Madison Sq. Garden (1932)

70 or 74 mins | Drama | 7 October 1932

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HISTORY

Although the word "square" is abbreviated on the title card of the film, it is spelled out in all Paramount publicity. According to a news item in FD, Ben Blake directed the exterior scenes, however, this has not been confirmed. FD also notes that Warren Hymer replaced Robert Armstrong when his character was altered. According to the pressbook, the character of the president of the Garden was modelled after the real-life president at that time, William F. Carey. News items in HR indicate that several scenes were filmed on location at Madison Square Garden in New York. ...

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Although the word "square" is abbreviated on the title card of the film, it is spelled out in all Paramount publicity. According to a news item in FD, Ben Blake directed the exterior scenes, however, this has not been confirmed. FD also notes that Warren Hymer replaced Robert Armstrong when his character was altered. According to the pressbook, the character of the president of the Garden was modelled after the real-life president at that time, William F. Carey. News items in HR indicate that several scenes were filmed on location at Madison Square Garden in New York.

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Film Daily
21 Feb 1932
p. 5
Film Daily
1 Jul 1932
p. 8
Film Daily
14 Oct 1932
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
17 Feb 1932
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
26 Sep 1932
p. 3
International Photographer
1 Nov 1932
p. 32
Motion Picture Herald
8 Oct 1932
p. 93, 96
New York Times
12 Oct 1932
p. 26
Variety
18 Oct 1932
p. 15
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
WRITERS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Milt Krasner
Cam op
Asst cam
Asst cam
SOUND
PRODUCTION MISC
Tech dir
Still photog
DETAILS
Alternate Title:
Madison Square Garden
Release Date:
7 October 1932
Production Date:

Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Paramount Publix Corp.
6 October 1932
LP3311
Physical Properties:
Sound
Western Electric Noiseless Recording
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
70 or 74
Length(in reels):
8
Country:
United States
SYNOPSIS

In New York, Doc Williams is a manager/trainer devoted to his two young trainees, wrestler Brassie Randall and middleweight fighter Eddie Burke. Impressed by Doc's honest approach to sports, the president of Madison Square Garden, William Carley, offers Doc the dream job of "matchmaker" for the venue. Doc reluctantly turns down the position when he finds out he could no longer manage Brassie and Eddie because it would be a conflict of interest. Knowing how much this position means to Doc, Brassie and Eddie leave Doc, telling him they are tired of his overbearing management. They take up with a crooked manager, "Honest John" Miller, who works with racketeer Sloane in fixing fights. Sloane wants revenge against Doc, who refused to align himself with Sloane. When Eddie has established a name for himself, Miller arranges with Doc for Eddie to fight at the Garden. In the meantime, he and Sloane's men spread the word to newspaper reporters that Doc agreed to let Eddie fight out of favoritism. Eddie develops a swelled head and goes "soft" due to a lack of training and too many parties. Both Bee, Eddie's girl friend, and thickheaded Brassie sense something is wrong, but Eddie has become too conceited to take notice of their concern. As the Garden's board of directors breathe down Doc's neck, the evening of the fight arrives. Unknown to Eddie, Miller is working with his opposition, McClune, so that Eddie will lose. He slathers McClune's hands with plaster that will harden by the third round, so that Eddie will be pummeled into losing. Eddie suffers a terrible beating, but ...

More Less

In New York, Doc Williams is a manager/trainer devoted to his two young trainees, wrestler Brassie Randall and middleweight fighter Eddie Burke. Impressed by Doc's honest approach to sports, the president of Madison Square Garden, William Carley, offers Doc the dream job of "matchmaker" for the venue. Doc reluctantly turns down the position when he finds out he could no longer manage Brassie and Eddie because it would be a conflict of interest. Knowing how much this position means to Doc, Brassie and Eddie leave Doc, telling him they are tired of his overbearing management. They take up with a crooked manager, "Honest John" Miller, who works with racketeer Sloane in fixing fights. Sloane wants revenge against Doc, who refused to align himself with Sloane. When Eddie has established a name for himself, Miller arranges with Doc for Eddie to fight at the Garden. In the meantime, he and Sloane's men spread the word to newspaper reporters that Doc agreed to let Eddie fight out of favoritism. Eddie develops a swelled head and goes "soft" due to a lack of training and too many parties. Both Bee, Eddie's girl friend, and thickheaded Brassie sense something is wrong, but Eddie has become too conceited to take notice of their concern. As the Garden's board of directors breathe down Doc's neck, the evening of the fight arrives. Unknown to Eddie, Miller is working with his opposition, McClune, so that Eddie will lose. He slathers McClune's hands with plaster that will harden by the third round, so that Eddie will be pummeled into losing. Eddie suffers a terrible beating, but when Doc relinquishes his job so he can help Eddie in the ring, Eddie continues the fight until McClune is declared the winner. Later Doc sees the plaster being removed from McClune's glove and realizes why Eddie's ribs were broken. He angrily gathers together former sports heroes who now work at the Garden, and they storm Sloane and Miller's place, beating all the thugs into submission. Reporters print the truth about the fight, and Doc and Eddie's names are cleared. In the end, Eddie and Bee marry and head to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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