The Square Ring

For the ring used in the sport of boxing, see Boxing Ring.

The Square Ring
Directed by	Basil Dearden
Produced by	Michael Relph
Written by	Alec Grahame
Based on	The Square Ring (play) by Ralph Peterson
Starring	Jack Warner Robert Beatty Bill Owen
Music by	Dock Mathieson
Cinematography	Otto Heller
Edited by	Peter Bezencenet
Production company	Ealing Studios
Distributed by	GFD (UK)
Release dates	13 July 1953 (1953-07-13) (UK)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Square Ring is a 1953 British film produced by Michael Relph, directed by Basil Dearden and made at Ealing Studios. It stars Jack Warner, Robert Beatty and Bill Owen. The film, based on a stage play by Ralph Peterson, centres on one night at a fairly seedy boxing venue and tells the different stories of the various fighters and spectators.

Plot

Five stories that take place mainly in the locker room prior to and after various bouts during a single evening at a cheap boxing stadium. These include a novice cheated of victory, a boxer who refuses to "throw" a fight, and a veteran trying to make a come-back who pays with his life.

Cast

• Jack Warner as Danny Felton
• Robert Beatty as Jim 'Kid' Curtis
• Bill Owen as Happy Burns
• Maxwell Reed as Rick Martell
• George Rose as Whitey Johnson
• Bill Travers as Rowdie Rawlings
• Alfie Bass as Frank Forbes
• Ronald Lewis as Eddie Lloyd
• Sid James as Adams
• Joan Collins as Frankie
• Kay Kendall as Eve Lewis
• Bernadette O'Farrell as Peg Curtis
• Eddie Byrne as Lou Lewis
• Michael Golden as Warren
• Joan Sims as Bunty
• Sydney Tafler as 1st Wiseacre
• Alexander Gauge as 2nd Wiseacre

Original Play

The film was based on a 1952 play with the same name by Sydney-born radio writer Ralph Peterson who arrived in London only the year before. He wrote it over a three month period. Peterson was inspired by material he had learned from writing the radio play Come Out Fighting, set in the world of boxing. He sent the play to Anthony Quayle, who he had met in Sydney, who agreed to put it on.

Production

Film rights were bought by Michael Balcon at Ealing and John Mills was announced as star, with Basil Dearden to direct and Michael Relph to produce. Eventually Mills dropped out and was replaced by Canadian actor Robert Beatty. He had no boxing experience so he trained for two weeks in preparation for the role.

Reception

Critical reception was mixed. One review called the film "uneven", accusing it of "veering between comedy and tragedy".

1960 TV Adaptation

The Square Ring
Production company	ABC
Release dates	1960
Running time	90 mins
Country	Australia
Language	English

The play was also adapted for Australian TV in 1960.

Cast

• Don Barkham
• Guy Doleman
• Jack Fegan
• Ken Goodlet
• Edward Hayes
• Owen Weingott

See also

• List of television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1960s)

External links

• The Square Ring at IMDb
• The Square Ring 1960 TV Adaptation at IMDB