Word: palooka
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...Rainbow. The historic one-sidedness of this year's series caused the more irreverent members of the daily sporting press to surpass themselves in humorous abuse at the loser's expense. In the opinion of Joe Williams of the New York World-Telegram: "Sopwith is a palooka back of the wheel." "Sopwith," observed Jack Miley in the New York Daily News, "is now only three challenges and a goatee behind the late Sir Thomas Lipton...
...There ain't no more scotch," she cooed softly into his ear. "There ain't no more scotch; let me go, you big palooka...
With a cast including Jimmy Durante, Marjorie Rambeau, Lupe Velez and Mary Carlisle, one would expect "Palooka" to be a good picture, unfortunately, these experienced players are incapable of dragging it above the drippy level to which one of the most stupid stories on record reduces it. Just why on earth such an array of talent must be so thoroughly wasted certainly passes understanding...
...picture and he fortunately appears with a welcome frequency. Mr. Durante, in fact, is the only member of a potentially able cast who refuses to be bogged down by the story. All the rest-simply act as if they knew it was lousy, and so why bother trying; "Palooka," accordingly, possesses just enough merit due to Durante's heroic efforts to make it worth seeing...
...Palooka (Reliance) derives its name from ringside slang for a low-grade prizefighter. Its story hangs around a pudgy young oaf (Stuart Erwin) who takes up with a fretful, excitable boxing manager (Jimmy Durante) and demonstrates that he cannot fight. Though he manages to knock down a champion (William Cagney, brother of James) who is in his cups, though he importantly squires a night club artist (Lupe Velez). Joe Falooka eventually takes a thorough mauling in the ring. This sends him back to a chicken farm where his mother (Marjorie Rambeau) has wanted...