The Great John L.
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''The Great John L.'' is a 1945 American biographical drama film directed by
Frank Tuttle Frank Wright Tuttle (August 6, 1892 – January 6, 1963) was a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film director and writer who directed films from 1922 (''The Cradle Buster'') to 1959 (''Island of Lost Women''). Biography Frank Tuttle wa ...
and written by James Edward Grant. The film stars Linda Darnell,
Barbara Britton Barbara Britton (born Barbara Maurine Brantingham, September 26, 1920 – January 17, 1980) was an American film and television actress. She is best known for her Western film roles opposite Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Gene Autry and for h ...
,
Greg McClure Greg McClure (1915–2012) was an American actor. His most notable film role was as John L. Sullivan in The Great John L. (1945) but in most of his twenty films he had only bit parts, often as a soldier or a boxer. He signed a contract with Golden ...
,
Otto Kruger Otto Kruger (September 6, 1885 – September 6, 1974) was an American actor, originally a Broadway matinee idol, who established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as Hitchcock's ''Saboteur''. He also appeared in CBS's ''Perry Mason'' a ...
, Wallace Ford and George Mathews. The film was released on May 25, 1945, by United Artists.


Plot

In 1880, when bareknuckle fighting is still condoned. John L. Sullivan chooses boxing over baseball and becomes known as "the Boston Strong Boy" after his victory over established prizefighter John Flood. Sullivan's sweetheart, Kathy Harkness, refuses his marriage proposal, unhappy about how he has chosen to make a living. After he wins the heavyweight championship, Sullivan buys a tavern and begins drinking too much of his own product. He also meets New York singer Anne Livingston, marrying her on the rebound from Kathy and traveling the world, meeting British royalty while fighting abroad. Sullivan's ego and alcoholism grow out of control. Anne realizes he still loves Kathy and leaves him, but Kathy still disapproves of his life. Sullivan is defeated by "Gentleman" Jim Corbett, loses the heavyweight crown and also loses his saloon, due to growing debts. Anne, too, becomes bankrupt as well as terminally ill. Sullivan vows to turn his life around, speaking on behalf of temperance unions as Kathy sees a glimmer of hope for their future.


Cast

* Linda Darnell as Anne Livingstone *
Barbara Britton Barbara Britton (born Barbara Maurine Brantingham, September 26, 1920 – January 17, 1980) was an American film and television actress. She is best known for her Western film roles opposite Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Gene Autry and for h ...
as Kathy Harkness *
Greg McClure Greg McClure (1915–2012) was an American actor. His most notable film role was as John L. Sullivan in The Great John L. (1945) but in most of his twenty films he had only bit parts, often as a soldier or a boxer. He signed a contract with Golden ...
as John L. Sullivan *
Otto Kruger Otto Kruger (September 6, 1885 – September 6, 1974) was an American actor, originally a Broadway matinee idol, who established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as Hitchcock's ''Saboteur''. He also appeared in CBS's ''Perry Mason'' a ...
as Richard Martin * Wallace Ford as McManus * George Mathews as John Flood * Robert Barrat as Billy Muldoon *
J. M. Kerrigan Joseph Michael Kerrigan (16 December 1884 – 29 April 1964) was an Irish actor. Early life Joseph Michael Kerrigan was born on 16 December 1884 in Dublin, which was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland at that time. H ...
as Father O'Malley *Joel Friedkin as Michael Sullivan *Simon Semenoff as Mons. Claire *
Harry Crocker Henry Joseph Crocker II (July 2, 1893 – May 23, 1958) was an American journalist and occasional film actor. Life and career Although Crocker was for most of his career a ''Los Angeles Examiner'' newsman, he also appeared as Rex in Charlie ...
as Arthur Brisbane * Rory Calhoun as James J. 'Gentleman Jim' Corbett * Fritz Feld as Claire's Manager *Lee Sullivan as Mickey Steele * Chester Conklin as Haggerty (uncredited) * Frank Darien as Fight Speculator (uncredited) *Leslie Denison as King Edward VII (uncredited) *
Brandon Hurst Brandon Hurst (30 November 1866 – 15 July 1947) was an English stage and film actor. Early life Born in London, England, Hurst studied philology in his youth and began performing in theater in the 1880s. Before he began acting professionall ...
as Valet (uncredited)


Critical response

"A curious mixture of excitement and tedious drama make up the picture ''The Great John L'', which arrived at the Globe on Saturday, a promising augury for the newly launched Bing Crosby Productions ... It is only after he loses to Corbett and his wife dies that “Honest John” marries his boyhood sweetheart and turns to the better life. But the process is overlong and occasionally boring." "In his first independent production, Bing Crosby comes out with both fists swinging through a dramatization of the life of John L. Sullivan. When the pic is released, it should be a great day all around, for the Irish, as well as for the houses that run it. It’s straight boff from start to finish."


See also

*
List of boxing films This is a list of films about boxing, featuring notable sports films where boxing plays a central role in the development of the plot. The Patent Leather Kid 1927 A self-centered boxer learns the meaning of patriotism on the battlefield dur ...


References


External links

* 1945 films American boxing films American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films Films scored by Victor Young Films directed by Frank Tuttle United Artists films 1940s biographical drama films American biographical drama films Films set in the 1880s Films set in the 1890s 1940s historical drama films American historical drama films Biographical films about sportspeople Cultural depictions of boxers 1945 drama films 1940s American films {{1940s-drama-film-stub