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