Jack Huston Makes Directorial Debut with Boxing Drama ‘Day of the Fight’

Actor Jack Huston, grandson of the renowned filmmaker John Huston, has ventured into directing with his debut film, ‘Day of the Fight’. This boxing drama, which premiered to positive reviews at last year’s Venice Film Festival, marks a significant milestone in Huston’s career.

The film, starring Michael C. Pitt, Joe Pesci, Ron Perlman, and Steve Buscemi, is a black-and-white period piece that tells a unique story leading up to a prize fight. Huston’s decision to shoot in black and white, while artistically compelling, has posed challenges in securing distribution. Some distributors are contractually prohibited from taking on black-and-white films, a restriction Huston lamented as “the death of art”.

One of the standout aspects of ‘Day of the Fight’ is its climactic boxing match, which was filmed in just one and a half days. Michael C. Pitt suggested staging a real fight for the film’s climax, an idea Huston enthusiastically supported. This intense and realistic approach impressed even veteran director Martin Scorsese, who introduced a screening of the film in New York.

Huston’s directorial debut has been discussed in various industry forums, including a Q&A session at the DGA theater in Los Angeles, where he was joined by fellow director Gus Van Sant. The film’s reception has been positive, with audiences and distributors alike expressing joy and appreciation for the cinematic effort.