when consider the factor that contribute to make this movie one of truly great cinema classic and such a the story and the direction and the dialogue and the pathos and the conflict and the support cast and the one factor that most directly contribute to make this movie great be that of it star and john garfield . here and garfield play charlie davis and a brooding and moody and cynical and angry young man traumatize by his father untimely and violent death and determine to literally fight his way out of poverty and no matter what it take . yet and charlie davis be likable and for despite the harden exterior and he be still fundamentally a good man who be struggle to do what be right despite the pressure to cave in to those who merely want to use him . and although charlie weakens and he never break and and when put to the test and his basic honesty and strength shine through and which make him a hero and which transform this movie from just another box movie into a true cinematic classic .