Alias the Champ
Cast & Crew
George Blair
Robert Rockwell
Barbra Fuller
Audrey Long
Jim Nolan
John Harmon
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
At a wrestling match, wrestler Gorgeous George, whose vanity has earned him the nickname "The Human Orchid," enters the ring to face challenger Bomber Kulkavich of Brooklyn, New York. The start of the match is delayed so that George can toss hair pins to his fans, while his valet, Jackson, dotingly prepares him for battle. When Jackson finally agrees to leave the ring, the match begins, and George easily wins the first round. Meanwhile, in the audience, George's manager, Lorraine Connors, informs homicide lieutenant Ron Peterson that she fears that George may have been bribed by gangster Al Merlo to throw the match. That evening, Ron takes Merlo's sweetheart, singer Colette La Rue, out to dinner, where she meets Lorraine's sweetheart, Sam Menacker, one of Merlo's crooked wrestlers. In the locker room, meanwhile, Lorraine warns George that becoming involved with Merlo could jeopardize his entire career. Merlo learns that Ron is investigating him and persuades Colette to distract him with her feminine charms. After Sam sees Lorraine talking to Ron, he becomes jealous and sprays seltzer water in his face. When Sam learns from Lorraine that Colette has invited Ron over to her house that evening, he goes there himself. Ron arrives later and is greeted by a punch in the face from Sam. Moments later, George arrives, sees Ron and throws him to the floor. The next day, reporter Bert Tracy is interviewing George at the gym, when Merlo and Sam enter. After a brawl erupts between Sam and George, Ron suggests that they square off in the ring. Later, the match, which is being televised live, begins, and although George violates a number of regulations, Sam succeeds in pinning him. During a break between rounds, Colette asks Sam for his autograph, and he gladly obliges. Seconds later, the fight resumes, and George pins Sam to the mat. This time, however, Sam does not get up and is later pronounced dead. When Ron's superiors learn that he suggested the match, they demote him. Later, Ron becomes convinced that Merlo is behind Sam's death as George has refused to cooperate with his investigation. Fortunately for George, who would otherwise face a first degree murder charge, a forensics expert determines that his actions in the ring could not have led to Sam's death. Later, Ron visits the television station that had broadcast the match and arranges for a special re-broadcast. With the help of the district attorney's office, he gathers all the suspects together at the police station to watch the match again. Afterward, Ron hands Colette a pen and asks her to sign an affidavit. When she recognizes the poisoned pen as the one that she had given to Sam for signing his autograph during the match, surprise and guilt show clearly on her face. In desperation, Merlo grabs for his gun, but before he can fire, Ron shoots and kills him. Now vindicated, a playful George sneaks a peek as Ron and Lorraine kiss.
Director
George Blair
Cast
Robert Rockwell
Barbra Fuller
Audrey Long
Jim Nolan
John Harmon
Sammy Menacker
Joseph Crehan
John Hamilton
Stephen Chase
Frank Scannell
Frank Yaconelli
Emmett Vogan
John Wald
Gorgeous George
Mike Ruby
Jim Lennon
Bomber Kulkavich
Bill Varga
Bobby Manogoff
George Temple
Super Swedish Angel
Jack "sockeye" Mcdonald
Carl "alfalfa" Switzer
Harry Monty
Frances Irwin
Sam Flint
Bert Goodrich
Tor Johnson
Jackson Hunter
Gail Bonney
Al Murphy
Brandon Beach
Enid Parrish
Crew
Stephen Auer
Frank Bjerring
Lynn Burke
Richard Cherwin
Albert Demond
Steve Drumm
Frank T. Dyke
Frank Hotaling
Jack Lacey
Whitey Lawrence
Larry Lund
John Macburnie
Bob Mark
Enzo Martinelli
John Mccarthy Jr.
Harold Minter
Al Newman
Adele Palmer
Babe Stafford
Charles Thompson
Ned Washington
Stanley Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title for this film was Pardon My Toe Hold. Wrestler Bomber Kulkavich's name is misspelled "Kulkovich" in the onscreen credits. Kulkavich also acted under the name Henry Kulky.
