The film, coming out about a year after Joe Louis became World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, was obviously made to cash in on the boxer's popularity and rise to the top of the sports world. The story somewhat parallels Louis's own career, but with the passage of time one must recognize that having the champ play himself might not have been the best idea. Louis is entirely one dimensional in the role and conveys no ability to act at all. Even his boxing scenes aren't very exciting to watch, and I guess the best compliment one might offer is that he had an outstanding physique and was built solid as a rock.
The inclusion of a couple of black actors of the era does help the overall story. Clarence Muse was a well regarded character actor who generally appeared in roles that portrayed blacks in a positive fashion. Mantan Moreland, who I always enjoy seeing, usually appeared as a comic relief character in films, but in this one he plays it pretty straight. Louis's ability to deliver a knock out blow was recognized early when he decked a guy defending Moreland's character. It wouldn't be long before newspaper headlines would be proclaiming him the 'Dark Destroyer'.
Apart from the main story, most of the actual entertainment is provided by song and dance numbers performed by a variety of participants. A scene with a host of jitterbug dancers was quite lively, and a night club segment offering a bevy of chorus singers was quite well done.
In 1953 a movie came out titled "The Joe Louis Story" starring Coley Wallace as the champion boxer, though in many respects Wallace's acting style very much resembled Louis himself in this one. One would be hard pressed to determine which of the on screen performers were more wooden. Personally I'd be interested in seeing a modern day film treatment of Louis if done right; a 2002 TV movie called "Joe and Max" offered a story about the colorful rivalry between Louis and German boxer Max Schmeling. It's a watchable story but rather narrow in scope, as it doesn't offer a broader perspective of Louis's life and career.
The inclusion of a couple of black actors of the era does help the overall story. Clarence Muse was a well regarded character actor who generally appeared in roles that portrayed blacks in a positive fashion. Mantan Moreland, who I always enjoy seeing, usually appeared as a comic relief character in films, but in this one he plays it pretty straight. Louis's ability to deliver a knock out blow was recognized early when he decked a guy defending Moreland's character. It wouldn't be long before newspaper headlines would be proclaiming him the 'Dark Destroyer'.
Apart from the main story, most of the actual entertainment is provided by song and dance numbers performed by a variety of participants. A scene with a host of jitterbug dancers was quite lively, and a night club segment offering a bevy of chorus singers was quite well done.
In 1953 a movie came out titled "The Joe Louis Story" starring Coley Wallace as the champion boxer, though in many respects Wallace's acting style very much resembled Louis himself in this one. One would be hard pressed to determine which of the on screen performers were more wooden. Personally I'd be interested in seeing a modern day film treatment of Louis if done right; a 2002 TV movie called "Joe and Max" offered a story about the colorful rivalry between Louis and German boxer Max Schmeling. It's a watchable story but rather narrow in scope, as it doesn't offer a broader perspective of Louis's life and career.