Gene Tunney
Acting
Biography
Gene Tunney's parents were Mary Jean (aka Rose) Lydon and John Tunney. Both of his parents were born in Mayo, Ireland, near Kiltimagh, and moved to New York City. He won the heavyweight boxing championship from Jack Dempsey in 1926 and successfully defended his title against Dempsey in 1927. In 1928, he successfully defended his title against Tom Heeney and then retired from the ring undefeated in 1928. He then married Andrew Carnegie's great niece, Mary Josephine Lauder (aka Polly) in October, 1928, went on an extensive honeymoon, then returned to the U.S. and had four children - three sons and one daughter. He enlisted as a Marine during World War I, and he joined the Navy during World War II and was made an officer. He wrote two autobiographies - 'A Man Must Fight' in 1932 and 'Arms for Living' in 1941. He was very successful with his business interests.
Known For
HBO (in association with the American Film Institute) presents this 1997 anthology, narrated by Liev Schreiber, which looks at sports in cinema from the earliest silent films until the nineties. Watch not for dramatic scenes but for the glimpse of historical figures shown both cinematic and athletic- in this tribute to the merging of sports and Hollywood.
Sports on the Silver Screen
As a reporter, Dick Farrington is sent to cover an assignment that promises a big story. A lawyer has advertised for an ex-Marine who is a boxer. He makes good beating up a gang of roughnecks picked for the purpose, and secures the mysterious job that is filled with danger. It is to guard the heiress Lady Chatfield, but the hero is told nothing as to the secret in back of it all. Dick poses as Lord Grantmore, wears a monocle, and otherwise acts like a titled Englishman. They proceed to the mining town of Goldbrook, where the heiress is to occupy a mysterious mansion on the occupancy of which hinges a great fortune. The engineer of the mines is deeply interested in thwarting the plans of Lady Chatfield, and with his gang of roughneck miners makes things lively for the pugilist star in a series of fights that are hair raisers.