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.
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 HoweCast
- Leon Errol as Knobby Walsh
- Joe Kirkwood, Jr. as Joe Palooka
- Elyse Knox as Anne Howe
- 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
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.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.”
Dixon registers praise for LeBorg’s adroit direction: