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Keep Punching is a 1939 film about boxing. Its primary character is Henry Armstrong (born Henry Jackson). Unlike most films of the era, its cast was composed entirely of African Americans.

The film includes Whitey's Lindy Hoppers (Lindy Hop) performing the much imitated Big Apple Routine. A film clip of the dance scene was also released as the short “Jittering Jitterbugs” in 1943 showing the Big Apple routine choreographed by Frankie Manning and the a Jitterbug dance competition that followed in the film.

Plot

Golden gloves champion Henry Jackson turns professional and gets scheduled into a tough match. Days before the match, he finds an old school friend of his, Frank Harrison, unaware that Frank is betting heavily on his loss. Frank sets Henry up with beautiful Jerry Jordan, who is instructed to get him drunk and impede him in any way possible, due to Frank blackmailing her. On the day of the fight she slips him a sleeping drug.

Cast

It was directed by John Clein. Performers in the film include Dooley Wilson and George Wiltshire. The film also features boxing champion Henry Armstrong.

• Henry Armstrong
• Willie Bryant
• Mae Johnson
• Hamtree Harrington
• Francine Everett
• Canada Lee
• Lionel Monagas
• Arthur "Dooky" Wilson
• Hilda Offley
• Walter Robinson

References

1. ^ "Keep Punching". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
2. "Negro and Yiddish Film Boom". Variety. January 3, 1940. p. 36.
3. "Big Apple Keep Punching Version". Lindy Hop Moves.
4. Reporter, Lindy Hop (July 3, 2019). "The Big Apple / Keep Punching (1939)".

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