A young Mexican/American learns about life both inside and out of the ring when he takes up boxing.
Acting
Rita Moreno's screen debut—already luminous, already commanding.
Writing
Surprisingly nuanced take on ethnic identity for 1952.
Director
Kurt Neumann
Gerald Mohr
Pete Ganusa
Rita Moreno
Lucy Gomez
Lalo Rios
Tomas 'Tommy' Cantanios / Tommy Kansas
Robert Arthur
Billy Smith
Robert Osterloh
Freddy Jack
Martín Garralaga
Vidal Cantanios
Jack Elam
Harry Jackson
Peter Brocco
Barney Williams
Robert Shayne
Jimmy - Aragon's Manager
Lillian Molieri
Helen Cantanios
Victor Millan
Pablo
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Rita Moreno was only nineteen during filming and would later call this 'learning on the job' before her eventual EGOT glory.
Directed by Kurt Neumann, who'd later helm The Fly (1958)—this was his attempt at 'prestige' social drama on a poverty row budget.
US
