A boxer turned minister offers shelter to a tank fighter framed for killing a policeman.A boxer turned minister offers shelter to a tank fighter framed for killing a policeman.A boxer turned minister offers shelter to a tank fighter framed for killing a policeman.
Photos
Leon Alton
- Bar Patron
- (uncredited)
Leah Baird
- Church Member
- (uncredited)
Marjorie Bennett
- Mrs. Vindle - Housekeeper
- (uncredited)
Arthur Berkeley
- Boxing Match Spectator
- (uncredited)
Monte Blue
- Police Lt. Ryan
- (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
Cliff Clark
- Bartender George
- (uncredited)
Bing Conley
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
Eddie Dunn
- Police Chief Ed Hardy
- (uncredited)
Jay Eaton
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
Fred Farrell
- Church Member
- (uncredited)
Dick Gordon
- Boxing Match Spectator
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring the football game at the beginning of the film, Chris Thorgenson, played by Wayne Morris, is described as being a "former Navy flier." Morris was just that in real life, being awarded his Wings of Gold in 1942. He became a fighter ace, shooting down seven Japanese planes flying a F6F Hellcat from the U.S.S. Essex (CV-9). Chris even tells Karen (Lois Maxwell) that he flew 77 missions in a Hellcat. He was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals for his actions in WWII.
- GoofsWhen Johnny and the police chief were riding in the car in the final scene, the view out the rear window is the exact same street scene as was used in their earlier car ride.
Featured review
It starts off well but fizzles.
"The Big Punch" is a film which has a ration convoluted plot...one with many disparate story elements. The overall picture is okay...but could have been better.
When the story begins, you learn that the college sports hero, Chris Thorgenson (Wayne Morris), is graduating and will instead of going pro will become a minister. At the same time, Johnny Grant (Gordon MacRea), is a boxer who refuses to throw a fight...and so the gamblers who fixed the match kill a cop and make it look as if Johnny did it....and Johnny goes on the lam. Oddly, Johnny shows up in Chris' town and Chris takes him under his wing. Later, when Chris learns that Johnny is wanted for murder, he and a lady friend turn amateur detectives in order to solve the case.
The second half of film was pretty limp. Like many 1930s and 40s films, it features private folks solving crimes...a silly cliche. This is where the film loses momentum. The actors try their best...but the story just seemed strange and hard to believe.
When the story begins, you learn that the college sports hero, Chris Thorgenson (Wayne Morris), is graduating and will instead of going pro will become a minister. At the same time, Johnny Grant (Gordon MacRea), is a boxer who refuses to throw a fight...and so the gamblers who fixed the match kill a cop and make it look as if Johnny did it....and Johnny goes on the lam. Oddly, Johnny shows up in Chris' town and Chris takes him under his wing. Later, when Chris learns that Johnny is wanted for murder, he and a lady friend turn amateur detectives in order to solve the case.
The second half of film was pretty limp. Like many 1930s and 40s films, it features private folks solving crimes...a silly cliche. This is where the film loses momentum. The actors try their best...but the story just seemed strange and hard to believe.
helpful•41
- planktonrules
- Dec 16, 2021
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $227,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 20 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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![Gordon MacRae, Lois Maxwell, and Wayne Morris in The Big Punch (1948)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYWFiNDMzNGEtNzg5ZS00NmI1LTkzODgtYTgwNzZmN2NiZGQyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTY5Nzc4MDY@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,1,90,133_.jpg)