Synopsis
The BILLY GOAT GANG and a TWO FISTED PRIEST!
Leonard Nimoy is "Kid" Monk Baroni, the leader of a street gang who becomes a professional boxer to escape his life in "Little Italy" New York.
1952 Directed by Harold D. Schuster
Leonard Nimoy is "Kid" Monk Baroni, the leader of a street gang who becomes a professional boxer to escape his life in "Little Italy" New York.
Spock's rebellious youth! Leonard Nimoy's first big role. He's a ugly boy who resorts to violent behavior to get out his frustrations. Therefore boxing becomes a natural activity when not being a rebel. However, he's got one key interest. Choir music, with Richard Rober as his religious leader encouraging him. He even has a romantic side! However trouble follows him, so the angelic route is difficult. Nimoy delivers quite a good performance, and by far the lifeline in a limited budget movie. It was definitely cool to see such a familiar face that young!
Release date May 1st 1952
Admittedly I watched this because it was Leonard (Mr Spock) Nimoy’s first lead role in a movie. It also had a young Jack Larson (Jimmy Olson of Superman )
Yes it is an average film at best, lots of tough guy with a good heart stuff.
Nimoy is quite good in this melodrama , it is almost a Christian morality play in tone and tension. There is always a second chance for the protagonist with a storyline like this.
not super good but young leonard nimoy has gotten me giggling and blushing and twirling my hair <3
Nimoy has affection for this first, starring role; one in which he gets an "introducing" credit. The long OOP DVD copy of this film has a commentary track with a couple of the supporting actors reminiscening with Nimoy. Genuinely a wonderful little bonus feature showcasing a warmful reunion for those involved.
As for the picture itself, its an independent production from Realart, shot in nine days and meant to be served up quickly under the banner of a "Billy Goat Gang" picture. Think the Bowery Boys of the 50's and you get what producer Jack Broder was going for. However, this was a one-and-done and it was the can for the Billy Goat Gang.
Nimoy pulls out a wonderful little performance in a perfectly serviceable studio quickie probably served up well on early television viewings and matinees. You can check it out for free on a number of streaming services/YT.
A heavy handed Christian noir film about a disfigured young man becoming a boxer and his life after plastic surgery. Frankly this was garbage but young Leonard Nimoy was such a catch I was blushing
Kid Monk Baroni is predicated entirely on the belief that Paul "Monk" Baroni is an ugly-as-sin talented, but brutish, boxer, and the film bashes you over the head with those 'facts' throughout its entire runtime. In actual fact, Baroni, played by a very young Leonard Nimoy, is actually a good-looking guy, even though he tries to make out that he's Frankenstein's monster or something, and, well, if that's what boxing looked like in the 1950s, count me out.
Half a star on for the 79-minute runtime.
italian american catholic propaganda for punchy mafia boys? vaguely entertaining because its leonard nimoy with prosthetics?
Not bad! A fun cast of characters, and a decent story. Not much else to say, really!
Nice Sport/Drama.
Stars a young Spock* and co-stars Jimmy Olsen.
*I may have watched it regardless, but It having Leonard Nimoy in it, made it a bit of a must see. (I was looking to watch a film from 1952 to me my review goals for the year, and it was one of the shorter films on Prime.) I am no expert, but as far as handwork was concerned, he seemed to have terrible boxing skills.
Liked but probably won't watch again.
Mild recommendation for the genre as a casual view, and mostly just to fans of Nimoy.
Available on Pluto, Tubi, and YouTube