‎King of Hockey (1936) directed by Noel M. Smith • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

King of Hockey

1936 Directed by Noel M. Smith

Gamblers try to pressure a star hockey player into throwing a game.

Dick Purcell Wayne Morris Anne Nagel Marie Wilson George E. Stone Harry Davenport Joseph Crehan Ann Gillis Gordon Hart Dora Clement Guy Usher Frank Faylen Max Hoffman Jr. Pierre Watkin Garry Owen George Beranger Frank Bruno Bill Elliott Pauline Garon Sol Gorss Dennis Moore Spec O'Donnell Paul Panzer Sam Rice Jim Richardson Cliff Saum Harry Watson Tom Wilson Jack Wise

55 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by PUNQ ★★ 2

Cool to see old school hockey in films! The game has changed quite a bit since then. Especially as it relates to the goalie! This Warner Bros film uses the game in a gangster plot where they pressure a star player to influence the result in their favor. Alright predictable B-movie where Dick Purcell, who actually played hockey for for his University team, gets a rare chance to show what he's good for.
Review by Marty McKee ★★½

Dick Purcell, who reportedly played hockey at Fordham (you can never tell how much studio ballyhoo of the 1930s is true), stars in this Warners programmer as rookie Gabby Dugan of the New York Violets in the Tri-State Hockey League. He has the hots for dishy socialite Kathleen O’Rourke (Anne Nagel), so he intentionally racks up penalty minutes so he can chat with her in the stands. However, Dugan’s friend and goalie, Jumbo Mullins (Wayne Morris), believes all those trips to the penalty box are to service slimy gambler Nick Torga (George E. Stone), who stands to make big bucks betting against the Violets.

If nothing else, one of the first features ever made about professional hockey (if not the…
Review by Supercattle ★★★

Back in the days when you could wall run along the boards with your skates and you didn't think the second world war would ever happen
Review by David F Kennedy ★★½ 1

My goal is to see the whole of hockey cinema

Recent reviews

Review by John Charles ★★½

B-movie king Dick Purcell used to play hockey in school, so he was a natural to topline this Warner Brothers release, which clocks in at an epic 55 minutes. Star forward Duggan (Purcell) starts slacking off, causing some of his fellow players (including Wayne Morris as Jumbo, the worst goalie in movie history) to suspect Duggan is taking payoffs. This leads to an altercation that leaves Duggan with a head injury that impairs his vision and seriously impacts his ability to play. Worse yet, he will likely go blind.

No real surprises here, with the old-time hockey matches (not a helmet or goalie mask in sight) being the main draw for contemporary viewers.
Review by Marty McKee ★★½

Dick Purcell, who reportedly played hockey at Fordham (you can never tell how much studio ballyhoo of the 1930s is true), stars in this Warners programmer as rookie Gabby Dugan of the New York Violets in the Tri-State Hockey League. He has the hots for dishy socialite Kathleen O’Rourke (Anne Nagel), so he intentionally racks up penalty minutes so he can chat with her in the stands. However, Dugan’s friend and goalie, Jumbo Mullins (Wayne Morris), believes all those trips to the penalty box are to service slimy gambler Nick Torga (George E. Stone), who stands to make big bucks betting against the Violets.

If nothing else, one of the first features ever made about professional hockey (if not the…
Review by David F Kennedy ★★½ 1

My goal is to see the whole of hockey cinema
Review by Nuno Costa ★★½

Viewed on TCM

Former collage superstar Gabby Dugan now plays for The Violets of the Hockey League and is made an offer to throw games by gambling gangsters. Gabby says "no" but acts like he says yes by taking penalties to talk to a girl he is sweet on in the stands.

Yada..Yada..Yada..Gabby is blind.

King Of Hockey is nutty but to see Hockey in 1936 is magical.

According to IMDB.Com:
The film makes quite a few references to the "original six" NHL teams active during this time. The Violets are based on the New York Rangers, their jersey's are similar and play at Madison Square Garden. In the film they play against teams known as the "Leafs" (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Shamrocks (the original name of the Chicago Blackhawks). The jersey worn by the "leafs" in the film is similar to that of the Montreal Canadiens.The team also mentions playing in Boston at one point in the film.
Review by Gregory Wood ★★½

at less than an hour long this B sports pic zips by
Review by Supercattle ★★★

Back in the days when you could wall run along the boards with your skates and you didn't think the second world war would ever happen
Review by PUNQ ★★ 2

Cool to see old school hockey in films! The game has changed quite a bit since then. Especially as it relates to the goalie! This Warner Bros film uses the game in a gangster plot where they pressure a star player to influence the result in their favor. Alright predictable B-movie where Dick Purcell, who actually played hockey for for his University team, gets a rare chance to show what he's good for.