''Winner Take All '' is a 1939 American
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
directed by
Otto Brower
Otto Brower (December 2, 1890 – January 25, 1946) was an American film director. He directed more than 40 films between 1928 and 1946. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and died in Hollywood, California, from a myocardial infarction, ...
and starring
Tony Martin,
Gloria Stuart
Gloria Frances Stuart (born Gloria Stewart; July 4, 1910 September 26, 2010) was an American actress, visual artist, and activist. She was known for her roles in Pre-Code films, and garnered renewed fame late in life for her portrayal of Rose ...
, and
Henry Armetta
Henry Armetta (born Enrico Armetta; July 4, 1888 – October 21, 1945) was an American character actor who appeared in at least 150 American films, beginning in silent movies. His last film was released posthumously in 1946, the year after his d ...
.
Plot
A rodeo rider from
Montana
Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...
stranded in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
with no money, Steve Bishop can't pay for his meal at Papa and Mama Gambini's restaurant, so he offers to work off his debt as a waiter. When someone else interested in that job harasses Papa, he is flattened by Steve.
Eyewitnesses among the customers include a sportswriter, Julie Harrison, and her boyfriend, fight promoter Tom Walker. A chance is offered Steve to participate in a boxing exhibition with six men in a ring at once. He ends up the victor, raising money for a good cause supported by Papa.
Walker decides to promote Steve as a prizefighter, and he begins earning victories and money. Steve doesn't realize these fights have been fixed in advance. Julie teaches him a lesson the hard way, telling Steve's next opponent to deck him. Walker, no longer able to promote Steve as undefeated, sells Julie his contract for 25 cents. Under her guidance, he is able to upset Paulie Mitchell in his next fight, pleasing Papa and Julie both.
Cast
*
Tony Martin as Steve Bishop
*
Gloria Stuart
Gloria Frances Stuart (born Gloria Stewart; July 4, 1910 September 26, 2010) was an American actress, visual artist, and activist. She was known for her roles in Pre-Code films, and garnered renewed fame late in life for her portrayal of Rose ...
as Julie Harrison
*
Henry Armetta
Henry Armetta (born Enrico Armetta; July 4, 1888 – October 21, 1945) was an American character actor who appeared in at least 150 American films, beginning in silent movies. His last film was released posthumously in 1946, the year after his d ...
as Papa Gambini
*
Kane Richmond
Kane Richmond (born Frederick William Bowditch, December 23, 1906 – March 22, 1973) was an American film actor of the 1930s and 1940s, mostly appearing in cliffhangers and serials. He is best known today for his portrayal of the character La ...
as Paulie Mitchell
*
Slim Summerville
Slim Summerville (born George Joseph Somerville; July 10, 1892 – January 5, 1946), was an American film actor and director best known for his work in comedies.
Early life
Summerville was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his mother d ...
as Muldoon
*
Robert Allen as Tom Walker
References
External links
''Winner Take All (1939 film)''at the
Internet Movie Database
IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...
1939 films
American drama films
1939 drama films
Films directed by Otto Brower
American black-and-white films
20th Century Fox films
Films scored by Samuel Kaylin
1930s English-language films
1930s American films
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