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The Winning Punch
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 950 feet
Directed by Harry Solter
Cast: Florence Lawrence, King Baggot
Independent Moving Pictures Company, Incorporated, production. / Released 3 January 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Romance.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? It’s pretty hard for an American girl to make up her mind to marry a daintily rigged French count under ordinary circumstances, especially when she’s a good scout herself and in love with a college youth, a typical “rah-rah” boy, who even holds a medal for two years’ boxing championship at the college. Then, to think that father actually objects to him, preferring the count. She has long ago made up her mind what to do, however, and so persistently does she snub the count, that finally father says she can have her college boy lover if he shows himself able enough to earn, well, about $1,000 a week. Innocently, not knowing what that amount means, she tells her sweetheart of it, and so confident is she that it is a real “cinch” for him, that she almost makes him believe he can do it. Together with a pal of his, we see him bemoaning his ill luck, when they come to an athletic club, where a big boxing bout is scheduled for a purse of $1,000. And as they stand looking at the big announcement, the manager is seen to throw his cigar and hat down to the ground in disgust as he reads a telegram. They soon learn that one of the principals in the main bout cannot show up. It takes only a minute for the athletic lover to convince the manager that he can put up a good fight, and the deal is on. He lets the girl know about it quickly, and she comes to the club. The manager bores a hole in the wall between the dressing room and the ring and she just glues her eyes to it. The fight is on! Round after round goes the battle, the girl behind the wall seeing her lover now being beaten, now the aggressor. Every blow he receives strikes her heart, too, and at every rally she becomes hysterical with joy. Twice he is beaten to the ground, only to arise and sail into a furious sally. Suddenly he gathers his energies for a last attempt. And just when it seems that the strain is too much for his sweetheart he lands one terrific uppercut, and victory is his, so is the thousand dollars, earned just as stipulated by father. Of course he wins the girl. But does it not add joy when the pair learn that both father and the count each had a little bet on the winner?
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 8 January 1910, page 18] “The Winning Punch,” an “Imp” film, departs from the usual thing, in that it contains a double climax. There is the happy termination of a little love episode and there is a real enough boxing match between two prize-fighters. The “Imp” stock company furnished the clever actors in the story part and two professional pugilists were engaged for the heavy work. A college chap, who is the champion of his college with the gloves, is in love with a girl who is also the victim of the attentions of a French count who is after her money. The girl's father likes the college chap, but thinks he is good-for-nothing, and tells him that if he can prove that he can earn $1,000 inside a week he will be accepted as a son-in-law. The opportunity presents itself when the manager of a fighting bout gets a message that one of the principals cannot appear, and the college fellow takes his place and wins the $1,000 and the girl. As a subject it is well handled; the fighting is fast and furious, and everything appears real except a painted scene which unfortunately detracts from the effect of an otherwise meritorious picture. • [The Moving Picture World, 22 January 1910, page ?] Here is a picture that will set the blood coursing through one’s veins these cold days and cause one to feel like giving vent to a genuine “rah, rah, rah” when the young collegian finally sends his opponent to earth with a well-directed upper cut, after a slashing ring contest that appeals with irresistible force to the man, or woman, who has just a touch of sporting blood. Anyhow, the young fellow gets the girl he wanted, and she is proud to think that he was able to beat out his opponent in such a vigorous fight. There is plenty of action in this picture, action which speaks for itself, requiring no explanation of its purpose or its direction. Consequently, the film is attractive and is generally vigorously applauded. It is an improvement over some of the earlier films sent out by this house. Not that the highest possible standard has yet been achieved, or even approached, but the improvement is none the less welcome and proves that the company has profited by its previous mistakes and augurs well for its future.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 23 January 2025.
References: MovPicWorld-19100108 p. 18 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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