Keep Punching (1939 film)
| Keep Punching | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Clein[1] |
| Screenplay by | Marcy Klauber[1] |
| Story by | John Rosamond Johnson[1] |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | |
| Edited by | Al. Harburger[1] |
| Music by |
|
Production companies | M. C. Pictures, Inc.[1] |
| Distributed by | State Rights[1] |
Release dates |
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Running time | 81 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $28,000[2] |
Keep Punching is a 1939 film about boxing. Its primary character is Henry Armstrong (born Henry Jackson).[1] Unlike most films of the era, its cast was composed entirely of African Americans.
The film includes Whitey's Lindy Hoppers (Lindy Hop) performing the much imitated Big Apple Routine.[3] A film clip of the dance scene was also released as the short “Jittering Jitterbugs” in 1943 showing the Big Apple routine choreographed by Frankie Manning and the a Jitterbug dance competition that followed in the film.[4]
Plot
[edit]Golden gloves champion Henry Jackson turns professional and gets scheduled into a tough match. Days before the match, he finds an old school friend of his, Frank Harrison, unaware that Frank is betting heavily on his loss. Frank sets Henry up with beautiful Jerry Jordan, who is instructed to get him drunk and impede him in any way possible, due to Frank blackmailing her. On the day of the fight she slips him a sleeping drug.
Cast
[edit]It was directed by John Clein and was the first screen appearance of Canada Lee. Other performers include Dooley Wilson, George Wiltshire and boxing champion Henry Armstrong.[1]
- Henry Armstrong
- Willie Bryant
- Mae Johnson
- Hamtree Harrington
- Canada Lee
- Lionel Monagas
- Francine Everett
- Arthur 'Dooley' Wilson
- Hilda Offley
- Walter Robinson
Home video
[edit]The film is in the public domain and has been released on a US DVD-R with Two Gun Man from Harlem (1938).[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Keep Punching". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ "Negro and Yiddish Film Boom". Variety. January 3, 1940. p. 36.
- ^ "Big Apple Keep Punching Version". Lindy Hop Moves.
- ^ Reporter, Lindy Hop (July 3, 2019). "The Big Apple / Keep Punching (1939)".
- ^ Reid, Brent (February 28, 2025). "Canada Lee Collectors Guide". Brenton Film.
External links
[edit]- Keep Punching at IMDb
- Keep Punching at the TCM Movie Database
- Keep Punching at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
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