| Starring Miss Barbara Stanwyck: Golden Boy |
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| Joseph Calleia, Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou, Edward S. Brophy. |
| Golden Boy 1939. Columbia Director: Rouben Mamoulian Cast: Barbara Stanwyck (Lorna Moon) Adolphe Menjou, William Holden, Lee j. Cobb, Joseph Calleia, Sam Levene, Costumes: Kalloch |
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| Barbara Stanwyck, Lee J.Cobb,William Holden |
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| William Holden, Adolphe Menjou, Barbara Stanwyck |
| Barbara is Lorna Moon the moll of an unscrupulous boxing impresario (Adolphe Menjou) who first seduces Joe to become a boxer and then falls in love with him and sides with his father. |
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| Barbara Stanwyck, William Holden |
| "Golden Boy" is the story of Joe, a young man torn between his violin and the boxing ring. Lee J. Cobb is his father who wants him to become a musician. |
| Director Rouben Mamoulian had seen a test done for Paramount by a twenty-one-year-old newcomer, William Holden and felt that he had the qualities he was looking for and fought to have him cast as Joe in the film. Prior to "Golden Boy", William Holden had only done bit parts in two or three films, and his acting experience was minimal. The part of Joe was an enormous challenge for him and his inexperience made him difficult to direct. Both Mamoulian and Cohn began to think about dismissing Holden. Tensions on the set grew and as they did, the pressure on the young actor worsened. He was working a seventeen-hour day: Working on the set, training in a gym for the scenes in the boxing ring, and studying the violin so that he could finger the strings expertly in close-ups. It was taking the express route toward a nervous breakdown and the end of his career as well. It was at this point that Barbara stepped in and took the situation in hand. She began by confronting Harry Cohn and convincing him to give the young actor a chance. Then she began to work closely with Holden on every facet of his performance. "Golden Boy" was Stanwyck's thirty-fifth film, and she had a great deal to offer Holden in the way of professional guidance. Barbara coached him on everything from nuances of speech to proper movements in front of the cameras. And with her assistance, Holden grew more assured and comfortable in the role. In the end Stanwyck and Holden both succeeded in giving sterling performances. Mamoulian was more than satisfied with Holden's work and later commented 'Chemistry, looks, that mysterious quality, and iron determination,carried him through. Also the will to work and Barbara.' |
| Barbara 's sensitive performance as Lorna Moon ranks with the best work she has done. As for William Holden, "Golden Boy" launched his career in style. He and Barbara became close friends, and throughout his forty-year career he always credited her with his success. To Holden she was " Queen" and each year, until his untimely death in 1981, he never failed to show his appreciation to Barbara Stanwyck by sending two dozen red roses and a white gardenia on April 1, the anniversary of the film's starting date. |