Queen of the Ring

Burke and Wolfe agree to be business partners. From then on, she grows in popularity thanks to her big personality and phenomenal talent in the ring. Eventually, they get married during the tour. Wolfe’s ensemble of women wrestlers expands with the chaotic Gladys Gillem (Deborah Ann Woll), the glamorous Nell Stewart (Kelli Berglund), and former gymnast Babs Wingo (Damaris Lewis). These women become just as popular as Burke, with Wingo challenging the status quo as the first Black woman wrestler in American history. As this ragtag team succeeds in fame and fortune, Burke continues to face domestic problems. Wolfe frequently has flings with the women fighters. Burke develops a secret affair with Wolfe’s son, G. Bill, and wants to marry him instead. Friction begins to grow as her teenage son, Joe (Gavin Casalegno), wants to help out in the family business versus living a normal life. Burke will have to make tough decisions both in and out of the ring.

Avildsen’s film blends the women’s picture of the 30s-40s with the structure of a sports drama. For fans of Pre-Code Hollywood cinema, Burke’s life story recalls films like Baby Face (1933), a Barbara Stanwyck vehicle, and John M. Stahl’s Imitation of Life (1934). The film was based off of the book, The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend by Jeff Leen. At a brief Q&A after the Film Festival screening, Avildsen discusses his goal to take this gritty novel and make it appealing to a younger audience. He fulfills this promise with an engaging cast and elegant production values.

“…Rickards brings spunk and raw energy to her performance as Mildred Burke.”

Emily Bett Rickards brings spunk and raw energy to her performance as Mildred Burke. Due to Avildsen’s excellent direction, she delivers a fine balance between toughness and vulnerability. This can be incredibly difficult for an actress to get right, yet Rickards nailed it. The rest of the cast had moments to shine as well. Francesca Eastwood stole the show as Mae Young, and her character brought the most laughs from the audience.

For period piece fans, Sofija Mesicek’s costume design is a gorgeous visual feast. Andrew Strahorn’s cinematography is creative, switching between natural lighting, black-and-white, and Technicolor-inspired imagery. All these stylistic elements have a narrative purpose and are not just there to dazzle the eye.

Ash Avildsen’s Queen of the Ring is a must-see for lovers of sports films, biopics, and period piece media. It also introduces audiences to the world of wrestling in the early 20^th century in a compelling underdog story.

Queen of the Ring screened at the 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival.