1956-06-13 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1956.

A lad: from Glasgow's Gorbals takes a high place on our list of Tigers of Sport, As a World Champion Benny Lynch earned that. His great fights with Montana and Kane underlined his magnificence in the square ring. Even his later Indiscretions cannot blot a' record of copybook boxing and fearless fighting......

A GIANT-INSIDE THE RING ARMY SPORTS

By HARRY ANDREW

Stand with a bunch of Scots in any corner of the world and just speak the two words: "Benny Lynch." See how the interest quickens, how the eyes sparkle, how the tales begin to flow......

I doubt if any athlete has ever meant more to a nation than this.

little chap from Glasgow's Gorbals.

The tolerant remember with pride only that he was the greatest boxer that Scotland has ever known,, perhaps the world's greatest at his weight in the history of boxing.

But the righteous mise recall

years

opponent clear. Then he shook

PARADE

This week I would like to use the Spot of Honour at the Top of the Sports Parade to pay tribute to the soldier footballers of the Portuguese Army in Macno. I am certain that the typical British term "Tommy Atkins* has a counterpart in the Portuguese language and I hope that our good friends in the neighbouring Colony will Forend it into the context of this appreciation,

Thin-lipped, cold-eyed Lynch binsted in for the anish. full two minutes, blows rained on the tottering challenger.

There Wis nothing lett,

At the week-end the Portuguese soldiers upset the form book and confounded the critics by handing out a

from Hongkong.

Page

Britain's Film Industry Experiments With New Ideas On The

By STEPHEN WATTS

Screen

An art must experiment to survive, and this truth applies even to an art which has become industrialised, as films have. Yet remarkably little work is done in films which can fairly be described as experimental. The reason is mainly financial; the big picture made for the big audience monopolises the market,

It is greatly to the credit of Britain's 9lm industry, therefore, that even a small sum of money to being siphoned off from its commercial earnings to make possible the production of experimental films, and the first fruits of this enlightened policy have begun to attract attention in London.

rival to nothing at all, as he came for very clear-cut beating to a ragged patchwork Army sideset up a committed some time thing in coramon with the Im-

Lynch finally won, rightly but narrowly. Doing so, he had also earned the undying admiration of every single person present,

Showfleld was

that he was an Awful Example hands and got on with the fight. of what muchten frume and wealth Very soon after, the Amorienn and Wid again wide do to a young man. For allpped Cla

Onco more the gallant Benny Lynch started boxing at open, 11, was Champion of Sculland little Scot helpsi hi

For at 19, Champion of the world at recover, again shock hands and unhappy thirteenth. 21, Champion still almost three the two of them got back to the long minute of agony. the hur

from all and an incurable business of trying to punch each ticane tore at him Cater

directions. Then he sanik slowly olher silly, drunkard by the time he wa 25.

to the canvas. And at 33 he died, pennlieg

Q bedlam of and alone.

voices. The 50,000 were on tip loc, shrieking their heads off. they "Finish him, finish him,'

"Stop Or yelled to Beany. atop It," to the referee,

But off the canvas once again crawled the ghost of Kane. This time it was that looping right crashing through to the law. A punch of mercy, truly for man could survive it on his feet. man Certainly not the shattered

But it reems to me that too much is made of the tragedy of Lynch and not enough of his greatness. In the 10 years stric he died, his fame has certainly grown no less; but the picture of tho real

1

the

THE FINEST FIGHT The other great fight with Lynch as the here was against Benny Is buried Peter Kane at Glasgow's Shaw

Bold Park, also in defence of his beneath the notoriety that came

title. It

without workt

wis to him in his later years

question the finest fight Glasgow sairt fast week that off

has ever seen, Thurs of Sport had in common a ruthless will to win, a burning ambition to get to the top and

It is true, kra stay there.

Except about Benny Lynch. Oh, yes, Benny was a Tiger Make mistake all right.

