StunnaKrypto
Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.
SanEat
A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."
Alistair Olson
After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.
Scarlet
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
dannyrovira-38154
A classic boxing drama based on the life of James J Corbett, this is one Erroyl Flynn's finest performances, with magnificent supporting performances Alexis Smith ,Alan Hale, William Frawly, with special kudos to Ward Bond for his magnificent portrayal of the great John L. Sullivan. This gem of a film features some of the finest boxing sequences and cinematic history.
jimjamjonny39
What a fantastic movie when you consider how boxing movies of today have been made. Errol Flynn was an icon himself and playing the character of gentleman Jim certainly didn't harm his career. Any young boxer who is considering a career should watch this, it not only happened but it helped boxing become one of the most watched sports.
dougdoepke
Those fight crowds are about the last word in boisterous enthusiasm, making this one of the noisiest films of the period. Nonetheless, the production is expertly done by a crew of Warner Bros. veterans. Note how skillfully a humorous touch is blended into the screenplay, and how smoothly Flynn plays the brashly charming Irishman. Also, I really like the romantic angle between Corbett and Victoria (Smith). It's anything but the usual sappy Hollywood romance. They trade barbs throughout, but are still able to convey an underlying affection.The movie's also a good little glimpse of how prize fighting evolved into a sport using the Marquis of Queensbury rules. Corbett is able to best bigger and stronger opponents because of the boxing skills favored by the rules, skills especially evident in his match against the brawling Sullivan (Bond). To his credit, Flynn apparently did all the boxing moves himself without the aid of a double. Of course, the movie highlight is the wonderfully played reconciliation scene between the old champ and the new. There Bond and Flynn prove that if you have a basic level of sensitivity, you don't have to be an Oscar caliber actor to effectively move an audience.Anyway, I could have used a little less mock brawling among the Corbett family. But everything is brought off in such smooth light-hearted fashion, it's hard to complain too strongly. All in all, the movie shows the kind of seamless craftsmanship old Hollywood could occasionally come up with.
alexandre michel liberman (tmwest)
This film takes you to San Francisco at the end of the 19th century, where boxing matches were done illegally in the streets. There were few rules and many rounds. There is a great fight where the boats and barges are used for the people to watch, and you feel you are seeing San Francico exactly the way it was at those times. James Corbett, in an excellent performance by Errol Flynn is the right man at the right place, when boxing was changing, with new rules, where the technique was becoming more important and the fact he called himself "gentleman" very significant in relation to the changes. The "fighting Irish" , including the always present priest, makes you think of the John Ford films, specially "The Quiet Man" which was made much later in 1952. There are two important relationships of Corbett in the film, one with Victoria Ware (great Alexis Smith), who represents the social status he longs for, and the famous John L. Sulllivan (Ward Bond), who comes from the days of bare-knuckled fighting. I greatly enjoyed seeing this movie, directed by Raoul Walsh.