Monkey on My Back
Directed by Andre de Toth
Written by Paul Dudley, Anthony Veiller, and Crane Wilbur from biographical material
1957/USA
Edward Small Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Rico, Drug Pusher: Start scratchin’. You see, you don’t seem to understand. I’m risking ten years of my life with every move I make. I wanna get paid for it. And if I don’t, my friends will break your wrists.[/box]
By 1957, we had seen this story before. We would go on to see it many more times.
This is a biopic and told mostly in flashback as ex-boxing champion Barney Ross is admitted to the withdrawal ward of a Veterans hospital for morphine addiction. He sits in his sparsely furnished room and reflects on his life.
He starts out more or less addicted to being a big shot. Barney Ross (Cameron Mitchell) wins fight after fight and generally cashes in doubly by betting on himself. He also makes extravagant wawers on the ponies and any other event on which he can get odds. He loves making lavish presents. Finally, a girl catches his eye in the chorus line. Cathy turns out to be a down-to-earth single mother. They fall in love but Cathy fears marrying such a big spender.
She proves herself right. Barney’s luck changes. He quits fighting after losing the title and opens a saloon. But his continued gambling and lavish spending eventually puts him out of business. Before that happens, Cathy gets disgusted and walks out on him. At age 33, Barney joins the Marines.
Cathy marries Barney shortly he is shipped to the hell of Guadalcanal. After heroic action to save a comrade, he contracts malignant malaria. Military doctors treat his severe headaches with morphine. He is returned to the States where he does further service selling War Bonds. The father of the man he saves gives him a great job at an advertising agency. Then the doctors cut off his morphine.
The rest of the film follows Barney’s gradual destruction by his habit.
This movie is OK but nothing special. I like Cameron Mitchell but I did not quite believe his withdrawal scenes. I don’t know whether that should be laid to the actor or the director.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34VnBeQPr7E
Trailer