But only because about that. he loved boxing, loved its aumo- sphere. Even in his early days, when the road stretched wide almost before

be him. without ambition.

no

1117

WOR

ien

at

his

According to all pre-match re- the players were introduced to porta the Macao boys were sup-hum bafore the kick-oft. He' was posed to be nothing more than accompanied by the Commander in very ordinary side and opinion of the Portugues Army was divided merely on the run-Macao and by the British Consul ber of goala by which

two they After the game the would last.

teams and their officials were to dinner at the Apparently the only ones who entertained did not phare this pressirnism Swimming Pool,

The occasion was a most, en- wene the Portuguese players

did much to themselves and on a hard bumpy joyable one and

still further pitch they banged the bail about strengthen

already close bonds between the to such good purpose that they

neighbouring military always looked the beller team.

With the wind behind them in the Srst half they failed to find

forces,

the

Here lo a timely reminder Medical

He crumpled down, his head the net, but after the interval that the Royal Army over the bottom rope. Conscious, when they had a suff breeze la Corps' Amical Swunming Gala

their faces the home playrers wide-eyed.

stripped of but

will be held

at Victoria Pool really applied the pressure. every last tiny ounce of

strength

Nunca caught next Wednesday, June 20 com long

lob from and

resistance

The count onlkeeper Allen napping and mencing at 4

p.m. mere formality.

dropped behind his upstretched Lynch

event 100 Yards Free

mcmbca of an unexpected lead, but a few Style-and

Army minutes from the end Mello Royal

Force are eligible ad- Royal Air Ane strong player - took

the to compete. vantage of hesitancy in Hongkong defence and cracked timed for 8.08 p.m. and entries to OC BMH, hurd drive into the net to should be sent elinch the game.

As he clood arms into the net to give Macao Omo Includes one

At that time, the ide from the Gorbals with his bread | Kane. native accent had all Scotland at his feet. And how well

the atmosphere on remember

light. Nobody the day of the wolked of anything else.

I was cold and

wet, it was

Wis J That Bonchow people

WIN Yes 50.000 maged to squeeze themselves musst magnificent.

smiling.

waving to the into Shawfeld Park. And how there handsomely they got their plaudits of that frenzied crowd, money's

he looked worth.

Every bit the Cham Lynch had trained and trained plon he was,

trained for this night: 0

Who could ever have dreamed much so that the win almost a that

und under the time of eight aiready in sight, that stone.

#

The muscles stood big short

MA

him for

months

the end

was

to

only 12 pass

were

ROUGH GROUND

The Portuguese soldiers deserved to win if only because

next strippet of fat on that little before his boxing career was is five foot four-inch frame. HLA and-disgracefully tragically? opponent, pop-eyed Peter, tho Lynch's reward for his Kund Bghting blucksmith from Gel-victory was £7,000. It added of fin

Ile WILE simole, unassuming little man, even after he become Champlor of the work. My was important only to spend or give away, never to save. He had no tricks of showmanship

desire for extravagantn clothes, for ostentatioun living

His wife said of him: "If he inbourer, we had been just a would have been happy.“

that is true. I think

FLAMING FISTS Yet it was this same man whose flaming sta an immortel page into

young wrote boxing

history. His skilt brought the work's millions to their feet in bowling tribute.

And his wonderful sportsman ship in the ring stands eternally to his credit against those other unhappy episoden outside 1.

There was, for instance, that night he fought Small Montana

borne, <tas only 10. But all England acclaimed him as the greatest thing of his weight the work. Se ho might well have been but for Scotland's pocket Hercules,

loog,

The fight lasted for 13 bitter and bloody rounds. BUT THE PUNCH THAT ACTUAL-

WON I.Y

IT ARRIVED AS THE FIGHT ALMOST STARTED, Lynch came straight out of his corner and wham A hurtling left hit the Englishman snack on the point.

