Wholesale Boxing in Hollywood, From Chaplin to Scorsese

Boxing has always fascinated cinema because, since Thomas Edison, it is the sport most represented by the seventh art. The aim of this work is therefore to assess the representation of the noble art through the different periods of U.S. history. Indeed, boxing films have relied on several cinematic genres to describe both the economic, social, and political issues of Americans (Great Depression, civil rights movement, Cold War...) while also highlighting the deep reasons for the sport's success. In fact, self-surpassing, the fight against the threatening "Other" (and the boxer's inner demons), social ascent through sport, or the authorized violence in the ring have led boxing to become one of the most popular sports practices on the planet. Moreover, it has offered many unforgettable works to audiences such as The Champion (1915) by Charlie Chaplin, Rocky (1976) by John G. Avildsen with Sylvester Stallone, or the legendary Raging Bull (1980) by Martin Scorsese with Robert De Niro. A doctor in film studies and a graduate of the French Press Institute in Paris, David Da Silva is a film historian, teacher, and journalist. He is the author of two notable books on American cinema: American Populism in Cinema from D.W. Griffith to Clint Eastwood (2015, LettMotif editions) and Sylvester Stallone, Hero of the Working Class (2016, LettMotif editions). He has also contributed to various international publications. Table of Contents • Preface (Michel Cieutat) 7 • Foreword 11 • Introduction 13 • 1. A Brief History of English Boxing 19 • 2. History of Boxing in Cinema 25 • A. Boxing and Comedy 35 • B. Boxing and Drama 49 • C. Boxing and Film Noir 65 • D. Boxing and Biopic 79 • E. Boxing and New Hollywood 101 • F. Boxing and Action Film 118 • G. Boxing and Women 139 • Conclusion 151 • Appendices 155 • Bibliography 191 • Index 199