The Leatherpushers
Cast & Crew
John Rawlins
Richard Arlen
Andy Devine
Astrid Allwyn
Douglas Fowley
Charles D. Brown
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Andy Adams, an aspiring wrestler, works out under the watchful eye of his trainer and friend, Dick Roberts. During a free-for-all at the gymnasium, Slick Connolly, a crooked boxing promoter, notices Dick's right hook and offers him a contract. Hungry and broke, Dick accepts the offer, and Slick begins to build up his new boxer with a series of fixed fights. When Pat Danbury, a female sports columnist who is believed to be a man by her readers, learns of Dick's dishonest victories, she writes an expose in her column, prompting Slick to raffle Dick off in a publicity stunt. Slick spitefully arranges for Pat to win the boxer, but the new alliance proves beneficial for her, as under Pat's management, Dick rises to prominence. Pat uses her winnings to support a camp for broken-down fighters that was founded by her late father, and all is proceeding smoothly when Stevens, Slick's boss, vows to bar Dick from fighting. When his attempt to impede Dick's progress toward the championship fails, Stevens conspires with Slick and boxer Giovanni to frame him on fight fixing charges. After Dick is barred from the ring, Andy, accompanied by two of Pat's old sluggers, forces Stevens to disclose the location of Slick and Giovanni's hideout. Andy, who is being followed by Dick, bursts in on them, and in the melee, Andy is injured and has to be hospitalized. With the arrest of Giovanni and Slick, Dick is reinstated, and on the day of his championship bout with Tim Grogan, he gives his pal Andy a blood transfusion. Weakened by the loss of blood, Dick is losing to Grogan when Pat arranges for Andy to broadcast over a loud speaker in the arena, and Andy coaches his friend to victory.
Director
John Rawlins
Cast
Richard Arlen
Andy Devine
Astrid Allwyn
Douglas Fowley
Charles D. Brown
Shemp Howard
Horace Macmahon
Charles Lane
Wade Boteler
George Lloyd
Eddie Gribbon
Frank Mitchell
Reid Kilpatrick
Ben Alexander
Noble "kid" Chissell
Billy Mcgowan
Crew
Bernard B. Brown
Hal Bumbaugh
Ben Chapman
Ben Chapman
Stanley Cortez
Ralph M. Delacy
R. A. Gausman
Arthur Hilton
Jack Otterson
Ben Pivar
Larry Rhine
Larry Rhine
H. J. Salter
Maxwell Shane
Seward Webb
Vera West
Maurice Wright
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
In the onscreen credits, actor Reid Kilpatrick's given name was misspelled "Reed." This was the first film in the Richard Arlen-Andy Devine series that Universal produced from 1939-1941 that was not directed by Christy Cabanne. Universal produced a 1922 and 1930 serial, both starring Reginald Denny, based on H. C. Witwer story "The Leatherpusher." Although this film bears the same title, it was not based on the Witwer story.
