Body and Soul

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Body and Soul

1947,

1h 44m,

Drama

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Watchlist

92%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

When amateur boxer Charley Davis (John Garfield) wins his first big match, he attracts the interest of small-time promoter Quinn (William Conrad). After Davis' father (Art Smith) is accidentally killed, Davis throws himself into his new career despite the protests of his mother (Anne Revere). A natural, Davis quickly climbs the boxing ladder where he eventually meets opportunistic promoter Roberts (Lloyd Gough), who introduces him to some unsavory elements.

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Mar 25, 2008

Trite is hardly the word for the plot, which was already wheezy by the time this minor classic was made in 1947, but Abraham Polonsky's script brings such tight, painful focus to the moral choices that it seems fresh and real.

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Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

Garfield's bullish performance saves the movie from its stagy moments and episodic script.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Jan 28, 2006

4/5

Altogether this Enterprise picture rolls up a round-by-round triumph on points until it comes through with a climactic knockout that hits the all-time high in throat-catching fight films.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 10, 2024

3.5/4

More than just a boxing picture, Body and Soul also sports elements of film noir and functions as a socially conscious morality tale.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jan 20, 2021

6/10

Despite boasting a remarkable performance from John Garfield, I find the narrative to be a bit mechanical and lacks punching force like boxing film noir. [Full review in Spanish]

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Tynan Yanaga

Film Inquiry

Jul 24, 2017

Body and Soul is a film not simply with gritty boxing scenes but also a fascinating character analysis indicative of the human condition.

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Jan 27, 2019

The best sports movie ever made!

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Robert Rossen

Director

John Garfield

Charley Davis

Lilli Palmer

Peg Born

Hazel Brooks

Alice

Anne Revere

Anna Davis

William Conrad

Quinn

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Synopsis

When amateur boxer Charley Davis (John Garfield) wins his first big match, he attracts the interest of small-time promoter Quinn (William Conrad). After Davis' father (Art Smith) is accidentally killed, Davis throws himself into his new career despite the protests of his mother (Anne Revere). A natural, Davis quickly climbs the boxing ladder where he eventually meets opportunistic promoter Roberts (Lloyd Gough), who introduces him to some unsavory elements.

Director: Robert Rossen
Producer: Bob Roberts
Screenwriter: Abraham Polonsky
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Enterprise Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 1947, Original
Release Date (DVD): Aug 21, 2001
Runtime: 1h 44m

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