The harmonica on the soundtrack is certainly catchy, and the keen attention to period detail as well as MGM's usually good production values help make this a memorable motion picture.
I was particularly impressed with Dewey Martin as a boxer who fights and wins because the Lord is in his corner. He is not exactly the world's greatest actor, but he brings a fresh-faced sincerity to the role. It's required for a story of this type to be believable, especially since his character (a man named Daniel) is placed in an environment that seems more like a den of thieves.
Keenan Wynn plays his manager, the greatest thief of them all, and Shelley Winters is Wynn's wife. Wynn and Winters are perfect together and their on-going banter is easily a highlight of the film. Also in the cast is Earl Holliman as a fighter turned assistant who becomes friends with Martin.
We know the characters in this sort of feel-good sports drama are all going to come to the Lord before the final fadeout, or at least experience some sort of personal transformation. That's the main reason Martin is in their life, and the main reason the filmmakers are even telling this story.
As such, there are some good conversion scenes that are not as heavy-handed as I expected them to be. We do see some religious services with preaching, and the occasional hallelujahs from the crowd, but what's more important is how Wynn, Winters and Holliman react to these spiritual demonstrations.
It causes them to be introspective, and this is meaningful for everyone, especially for Holliman who is defined as being none too bright. It's interesting to see them all grapple with their consciences and grow as human beings. For 73 minutes, something positive has happened to this group on screen; and I'd like to believe it's been just as good for the viewer.
I was particularly impressed with Dewey Martin as a boxer who fights and wins because the Lord is in his corner. He is not exactly the world's greatest actor, but he brings a fresh-faced sincerity to the role. It's required for a story of this type to be believable, especially since his character (a man named Daniel) is placed in an environment that seems more like a den of thieves.
Keenan Wynn plays his manager, the greatest thief of them all, and Shelley Winters is Wynn's wife. Wynn and Winters are perfect together and their on-going banter is easily a highlight of the film. Also in the cast is Earl Holliman as a fighter turned assistant who becomes friends with Martin.
We know the characters in this sort of feel-good sports drama are all going to come to the Lord before the final fadeout, or at least experience some sort of personal transformation. That's the main reason Martin is in their life, and the main reason the filmmakers are even telling this story.
As such, there are some good conversion scenes that are not as heavy-handed as I expected them to be. We do see some religious services with preaching, and the occasional hallelujahs from the crowd, but what's more important is how Wynn, Winters and Holliman react to these spiritual demonstrations.
It causes them to be introspective, and this is meaningful for everyone, especially for Holliman who is defined as being none too bright. It's interesting to see them all grapple with their consciences and grow as human beings. For 73 minutes, something positive has happened to this group on screen; and I'd like to believe it's been just as good for the viewer.