (Browns or Cardinals? We’re not sure.)
Why You Should Vote For Him:
It was a cute film, again extolling the magical (or we guess scientific) nature of Baseball.
Why You Should Not Vote For Him:
Isn’t this like PEDs?
Velvet Brown
Nov 27, 2014
Published in
The Veterans
The movie that first made Elizabeth Taylor a household name saw her as Velvet Brown the winner of a gelding who she intends to race on the National Steeplechase. With the help of a former jockey (Mickey Rooney) and through shear perseverance winds up racing the horse herself and winning the Steeplechase. We can’t say that Horse Racing films are our favorite in the sports genre we do think that this was a great family movie with a good message. This could be a solid sleeper candidate for the Veteran’s Category.
The Bullet Points:
Movie Appeared:
National Velvet (1944)
Actor:
Elizabeth Taylor
Role Portrayed:
Horse Jockey
Why You Should Vote For Her:
This was a well respected film that legitimately launched a legend.
Why You Should Not Vote For Her:
Horse Jockeys may not belong here.