Iron Man (1951)
Iron Man (1951)
„Iron Man“ is a 1951 drama film noir directed by Joseph Pevney. The screenplay by George Zuckerman and Borden Chase is based on the 1931 novel of the same name by W.R. Burnett.
At the start of the heavyweight championship boxing match, the fans boo at title holder Coke Mason, as his estranged wife, Rose Warren Mason, bitterly recalls the circumstances that brought them to this day.
Coke works as a miner and Rose as a store clerk in Coal Town, Pennsylvania. Coke saves all his money so they can marry and open a radio store to escape their hated jobs and the stifling small town. When fellow miner Alex Mallick repeatedly picks fights with Coke. Coke’s older brother, George Mason, encourages the two to box. Alex dominates the match until the ordinarily composed Coke becomes enraged and beats him viciously. Frightened by his own brutality, Coke vows never to fight again.
Days later, Alex uses too much dynamite to blast a hole in the mine and the roof collapses. George heads the rescue effort and works throughout the night to rescue the men. Later, at the hospital, Rose overhears George urging Coke to give up low-paying, dangerous mining work for boxing. Rose convinces Coke that if he boxes for only one year they will have enough money to open their shop. Coke begins to train with his pal, Tommy „Speed“ O’Keefe. During his first fight, Coke again is foundering until he becomes incensed and pummels his opponent, causing the crowd to boo him for what they see as dirty fighting.
Over the next few months, Coke continues to win in the same manner and the crowds grow to despise him. Max Watkins, an esteemed sports writer, reports that Coke is murderous and should not be allowed to fight, until one day he is badly beaten by champion Joe „Jackie“ Savella. Realizing that he is not a skilled fighter, only a brutal one, they urge him to quit, but Coke has grown cold and insists on proving to the fans that he is a champ.
Soon, Speed begins to fight his own matches and gains a reputation as a beloved, clean fighter. Coke grows more despised and bitter.
Weeks later, Coke, still estranged from Rose and George, wins the heavyweight championship, and the only fighter he has yet to compete against is Speed, who has become a close contender for the title.
Rose watches nervously as the fight begins. During the match, the fans and reporters stir when they realize that Coke is not fighting dirty. The competition is fierce, but in the last round Speed wins. George rushes to Coke’s side, and as he helps the fighter leave the ring, the crowd slowly rises to its feet in a standing ovation. When Rose runs to Coke, he embraces her while the fans cheer.
Cast:
- Jeff Chandler – Coke Mason
- Evelyn Keyes – Rose Warren Mason
- Stephen McNally – George Mason
- Rock Hudson – Tommy „Speed“ O’Keefe, aka Kosco
- Joyce Holden – „Tiny“ Ford, Photographer
- Jim Backus – Max Watkins
- James Arness – Alex Mallick
- Steve Martin – Joe Savella
- George Baxter – Herb Riley
„Ausgezählt“ (Iron Man) ist ein Film Noir-Drama aus dem Jahr 1951 unter der Regie von Joseph Pevney. Das Drehbuch von George Zuckerman und Borden Chase basiert auf dem gleichnamigen Roman von W.R. Burnett aus dem Jahr 1931.
Zu Beginn des Boxkampfs um die Schwergewichtsmeisterschaft buhen die Fans den Titelverteidiger Coke Mason aus, während seine entfremdete Frau, Rose Warren Mason, sich bitter an die Umstände erinnert, die sie an diesen Tag gebracht haben.
