SPIRIT OF YOUTH (1938) Joe Louis, Clarence Muse & Edna Mae Harris | Drama, Sport, Black Cinema | B&W

Spirit of Youth is a 1938 boxing film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring then-heavyweight world champion Joe Louis in a story with similarities to his own real life.

SYNOPSIS
A rising boxer is led astray by a woman.

The story of the rise of boxer Joe Thomas, which paralleled the life of Joe Louis.

CAST & CREW
Joe Louis as Joe Thomas
Clarence Muse as Frankie Walburn
Edna Mae Harris as Mary Bowdin
Mae Turner as Flora Bailey
Cleo Desmond as Nora Thomas
Mantan Moreland as Creighton "Crickie" Fitzgibbons
Jewel Smith as Duke Emerald
Tom Southern as Dr. Bowdin
Jess Lee Brooks as Jeff Thomas (as Jesse Lee Brooks)
Marguerite Whitten as Eleanor Thomas (as Margaret Whitten)
Clarence Brooks as Speedy
The Plantation Choir as Church Choir
The Creole Chorus as The Creole Chorus
The Big Apple Dancers as Dancers

Directed by Harry L. Fraser
Written by Arthur Hoerl
Produced by Lew Golder
Cinematography Robert E. Cline
Edited by Carl Pierson
Music by Elliot Carpenter, Clarence Muse
Production company Globe Pictures Corp.
Distributed by Grand National Films Inc.
Release dates January 20, 1938 (Washington, DC), April 1, 1938 (US), November 4, 1938 (London)
Running time 66 minutes
Country United States
Language English