Kid Monk Baroni

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.

I bought this one dollar DVD that has 4 vintage mobster movies on it from echo bridge(platinum video)the big combo,port of new york,johnny one eye and the best one on the DVD kid monk baroni,first of all i never knew Leonard Nimoy made a movie this early,i just remember his small part in the brain eaters in 1958,but this is a pretty well made movie about an Italian street thug(Nimoy)who turns to boxing with the guidance of a priest.its sort of like a Bowery boys movie but without the laughs.as baronis sidekick friend Angelo is Jack Larson(jimmy Olsen on the TV superman series)i enjoyed this nostalgic fifties movie and unusual seeing Leonard Nimoy playing an Italian street thug in new york, as Spock would say logical.this one is from Jack Broder productions (bela Lugosi meets a brooking gorilla,bride of the gorilla)a good movie.

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

The most amusing part of this little movie is the fact that Nimoy plays a young man so ugly women make fun of him. By 1966 they were kicking and screaming to get to their Vulcan during his amok time. I fell off the sofa when I accidentally caught this modest offering on daytime tv back in the 70's. Life is funny.

The movie itself? I remember enjoying it because I was such a Trekker at the time. Another fan of a multi-talented actor like Nimoy (did you ever hear him sing?) might be similarly disposed.

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.