} Crítica Retrô: Conflito de Duas Almas / Golden Boy (1939)

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Saturday, April 15, 2017

Conflito de Duas Almas / Golden Boy (1939)

Nós comumente pensamos – porque, fala sério, é mais fácil pensar desta maneira – que as pessoas podem ser colocadas em categorias. Assim, achamos que atletas não gostam de arte e que aqueles que trabalham com a cabeça não gostam de cuidar da aparência. Tudo isso é bem diferente da verdade, e a convivência – não exatamente pacífica – de interesses opostos na vida de um jovem é o tema principal de “Conflito de Duas Almas”.

We usually think – because, come on, it's easier to think this way – that people can be put in little stereotypical jars. This being, we think that athletes don't like arts and the ones who use their brains are not so good at physical activities. This is actually far from the truth, and the convivence – not exactly pacific – of opposing interests in a young man's life is the main theme in “Golden  Boy”.
Joe Bonaparte (William Holden) é um grande boxeador. Ele aprendeu o esporte em academias e nas ruas, longe de seu pai, e agora é uma promessa do esporte. Por que o pai de Joe não pode saber que o filho luta boxe? Porque o velho homem quer que o filho se torne um grande violinista – e este não é um sonho impossível, porque Joe também é muito bom com o violino.

Joe Bonaparte (William Holden) is a great boxer. He learned boxing in gyms and at the street, without his father's knowledge, and now is a promise of the sport. Why can't his father know? Because the old man's hope is to see his son becoming a great violinist – and this isn't an impossible dream, because Joe is also very good with the violin.
Mas Joe terá de tomar uma decisão – ou deixar que alguém a tome por ele. O entusiasmo da família e dos amigos quando ele toca violino o fazem ter motivação para praticar mais e mais. Por outro lado, se ele for um bom boxeador e ganhar várias partidas, ele ajudará seu empresário, Tom Broody (Adolphe Menjou), a se divorciar e se casar com Lorna Moon (Barbara Stanwyck).

But Joe has to make up his mind – or let someone else do it for him. His family's and friends' enthusiasm when he plays the violin make him practice more and more. On the other hand, if he is a good boxer who wins several matches, he'll help his manager, Tom Broody (Adolphe Menjou) to settle his divorce and marry his sweetheart Lorna Moon (Barbara Stanwyck).
Como fã de cinema clássico e de William Holden, você deve saber que ele só foi escalado para ser o protagonista aqui – no primeiro filme em que ele recebeu crédito – porque Barbara Stanwyck insistiu. Holden não está mal, mas não podemos negar que uma gama maior de emoções é exigida de Stanwyck.

As a fan of classic film and William Holden, you may know that he was cast as the lead here – the first film in which he was credited - by Stanwyck's insistence. Holden is not bad, but we can't deny that a lot more acting range is demanded from Stanwyck.
Holden é convincente como violinista, mas as tomadas longas na luta final não nos deixam vê-lo muito bem, e alguém pode até pensar que era um dublê que estava no ringue. A luta não é nem de perto tão emocionante quanto a melhor luta já filmada para um longa-metragem, em “Corpo e Alma” (1947). Uma curiosidade: John Garfield, o boxeador em “Corpo e Alma”, estava entre as opções para protagonizar “Conflito de Duas Almas”.

Holden is convincing as a violinist, but the long shots in the final fight don't let us see him very well, and one may even think it was a double in the rink. The fight is nowhere nearly as exciting as the best boxing match ever shot for a film, in “Body and Soul” (1947). One curious trivia: John Garfield, the boxer in “Body and Soul”, was considered briefly for the role in “Golden Boy”.
Eu fiquei animada ao descobrir que “Conflito de Duas Almas” foi dirigido por Rouben Mamoulian, um dos mais menosprezados diretores de todos os tempos, na minha opinião. Ele esbanjou criatividade na transição da era muda para a falada, quando fez ótimos filmes com pequenas experiências sonoras, como “Aplausos” (1929), “Ruas da Cidade” (1931) e “Ama-me esta noite” (1932), e também contou a história de uma personagem feminina forte em “Rainha Cristina”(1933).

I was excited to discover that “Golden Boy” was directed by Rouben Mamoulian, one of the most underrated directors ever, in my opinion. He was his most creative in the transition from the silent era to the talkies, when he made great movies with little sound experiences, like “Applause” (1929), “City Streets” (1931) and “Love Me Tonight” (1932), and also told the story of a fierce female character in “Queen Christina” (1933).
O torpe e vil código Hays tolheu sua criatividade, e em “Conflito de Duas Almas” ele se mostra seguro em relação ao seu trabalho, mas sem toques de mágica. O que é interessante sobre Mamoulian aqui é que ele havia sido escalado para dirigir “A Mulher faz o Homem” para a Columbia, enquanto Frank Capra se encarregaria de “Conflito de Duas Almas”. Foi Capra quem pediu para trocar de projeto com Mamoulian.

The pure evil Production Code cut his creativity short, and in “Golden Boy” he is sure of his job, but not exactly magical. What is interesting about Mamoulian here is that he was supposed to direct “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” for Columbia studios, while Frank Capra was supposed to direct “Golden Boy”. Capra was the one who asked to change projects with Mamoulian.
Mamoulian is on the left, with a light suit and wearing glasses
“Conflito de Duas Almas” é um bom filme, talvez um pouco longo demais e previsível. Mas, para Holden, era apenas o começo. O melhor ainda estava por vir...

“Golden  Boy” is a nice movie, maybe a little too long and predictable. But, for Holden, it was just the beginning. The best was yet to come...


This is my contribution to the 2nd Golden Boy Blogathon, hosted by Virginie at The Wonderful World of Cinema.

6 comments:

  1. I can see Holden as a convincing violinist before I can see him as a convincing boxer. But then I have yet to see this movie, so who knows...?

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  2. So young! It took a while for the mature actor to emerge. As movie fans we are fortunate that the young William Holden had the support of Barbara Stanwyck, and I am sure others, at this stage of his career.

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  3. Wow...he is so young. Can't imagine him like that. I only know the older William Holden and as a cowboy.
    Have a lovely weekend and a Happy Easter (if you celebrate).
    Catherine

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  4. I sooo love this film! And I'm obviously forever grateful to Barbara Stanwyck ;)
    As always I immensely enjoyed reading your review! It was a great, clever one and I really loved your introduction about the stereotypes.
    And isn't he adorable on this pic where he reads the script? :O
    Thanks so much for joining the blogathon!

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  5. I've wanted to see this for a while, but it just hasn't come my way yet. Holden as a boxer AND a violinist? Such a cool combo, and add Barbara Stanwyck into the mix and you know I will enjoy. I didn't realize she was responsible for him getting the part, though -- that's a cool tidbit!

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  6. Great post. William Holden is so young in this one. Thank you for submitting to The Classic Movie Marathon Link Party. I appreciate it.

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