Kid Monk Baroni

In wintry New York City, crooked-nosed Italian teenager Leonard Nimoy (as Paul "Monk" Baroni) and "The Billy Goat Gang" decide to saw off the banister of a tenement staircase, for firewood. Coincidently, neighborhood priest Richard Rober (as Father Callahan) walks in the building; he reminds Mr. Nimoy and the gang that, although the place is condemned, stealing its stairway is illegal. The kindly priest advises the five attractive young men there's a better way to blow off steam…

"Listen boys, I've got a better way for you to keep warm. In the basement of the church, there's some gym equipment; boxing gloves, wrestling mats, punching bags - even shower baths…"

Wait - this is not a dirty movie. There is no showering or wrestling as "Father" Rober wants to teach Nimoy how to be a boxer. Good thing too, as the other dudes call Nimoy a "sissy" for getting connected with the church. Boy pal Jack Larson (as Angelo) remains Nimoy's close companion, though Nimoy tells him, "Someday, we get twin beds." Soon, Nimoy dates pretty Allene Roberts (as Emily Brooks). When Nimoy becomes a successful boxer, he gets his bent nose fixed…

As a handsome boxing star, Nimoy's personality changes; he makes time with well-shaped Mona Knox (as June Travers), and forgets his old friends. Of course, you could see this one coming…

Released just prior to Rober's death in a car accident, "Kid Monk Baroni" may be a silly low-budget update of "Winner Take All" (1932), but it's sure amusing. Most invaluable is the cast. Anyone familiar with Nimoy's later "Star Trek" will revel in seeing the young man in this early starring role; here, he gets to wear a fake nose instead of fake ears. Not only that, you get to see "Adventures of Superman" pal Jack Larson before making a name for himself in syndication heaven.

****** Kid Monk Baroni (5/1/52) Harold Schuster ~ Leonard Nimoy, Allene Roberts, Jack Larson, Richard Rober

Leonard Nimoy gets an "introducing" credit as an Italian kid in Little Italy who goes from gang member to a boxer thanks to Irish priest Richard Rober. Bruce Cabot gets the most interesting role as his manager, a man who is in it only for the money, and is completely honest about it.

The interesting thing about the script is its free acknowledgment of the corruption of the fight game, the short-sighted attitudes of the boxers, and the people hanging around it. Allene Roberts is the good girl, and Mona Knox the one who is also in it for the money.

Despite the structure of the movie, and the shock, first of seeing Nimoy in heavy prosthetics that make him ugly, and then his natural face after plastic surgery, there's a Code-compliant reticence about the racketeers, and an ending that makes little sense. With Mona Freeman, Paul Maxey, and Jack Larson.

This movie has aged well. It is realistic and has a message of good conquering evil. The acting is mostly average, sometimes good. The optimism and a belief in honesty in the fight against evil is the main message. It is well worth watching and is enjoyable, although a bit old fashioned.

Mild 50's era melodrama about pug faced boxer who finds his life changed after plastic surgery. Plays like a Bowery Boys movie with extra pathos. Notable only for being Leonard Nimoy's first starring role. He does reasonable enough job as title character. Also in the cast are TV's first Jimmy Olsen Jack Larson as Nimoy's best bud and Jerry Lewis second banana Kathleen Freeman in the unlikely role of Nimoy's mother. For fans of Nimoy and Bowery Boys only.

Oddity from the church basement with Leonard Nimoy who actually can act and gay Jack Larsen.

It's an odd film which I initially thought was made for TV, but it's not. Not especially original. Nimoy goes from tough goon to choir singer in 10 seconds flat

Interesting that in 1954 East 103rd street in Manhattan was still Italian and not a dump.