Cinderella Man Questions
Name___________________________
1. Briefly describe the following aspects of Jim Braddock’s life in the beginning of the
film BEFORE the Great Depression:
Boxing Career/ Reputation:
Housing Neighborhood:
Clothing:
Income:
Relationship with Family:
2. What type of job does Braddock work during the Great Depression? What prevents
him from working this job on a consistent basis?
3. THROUGHOUT THE FILM, Braddock and his family are shown walking the
streets of New York and during these scenes we see examples of how people reacted and
survived the Great Depression. An example of this is when Braddock walks to Madison
Square Garden and a mother is shown urging her sons to get out of the car and collect
pieces of wood. List and describe 2 examples from the movie.
4. After working the docks, Jim Braddock and his co-worker Mike Wilson discuss the
situation of the Great Depression. How do BOTH Braddock and Wilson view the
situation?
5. Why does Braddock become upset when he finds out his wife sent the kids away to
her family? What does he do to get his kids back?
6. Why does Braddock have such a strong reputation with the crowd and people of New
York when he returns to boxing after his hand injury?
7. When Braddock’s trainer Joe Gould offers Jim another fight after winning the first,
how does Jim’s wife Mae react and why does she react that way?
8. When Mae confronts Joe at his house what does she find out? When Joe steps out of
the room, what does Joe’s wife say to Mae that relates to how women felt during the
Great Depression?
9. What did Braddock use as motivation to help win his boxing matches throughout the
film?
10. Explain what “Hooverville” was and describe how it is displayed in the movie?
11. During the press conference for the championship bout, what does Braddock say he
is fighting for this time round and what do you think it means?
12. Where does Mae go before Braddock’s championship fight? What does she realize
while she is there?
13. What is the final result of the championship bout between Jim Braddock and Max
Baer?
Cinderella Man
Viewing Guide
During the Great Depression, a common-man hero, James J. Braddock-a.k.a. the Cinderella Man--was to become one of the most surprising sports
legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was
seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck as much of the rest of
the American populace who had hit rock bottom. His career appeared to be
finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him-his family--was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief.
But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven
by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream
to come true. In a last chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to
the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by
something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary
working man became the mythic athlete. Carrying the hopes and dreams of
the disenfranchised on his shoulders, Braddock rocketed through the ranks,
until this underdog chose to do the unthinkable: take on the heavyweight
champ of the world, the unstoppable Max Baer, renowned for having killed
two men in the ring. (www.imd.com)
While watching the film, Cinderella Man, please limit the amount of notes
youtake. Instead, focus on movie, and the changes that take place with the
characters. Notice how the characters change from being prosperous to being
poor.
Choose one character and write 3 paragraphs:
Character Groups:
1) Jim Braddock
2) Mae Braddock
3) Joe Gould
4) Max Baer/Jimmy Johnston
5) 3 Braddock Children
Shadow your character throughout the movie. What happens to them? How
do they change? How does their role in society change? What perspectives
are not shown in the film?
 This film is “based” on a true story. Is it an accurate representation of
history?
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Name:____________________________ Date:__________________________
Movie Study Guide