Max Baer
Biography: Max Baer is arguably best known today for siring Max Baer Jr., the actor who played Jethro Bodine on the classic TV series The Beverly Hillbillies (1962). However, old-timers, followers of the sweet science, and viewers of the film Cinderella Man (2005) all know that Max Sr. was boxing's heavyweight champion of the world for all of 364 days, from the time he knocked out Primo Carnera on June 14, 1934, to the day he lost his title to Jimmy Braddock on June 13, 1935. Cinephiles also will remember the colorful Max from his numerous bit roles in films, including Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's Africa Screams (1949) to his near-autobiographical turn in the Budd Schulberg boxing expose The Harder They Fall (1956) starring Humphrey Bogart. Ironically, it was his acting in the latter film that likely led to his misrepresentation in "Cinderella Man" as being something akin to a monster, when actually, according to his family and those who knew him, he was an amiable man. Some fight fans thought that it was his good nature, which they attributed to his clowning, that eventually did him in, as he would not bear down on his opponents in the latter part of his career. Max Jr. says that his father wanted to be an actor, an insight that explains the flashy persona he displayed in and outside the ring as he wisecracked and clowned his way through careers as a boxer and performer in movies and nightclubs. Blessed with what "The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book" terms the most powerful right hand in heavyweight history, Baer used that right to gain a fearsome reputation as a California prizefighter before moving to New York and taking on the top ranks of the heavyweight division.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: February 11, 1909
Deathday: November 21, 1959
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Known For
The Harder They Fall
1956-05-08
The Harder They Fall
Overview: Jobless sportswriter Eddie Willis is hired by corrupt fight promoter Nick Benko to promote his current protégé, an unknown Argentinian boxer named Toro Moreno. Although Moreno is a hulking giant, his chances for success are hampered by a powder-puff punch and a glass jaw. Exploiting Willis' reputation for integrity and standing in the boxing community, Benko arranges a series of fixed fights that propel the unsophisticated Moreno to #1 contender for the championship. The reigning champ, the sadistic Buddy Brannen, harbors resentment at the publicity Toro has been receiving and vows to viciously punish him in the ring. Eddie must now decide whether or not to tell the naive Toro the truth.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-05-08
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The Prizefighter and the Lady
1933-11-10
The Prizefighter and the Lady
Overview: An ex-sailor turned boxer finds romance and gets a shot at the heavyweight title.
Genres: Romance Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1933-11-10
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The Navy Comes Through
1942-10-30
The Navy Comes Through
Overview: A U.S. Navy crew aboard a merchant marine ship battle Nazis.
Genres: War Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-10-30
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Riding High
1950-04-12
Riding High
Overview: A horse trainer who has fallen on hard times looks to his horse, Broadway Bill, to finally win the big race.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-04-12
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Buckskin Frontier
1943-05-14
Buckskin Frontier
Overview: A railroad man and the owner of a freight line battle for control of a crucial mountain pass.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-05-14
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The McGuerins from Brooklyn
1942-12-31
The McGuerins from Brooklyn
Overview: Tim McGuerin and Eddie Corbett operates a big taxi-fleet company together and because of a misunderstanding Tim's wife Sadie thinks he is having an affair with his secretary, Ms. Lucy Gibbs. To annoy Tim, Sadie starts taking classes with a fitness instructor, Samson, and later going with him to his out-of-town health club. To sort out all the misunderstandings both Tim and Eddie go to the health club as well.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-12-31
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Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983-02-25
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Overview: Out-takes (mostly from Warner Bros.), promotional shorts, movie premieres, public service pleas, wardrobe tests, documentary material, and archival footage make up this star-studded voyeuristic look at the Golden age of Hollywood during the 30s, 40, and 50.
Genres: Documentary Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1983-02-25
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Utah Blaine
1957-02-01
Utah Blaine
Overview: Western about Calhoun helping to overcome land-grabbing outlaws.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-02-01
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Fisticuffs
1938-08-27
Fisticuffs
Overview: This Pete Smith Specialty short showcases former heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer with various sparring partners in the ring. Slow motion is used to illustrate how Baer uses his skills.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-08-27
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Over She Goes
1937-08-16
Over She Goes
Overview: Plot and counter-plot jostle each other in this romantic comedy about a music-hall star who finds himself much in demand when he inherits a title!
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-08-16
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Ladies' Day
1943-04-09
Ladies' Day
Overview: A top baseball pitcher "loses" his pitching skills whenever he falls in love. After marrying a movie star extreme measures are taken for the benefit of the team.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-04-09
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Bride for Sale
1949-11-12
Bride for Sale
Overview: Nora Shelley is a tax expert for the accounting company which is led by Paul Martin. She thinks she can find a suitable husband by inspecting their clients' tax documents. Martin finds out and tries to dissuade her from this approach, later enlisting the help of his friend Steve Adams, who tries to woo Shelley.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-11-12
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Skipalong Rosenbloom
1951-04-30
Skipalong Rosenbloom
Overview: Skipalong Rosenbloom is the star of a heavily commercialized TV kiddie show, presided over by a smarmy announcer. He is at odds with western bad guy Butcher Baer.
Genres: Western Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-04-30
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Once Upon a Horse...
1958-09-01
Once Upon a Horse...
Overview: Two zany cowboys steal a herd of cattle only to discover it costs more to feed them than they are worth.
Genres: Comedy Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-09-01
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Tender Hearted Tiger: Max Baer
1964-01-01
Tender Hearted Tiger: Max Baer
Overview: A documentary film about the life and career of one-time Heavyweight boxing champion of the world Max Baer.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-01-01
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Requiem for a Heavyweight
1956-10-11
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Overview: An over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion who suffers from the ravages of years of head trauma is exploited by his manager, despite the efforts of a compassionate young woman who tries to help him recover his self-respect.
Genres: TV Movie Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-10-11
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Africa Screams
1949-05-04
Africa Screams
Overview: When bookseller Buzz cons Diana into thinking that his friend Stanley knows all there is to know about Africa, they are abducted and ordered to lead Diana and her henchmen to an African tribe in search of a fortune in jewels.
Genres: Comedy Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-05-04
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The Champs Step Out
1951-11-15
The Champs Step Out
Overview: In the third of four shorts in this series, two ex-prizefighters, Max Baer and Maxie Rosenbloom, are hired by an archaeologist, Professor Bentley, to guard a million dollars worth of antiques and relics in his home. During the night, each makes a play for the professor's secretary, Miss Pearson, who is working for a gang of crooks planning to rob the place. She slips them a mickey-finn but they come to soon enough to catch the crooks and save the relics.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-11-15
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