Golden Boy (1939)

Holden plays Joe, a young man in his twenties who aspires to be a boxer, despite his father’s wish for him to be a violinist. With much determination and persistence, Joe becomes a sensation, with the help of Menjou his manager. He ends up falling for girlfriend Stanwyck and after a tragedy in the ring realizes that fighting isn’t so important anymore. Great performances all around, especially Holden whose film debut is quite impressive. Starring William Holden, Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou, Lee J Cobb 8/10