Palooka is a 1934 comedy film based on the comic strip by Ham Fisher. Joe Palooka (Stuart Erwin) is a naive young man whose father Pete (Robert Armstrong) was a champion boxer, but his lifestyle caused Joe's mother Mayme (Marjorie Rambeau) to leave him and to take young Joe to the country to raise him. But when a shady boxing manager (Jimmy Durante) discovers Joe's natural boxing talent, Joe decides to follow him to the big city, where he becomes a champion and begins to follow his father's path of debauchery, much of it including the glamorous cabaret singer Nina Madero (Lupe Velez). The film also stars William Cagney, the younger brother of actor James Cagney.
"<br /> ...and when Durante <i>did</i> send the kid the winnings, did you notice how quickly mom snatched it out of his hands and stuffed it in her pur..."
"And what a BUTT ugly kid at that,,hatchachacha.. I actually thought Palooka was going to win for a while then thought about mom and realized he wasn't..."
"Take an hour & a half and watch this film. Great acting & look twice @ Cagney....spitting image of his brother. A really enjoyable film from the era ..."
"this is a nice way to burn some time what a classic movie"
"The first palookas wife was a nice charachter. Durante is fine too."