Day of the Fight (1951)

Day of the Fight

1951

Documentary

Synopsis

Stanley Kubrick’s debut documentary, following Irish-American middleweight boxer Walter Cartier on April 17, 1950—the day of his bout with Bobby James. The film traces Cartier’s quiet morning rituals, training, and anxious hours before the match, culminating in his swift victory that night in Newark. Opening with a brief history of boxing, Kubrick’s tightly crafted short captures the discipline, isolation, and tension behind a fighter’s daily routine.

Credits

Director

Stanley Kubrick

Cast

Alexander Singer as Self

Bobby James as Self, Walter's opponent

Douglas Edwards as Narrator

Judy Singer as Self, female fan in crowd (uncredited)

Nat Fleischer as Self, boxing historian

Stanley Kubrick as Self (man at ringside with camera) (uncredited)

Vincent Cartier as Self, Walter's twin brother and manager

Walter Cartier as Self