NAVY,

the and

18

This

event

Bowen Rood although

it

ia

Sales

Dod that entries will be

at the meeting. the Free Style experts forr come forward as expected

the fact that they adapted this event it could prove to bo the conditions one of the most exciting of the than their op-afternoon. They realled quickly

to too much too up this

yun! Humple dramatic slide

to tbemselves soon for

We must better man His

Lbom ponents.

to the botbom that the wind and rough ground INEVITABLE TURNOVER has been und

underiined Loo often

to need repeating. Nor is it my or

the here

apportion Lurkt

lame-except to say that blame thero obviously was. AND NOT ALL OF IT LYNCH'S BY A LONG CHALK.

one

near

constant

made delicate football a

With the

and in- and they Impossibility

made evitablo turnover of military ball personnel the need for qualifed by swinging the ground

their equivalents groun about. Their tactics paid hand-referees and

and and eventually for various sports

the some dividenda

fully a well merited games is ever really brought

satisfied.

true of SVET

a con

the call

cgo

A

one

mi

has

The British. Film Institute realist, and therefore has some- personal approach to actual themes which may well be the to administer

school £7,000 mediate post-war

characteristic of the of emergent "to encourage new and Italian grant

film-making, but this experimental movement. original talent and ideas in Alan-comparison should not be tokerf

TECHNICAL EXPERIMENT making and so far nine filma too

There for

JE nothing have been sponsored and even imitative here, and, anyhow,

There is so far no Feat

experl- completed.

nothing so embitious as a full-

mentation on the technical alde; length story" film has yet been for one thing, this is apt to be Recently two of theme, to attempted,

a costly businers and it was relt gether with an independently-

two Institute-sponsored that innovations The

of style and backed experimental alm, worenons so far seen, "Together" and content should come first. But shown at the National Film "Mornima Don't Allow" have in technical iden which Theatre in London and drow

found the means for its develop. common a desire to bring to the from the critics the opinion that pereen some aspect of contem- ment under the new scheme is the venture shows

promise

life as porary

naturally 48. soon to be con in a half-hour One went so far as to describe

possible, yot given an indivi- film, "The Door in the Wall, this programme as "the most dual

both In Interpretation-In

this Q exciting contribution to the art

young American cases selectively protic and dog-Glenn Alvey, has put in practice of the cinema" since the arrival gedly non-romantic.

his patent called "Dynamie of the documentary alm.

It is signikant that they also Frame," a device by which the have in i

an implicit director can command a plotura Thus in "Together" of variable criticism.

#hape, either.. by Cri the director, Lorenza Mazzotti, smooth flow or abrupt change. were shown under the general young Italian now living in

two deaf- Most of the other films in the | London,

presents title of "Free Cinema," mean-

with an unsentimental first experimental ing that the makers wore free mutes

their plight cartoons. of commercial

Influences and compassion for

"Inferno" - with Indicts the fallure of which also motivated by "a belief in free-

allhouette cut-outs; dom, in the importance of of normal people to understand; animated

another is As

a transcription of children this emerges people, and in the significance in

Jules Verne's "Round the World of the everyday." Clearly the thoughtless mucity.

jina 80 Days,” spirit underlying there films is

in

But these Alms are not really, the accepted sense, do- cumentary. The three sample

a

Famous Sports Stars I Have Met

years

the

-common

SIMPLER THEME

"Monuma Don't Allow" is simpler, the two direétors, Karel Reise annd Tony Richardson, do not admire the ovidently Jazz Club evening they deplet, but they do an honest job of out

round and deploting it in the

bc- they avoid the freaks of haviour (no doubt available to them) which would have made their

them. Indeed in both films the effort remain "uninvolved! caused certain

bleakness which somewhat detracts from their effectiveness.

to

for comment

D

has

group/are version

Опо 15 д

Dante's

A highly distinctive piece of work, intended to assault the senses and the conscience: (and succeeding), is "Short Vision" an eight-minute compilation moving cut-outs and animated drawings which, in effect, shows the arrival of the final catastro- phic missile and the disinte gration of everything,

