Mister Universe

An ingenuous Mr. Universe contest winner finds himself becoming a professional wrestler with his huckster army buddy as manager. He wouldn't do it if he knew that professional wrestling wasn't a legitimate competition. Wrestling for real, however, he beats his opponents so quickly that his fans and devious but goofy promoter are left disappointed. Things get even more complicated when a slick gangster decides to take an interest in the fetching young man's career.

How can you pass up a film that, in the opening credits, lists as part of the cast such luminaries as Newton the Teuton, Gregorivitch the Magnificent, Delightful Dave, and The Hoboken Turk? As far as I can tell, however, none of them were real professional wrestlers and they are never given the chance to display the showmanship which makes professional wrestling such successful entertainment. That list in the opening credits and the closing scene are memorable highlights of an otherwise humdrum effort. But the predictable plot doesn't drag, and veterans Jack Carson, Bert Lahr, and Robert Alda do their best to make the movie at least a little bit fun to watch.

Long before he was Ben Casey, Vince Edwards dyed his hair platinum blonde, pumped iron and turned himself into quite the handsome little bodybuilding studboy. Taking note of his "natural" attributes, this little serio-comedy/gangster film takes place in a gym where down on his luck promoter Jack Carson takes a Mr. Universe contestant (Vince Edwards) and turns him into a professional wrestler (in the best tradition of Gorgeous George). Burt Lahr and Janis Paige do their best to pump life into this low budget retread and former champion Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom is thrown into the mix to give the situation some credibility. It just goes to show that the film business ain't all diamonds and caviar when you see the likes of Robert Alda and the normally great Jack Carson literally throwing their respective careers away with this $1.98 production.

There is a classic sequence showing an actual Mr. Universe pageant circa 1950. The bathing suits alone are worth the price of admission and of course there's always a possibility that the brilliantine in Mr. Edwards hair will take over the camera and set, just like the Blob, and obliterate all concerned.

Seriously, watch this film if you want to see 50's beefcake or how low a low budget movie can get.

Few people other than boxing fans and sports fanatics would likely know who Primo Carnera was. And, even die-hard movie buffs (a finger points at me) wouldn't have known that this movie was based somewhat on Carnera. His story is very interesting itself. But, from the general background available, one is more inclined to say that Carnera and his boxing tenure might have inspired this film, rather than that the film was based on him. That's because beyond the film's depiction of boxing as a crooked enterprise in some cities and with some promoters in the early 20th century, there isn't much else in this film that might resemble Carnera or his life.

More on him later, for those who may be interested. But, now for this film.

Jack Carson has a nice lead and comedy role as Jeff Clayton, a common street con man in New York City. This is after WW II, and he bumps into a former Army buddy from the war, Tommy Tomkins, played by Vince Edwards. Tomkins wins the Mister Universe contest and the $1,000 prize which he needed so that he can marry his sweetheart.

By some quick and funny situations, Tommy gets roped into boxing with Clayton as his manager. Bert Lahr is very good and funny has Joe Pulaski, a prominent gym owner and manager of fighters. Robert Alda is good (and funny) as a mob leader and fight fixer, Fingers Maroni. Well, Clayton and Pulaski get into problems with Maroni and want Tommy to take a dive in a big fight. Tomkins is too honest and refuses to do so. But when Tommy gets a whiff of the perfume that Clayton's girlfriend is wearing, he gets very weak. Janis Paige plays Clayton's girl, Lorraine.

Will the boys and Lorraine be able to find the exact perfume to be able to weaken Tommy and save their skins? At this point, the comedy roles nicely with Maxie Rosenbloom helping out as Big Ears, the Trainer.

Vince Edwards is impressive for his muscular build and appearance as the body-building Tomkins who becomes Mister Universe. This is a fun film to watch, with an interesting look at a time when some of the boxing world was ruled by shady characters.

Oh, yes. Primo Carnera became world heavyweight champion in June 1933, and lost the title the next year. At 6 foot 6, and 265 pounds, he was the largest boxer in history for decades. His lifetime boxing record was 89 wins and 14 losses, and his 72 wins by knockouts is the all-time record for heavyweight boxers, according to Wikipedia. After losing a kidney in surgery, Carnera fought a few more years and then became a major draw as a wrestler for many years. He won 120 straight matches before his fist of two loses, and ended his wrestling career with near 150 wins.

This was all done in the United States. After his 1939 marriage in Italy, he and his wife moved to the U.S. He opened a restaurant and liquor store in Los Angeles and the couple became American citizens in 1953. They had two sons. Carnera was 60 when he died of liver disease. His life was anything but tragic.