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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 434

Spirit of Youth

193866 minUnited States
DramaBiography
Video edition
YouTube
Original language
English
This copy runs
65:45
Subtitles
English

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Synopsis

Joe Thomas leaves Alabama hoping to support his family and discovers that his strength can earn him a future in boxing. Success brings a manager, publicity and a nightclub romance. When a gambler's interests begin to influence his private life, the young fighter risks losing the discipline that made his rise possible.

Cast

DirectorsHarry L. Fraser

Historical context

Heavyweight champion Joe Louis makes his film debut in a fictional story that borrows from his career. The AFI records that the Production Code Administration warned the producers about showing a Black boxer defeating white opponents, revealing the racial pressures surrounding the film's distribution.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film referenceInternet Archive — catalogue recordAFI Catalog — production history and synopsisPublic-domain film catalogue — rights cross-reference

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

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Availability checked on September 10, 2026.

Photograph credit

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