It may be wondered at: what point these experiments are go Ing to have airs". impact 'on the farger world of the cinema, The only clue so far is in the case of a study of the water colours. them

By ARCHIE QUICK ·

of Thorns Rowlandson in which victory. From

Bitherio This is particularly a Hongkong point of

Twenty-nve

ago

At this carly stage, it is the John Hawkesworth, view the result was not nearly basketball for, with the

Australian cricketers were in general approach of the experi-known as an art director. Ins

to sought convey the mirit of disappointing

popularity of the general expanding

England under the majestic mental fim-mateers rather than early 19th century England. game, there is a constant

captaincy of Warwick Armstrong, the detailed result which is in- This was shown at the Royal display of the team.

Unforse On drcumstances for qualified referees.

The Film Performance last Novem Lowering autocrat, who, never-teresting and significant. in order to answer the call a

theless, knew his cricket. The creators of these two films are ber and, as a result of the im- necessitated late changes in the

and the Leum

line-up

which course for referees is being opening Test of

the tour was neither social reformers nor pression then made, seems likely was as follows:-arrangat. The took the field

course which is Allen.

Laycock.

Mullest, scheduled from Juss 18 to 22 will played, as usual, at Nottingham, merely social reporters. Society, to be the first "art flus to have McInnes, Robson,

Tolfrey,have a double purpose. It will and probably the finest touring how people live and behave to- tango-scale commercial release.

has ever visited gather, is ther subject, and it

But the more Important, Smith, be designed to train new officials Britais started Honderzon, Hough,

its triumphant is probably not fair to go farther

less immediate, question is Martin, Bowering

for the qualification of Class

thar to say that they are, in

whether this experimental Although they never re-Army Basketball referee, but it summer with ten wickets vic-

tory.

visual terms, ultering a protest. activity will have any effect on produced their usual forrn the will also serve as a refresher

Where are the herves who defence

played

This theme of "protest is normal, commercial fin-making. well enough in for those who already hold the

who played in that match now that Certificate and

As the repentory Oven more clearly marked in Who knows? Despile spite of losing two goals which Class III visit foamight well

pre now wish to be upgraded to Class another Test is being fought at

Dreamland," the third, or of experiments grows, and the have been

Bridge?

zain. confidence, Armstrong, monas vented.

Alm in the pro- experimenters The forward line was II,

unsponsored,

the breath

freedom, may devold almost completely

Kowloon Garrison, always a Bardsley, Carter and McDonald

Lindsay gramme,

Anderron, penetrate far. At least auch Alms dead; Collins, Macartney, who ideas, strength.

directed I, explores a "Pellew and finishing keen basketball area, will watch are

directors drews and

SLIDING FAST

from Lynch fought 50 bouts his 18th

without a birthday defent. In all, his career stretch. Hard on its heels came on-

ed over 250 contests. Even when right And he was aliding fast he of America at Wembley in de-other left, then

went Kane, stricken, never knocked out....until that fence of his world le-a fight down

ever duzed, for a count of three, Ile

appalling debacle against still rated as the fastest

Toma, # in

second-rater never really recovered, thou seen in London. A contest

to look strong for many all he was beyond

from Rumania,

time which Lynch proved

chauffeur to King Carol, doubt that in addition to being rounds yet.

Lynch was a Champlon But a great FIGHTER, he was

at eight stone. In this fight, outstanding Flyweight BOXER of his time.

Lynch at that time was at his But that night he was greatest.

almost as up against a

Round after round he good. and Small Montana-read name Benjamin Gan-had shared the honours.

man

the

As they came up for the last Lynch was ahead-but roundt the margin in his favour was desperately narrow, And Benny know it...

But this night we were to see

Lynch. the real ring Tiger.

