Der Fighter

A guy who fights for the money but dreams of being a singer...sounds a lot like a script that had Elvis' fingerprints on it. Dennis Quaid is perfectly cast in this small, non-offensive drama, as a guy with a dream, a mean streak and a guitar who uses his status as a fighter to get a recording contract. He is helped by Stan Shaw and Pam Grier and his wife and makes it to Detroit for the National Tough Man competition. Nice to see Stan Shaw play a character who isn't barefoot and in overalls - he patented the backwards kid in the back woods in such movies as "The Great Santini" and "Fried Green Tomatoes."

Movie is a little dated and there's not a whole lot that is memorable, but on the other hand its not a waste of time either.

I saw this movie for the first time today on broadcast TV. I watched, or rather, suffered through, the entire thing. And the whole time I kept thinking to myself - this would have been a really great movie if the lead actor could actually act. I didn't know his name, figured he'd never act again and that this must have been some kind of low budget B movie that blew their budget on sets rather than real actors... that and the fact that dude with the big mustache from the Quaker Oats commercial played the dad.

Each line he spoke was flat, fake, stiff and sounded like it was being read off a cue card by freshman who just signed up for the high school play. Or, a beginner, that didn't know how to get into character and didn't know how to feel the line. To be honest, he almost sounded drunk. It was especially noticeable, almost painful, in the first part of the film. But thankfully, the film has less lines for him in the last half, after it turns into a series of Rocky style fight scenes.

So that's why I was amazed when I came here and saw how many reviewers said the biggest flaw, the "actor" who played the lead role, is what made the film great. I was also amazed that he continued acting after this film and somehow became famous. Maybe it was the fight scenes where he didn't have any lines? Abs over acting skill? I don't know, but I know bad acting when see it. I originally came here to point out to aspiring actors, that if they need a prime example of how to NOT deliver a line, watch this film.

barbara_lee_olson and a1969cowboy heres the songs # "I Was Born A Dreamer" Performed by Mickey Gilley # "Tough Enough" Performed by T.G. Sheppard # "Rainbows Never Touch The Ground" Performed by Dennis Quaid # "Don't They Know Who I'm Gonna Be?" Performed by Dennis Quaid # "Motor City" (Instrumental) Performed by Blue Skies Band # "Tough Man Theme" (Instrumental) Performed by Blue Skies Band # "Cowtown Rag" Performed by Blue Skies Band # "I Was Born A Dreamer" (Instrumental) Performed by Blue Skies Band # "More Nights" Performed by Lane Brody # "You've Got The Touch" Performed by Johnny Tillotson An aspiring country/western singer, whose money is disappearing faster than his career opportunities, enters a "Tough Man" amateur boxing contest to earn some cash to pay his bills. Amazingly enough, he wins it, and is picked to go onto the national finals. He's torn between his first love, music, and the glitz, glamor and money of the "Tough Man" world

TOUGH GUY is another boxing film that is somewhat reminiscent of the old Kirk Douglas film, CHAMPION, except that the character DENNIS QUAID plays is not stepping on people in his way up the ladder of success. Instead, Quaid plays an aspiring country singer in need of cash who decides to compete in the "Tough Man" boxing contest. He falls into the hands of an unscrupulous manager, well played by WARREN OATES, and wins a number of fights (in what appears to be "against all odds" judging from some of the other contenders).

It's a fast-moving tale, colorfully enacted and giving Quaid a chance to warble a couple of pleasant country western songs while strumming a guitar. But he's ferocious in all of the fighting scenes and really does look like a convincing boxer in some amazingly well staged matches that stand inspection even under the merciless eye of the close-up camera.

Quaid is so good--and the other players are equally competent--that they lift the film out of the "average" category into "very watchable" territory. Passes the time quickly in an hour and forty-six minutes.

The script could have been a lot tidier, especially for the climactic fight scene and the end result is a film that's message is no more than follow your dream no matter what.

Dennis Quaid did make the movie. The fight scenes were good, a few a little unbelievable, but overall was enjoyable. The supporting cast was also very good. It was somewhat of a fairy tale script. Keep this in mind when watching it if you haven't seen it yet. The direction lacked some punch, the script a little weak, but I still enjoyed seeing it, again and again.