Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch is a 1949 American film directed by Reginald Le Borg. It was one in the series of Joe Palooka films for Monogram starring Leon Errol. It was co-written by Cy Endfield.^[1]

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Reginald LeBorg
Screenplay by	Henry Blankfort Cyril Endfield
Based on	Joe Palooka by Ham Fisher
Produced by	Hal E. Chester
Starring	Joe Kirkwood, Jr. Knobby Walsh Elyse Knox Marcel Journet
Edited by	Otho Lovering
Music by	Edward J. Kay
Release date	1949 (1949)
Running time	65 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Joe heads for South America to fight the Latin champ and defend his title. Shipboard, he helps federal agents fight counterfeiters. He also spars with love interest Anne Howe ^[2]

Cast

• Leon Errol as Knobby Walsh
• Joe Kirkwood, Jr. as Joe Palooka
• Elyse Knox as Anne Howe
• Marcel Journet (actor) [fr] as Anton Kindel
• Sheila Ryan as Myra Madison
• Frank Sully as Looie
• Ian Wolfe as Prof. Lilliquist
• Walter Sande as Austin
• Douglass Dumbrille as Capt. Lance
• Douglas Fowley as Thurston
• Eddie Gribbon as Canvasback
• Ralph Graves as Dr. Colman
• Roland Dupree as Bellboy
• Gertrude Messinger as Nurse
• Pedro de Cordoba as Museum Caretaker

Retrospective appraisal

Marcel Journet (actor) [fr] and Elyse Knox in Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch (publicity still)

In a “departure from for the series” this Joe Palooka’s adventure is set in the tropics of South America. As such, the film resembles the “jungle”-themed serials produced by Universal and Republic studios.^[3]

Film historian Wheeler W. Dixon surmises that “Monogram was running out of purely pugilistic situations for Palooka character” and accordingly moved the story “out of the locker room.”^[4] Dixon registers praise for LeBorg’s adroit direction:

LeBorg staged the film with great attention to lighting and set details, while relying mostly on stock footage and back-lot sets for what little “South American” ambiance the film could afford.^[5]