Round by round, Lynch thehe weighed a gross 9st. 5lb.

went after his man, That was the end of Lynch. Killer, hammering, hammering, hdm- Despite the promises. mering. The perfection of box- the "cures". Despite a

heavy nursing home and to a ing science allied to a weight's punch.

was Kang, How courageous how hopeless his task. He usted long CATAL expectation. But there are times when all the courage in the world isn't enough. them.

Yet twice in that final session the Scot was offered the chance ruthlessly

fused because he was too much

of

ami this was one

of

In the 12th round Lynch, he died, seeking the right

But the magic of

his

life

110

•

Trent

that

Of the

What are the

An-

tomm

"Titnes"

their

of

programme

K

tery.

The rest of his shoet better forgotten.

and producers too long and too power and the attackers rust the progress of the course with Taylor, Gregory, survive in seaside caliground. The Alm/will, tend to remind At the last he was found near shoulder most of the blame for closer, interest than most other Australia. Not one of them are "unacted," which makes his;

was shot from 11fe, and totally closely harnessed to the stereo. the Glasgow docks one' night, fas difcut Martin rnissed formations for once again they' alone and desperately ill.

ia Britain for the trip this sum- studies of the fairground publie typed that the Glm can be an several golden opportunities in plan a Summer League and

England was taken. to hospital by

is a public quite the first-half. Twice in quick referees are therefore an urgent mer.

surprisinglar Ernest Tyldesley, J. W. H. T. almost as hemifying as the side artist's medium, and that there

shows which attract Three hours later, succession ambulance.

ha found himself requirement.

responsive to the unconvention- Incidentally It is hoped that Douglas and Harry Howell are

com. clear of the Macao defence but,

Donald dead;

Knight, Percy

al, the poetic, and the tree. By who attend the name with the goal o hu mercy, ho the candidates

Halmes, Patsy Hendra, Franic

"Protest" is perhaps too mild big studio standards, experi 10 clinch things, Twice he re-opening, was suddenly offered lives on. For all his many, mary shot wide of the post on both course will be those who have

his chance. Lightning-quick, weaknesses, perhaps

some reasonable knowledge of Woodley, Vallance Jupp, Wilfred a word to: Mr Anderson's 40-mental film-making is attrac- no other occasions.

£80 film, the London tively cheap. After all, the Rhodes, Herbert Strudwick and miraria way Scottish athicto

Ha three a sportsman to take what he his huruing left dug its

flims in has had the

described it

"Free Only Toitrey, who had a truly the game of basketball and its into Kane's body. Kane dropped same qualities

Len Richmond are still with us healthy, hearty roar of disgust Cinema" rules. of greatness in grand

cost to- considered an unfair advantage.

grand day, Mullett, and to a oll, Montana got in agony, his wits scrambled, First

But of

jani, average sport,

lesser degree Robson came out

eight English and

his gether less than disapproval." mixed up with the ropes.

He TOTTERING CHALLENGER

NEXT ARTICLE: Kelth of the

Water polo enthusiasts had to survivors doing? Two of them wérole attitude Allen

epitomises the newsreel. game with credit, defenceless for A brief Foolishly and probably only Miller.

was badly at fault with the vital look twice before believing their

are County Club BOOTERS- Immediately Benny by instinct-he came to his lect

-(London Express Servies).

often over when the result of the Hendren with first goal; Laycock was

Middlesex and stepped forward and helped his before the count had started.

(COPYRIGHT)

uncertain

in the tackle and incent game between Army North hls clearing.

