The Prize Fighter

1979 film by Michael Preece

November 1979 (1979-11)

Running time

99 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$2 million^[1]Box office$6.5 million^[1]^[2]

The Prize Fighter is an American comedy film starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. Directed by Michael Preece, it was written by Tim Conway and John Myhers, based on a story by Conway. It was released by New World Pictures in November 1979.^[3]

Plot

Set in the 1930s, Bags, an ex-boxer and Shake, his manager have bottomed out as fight trainers. Their latest fighter has lost and fired them. Without a home or even money for food. Bags tells Shake about getting back into the ring, despite Bags' record of 20 losses by knockout (out of 20 fights). One night, while at a carnival, Shake talks Bags into appearing at a $50 amateur fight. Unbeknownst to them, in the crowd is a local mobster known as Mr. Mike. Spotting opportunity, Mr. Mike arranges for Bags' opponent to take a dive in the round. Bags knocks the other boxer with a right hook, winning the money. Afterwards, Mr. Mike approaches Bags and Shake, introducing himself as a local businessman, and invites them to his mansion for dinner. During dinner, he explains that he would like to arrange Bags to get a shot at the Heavyweight title. His plan involves arranging Bags to fight the top three contenders for the title, then Bags will have a shot with the Heavyweight champ, known as the Butcher. Believing that Bags' right hook gives him a shot. Bags and Shake agree. What they don't know is that Mr. Mike is using both men as pawns in a plan to get his hands on an old boxing gym, so he can tear it down to redevelop the property.

Main cast

Tim Conway as Bags
Don Knotts as Shake
Robin Clarke as Mike
David Wayne as Pop Morgan
Irwin Keyes as Flower
Mary Ellen O'Neill as Mama
Michael LaGuardia as The Butcher
Cisse Cameron as Polly
George Nutting as Timmy
John Myhers as Doyle
Ted Henning as Jimmy

Background

The two comedic actors Conway and Knotts achieved success onscreen when they were paired in several family-friendly feature films for Disney: The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975), Gus (1976), and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979).^[4] As boxing and wrestling movies were popular in the 1970s and '80s, choosing the subject for a slapstick comedy seemed like a good idea. Knotts and Conway would team up yet again in 1981 for The Private Eyes.^[4]

Reception

The film earned $6.5 million during its initial release and was one of the most financially successful films ever released by New World Pictures, having earned more than twice the cost of its production.

Notes

^ ^a ^b Koetting, Christopher T. (2009), Mind Warp!: The Fantastic True Story of Roger Corman's New World Pictures, Hemlock Books, p. 172
^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 292. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
^ "The Prize Fighter (1979) Release Info". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b Tillisch, Rob (29 June 2005). "The Prize Fighter (1979)". KOPictureShow.com. Retrieved 17 August 2015.