*nod*, the Irish music comes out most strongly in the boxing scene, and Rocky Road to Dublin is repeated over the final credits. There's definitely some problematic stuff going on there. But I'm not sure that violence/criminality/underworld accurately describes the boxing scene... it seemed to be a legal venue (The Punchbowl) and I don't think boxing matches of that kind nor betting on them were illegal at that time (anyone know?). What I saw in that scene was working class entertainment and Holmes "slumming", which has its own issues of course.
no subject