Dockyard was published. Strudwick with Surrey, Knight a schoolmaster in London at McInnes,

thought that 20-0 must is team skipper,Many the

Dulwick School. Frank Woolley have been a misprint, but they leads a quiet, retired life at his had his poorest ouling in a Jong time and was obviously upset by soon found on reading the activ

Tambridge, playing the difficult playing surface. His count of the play that there had

occasional golf. Jupp is a busi- now famlilar artistry was miss-been no mistake, ing and his

I have had no opportunity to eas flicks and short check the Colony record books Holmes coaches under the direc passes, normally e accurate, but reliable sources tell me it is tion the Yorkshire Club. seldom found their man.

the highest score they can recall Richmond is a pubilean fist

side

spare time for many years, :

Nottingham and cricket coach. Rhodes, alas, IN GOOD FORM®

real contemporary Philip

WDS moment.

NARROW WIN

FOR LAVANDIN

The thrilling pletura, thus shows how narrow the tory of Lavandin, na-

the 1958 the French horse, ridden by Rae Johnstone, pashes the post Lo Derby at Epsom, Surrey on June 16, 2

In second place is another French horse, M. R. Birumburger » Montaval (left, Jockey F. Painter); Lavandin is owned by M. Pierre Wertheimer.

The Irish horne, Ruistar, owned by Mr J, McGrath and ridden by Eddery, was third Henterphoto.

TOUCHLINE DASHES

Apart

froma the occasional

In the game,

his

ritan In Northampton.

ALL IN VAIN` Thus only Hendren

-out-

and

ona Last Morla Pool tomorrow evening Strudwick of the 22 are still

unfamiliar position of outsido cifort making the trip to Hardinge, Hearne, Holi/Parker, left had a good first half but Victoria Pool.

There is apparently no such Sandham and Whito in

faded body later, Drobably thing na "out-of-eqnzori” ́as: far-18 Story A

kouchling dashes by Hough the Army South had a friendly Mezd, is near to being totally forward Une was never really game at the weekend against blind. He is living in Stafford

Smith, who was Eastern but they found the shire and has recently been in Lakers Kl duriret the Orst half Chinese boys in good form and hospital,

Wis off the field for 10 minutes could not shaice him-t down by 7 goals to 5.

There will be a real Inter- self clear of the wiles of the services savour about the Vie- oppoding defence and count of the times he fell into when Army South tackle Royal actively concerned with the the ba-alde

trap, Henderson Navy at a p.m. and Army North County

Yet in the allowed himself to bo rattled by play the Royal Air Force hall an Fucceeding four Tests at Lords the hard tackling of tho hour later,

Leeds, Manchester and the Oval and with Martin .he***

Both games should provide England was to call

upon in trying to

play

entertainment other eighteen players-Tenny clover football-when the cond-good sporting

enthusiasts on, Brown, Parkin; Hassell, Kops

werd ali against it and water polo

Ducat, Durstan, Bowring who played in the would be well rewarded for the Mead, Dipper,

Evans, Fender, Halg, Hallows, óf

an at- to ston the Australian from

service.

All la vain, the calling upon only 18 Contrary to what has been the British soldier is concerned oldowhere this game did and oorlainly. It seems that all

players →→

the additions ¦ were not cockle the custody of the Honakoo hot and humidity Malley, Mid Oldneld won three

fall to suppress their drythusiasm of the rests and the two wer Macro Military Club. Cup, *Macao+

a potball-in pre

their favourite game.dewa

Written

The trophy is deelded on

aggregate over, two games played

Lorm

on a home-and-home basis and another seems to go on through- the second match in the series out the year and now Ichor will be played in Hongkong in the by you are suling reading the near future, TREBNJE TAU Afternoon paper and prok- The traditional hospitality of aby wieling the molstizre from

browa krichce, the hillfagyi verthorities Izs Braono your l

evidence end 47 Avi

́perty, Was givens ́hieve.

Arthur Mailey is the only ca

of them in and at the pre- en: Line, et tie is purrukis his profesion (ras, a sports cartoonist. And a Journalist and vo, wood one loong 20

Sirungely enough, three of the men of a quiete ofin oentury ago had tragio. Arala drowned/

Very Fine Cognac

MARTELL

CORDON BLEU