The Square Ring
| The Square Ring | |
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| 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 |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | GFD (UK) |
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Release date
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Running time
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83 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| The Square Ring | |
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Production
company |
ABC
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Release date
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1960 |
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Running time
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90 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
Critical reception was mixed. One review called the film "uneven", accusing it of "veering between comedy and tragedy".
The play was also adapted for Australian TV in 1960.
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Wikipedia