An inexpensive black-and-white film from MGM, strictly minor, but pretty good. Mickey Rooney learns how to be a boxer from his older friend, Mickey Knox. And he turns out to have a certain talent and a dynamite right hand. His second is the endearingly cynical Sam Levene.
Unfortunately, Rooney is saddled with a loving but inadequate father who is a drunken gambler, continually throwing money away. That's Phillip Dunn, who won an Academy Award for a similar role in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Dunn was dogged by a drinking problem in real life, and so was Brian Donlevy, who has the role of the sneaky but sentimental role of Rooney's manager. It's a rather neatly written part because although he operates under a phony name and is terribly rich, Donlevy wants his daughter, Ann Blyth, to keep believing that he runs an investment firm and that's where his wealth comes from. She believes it too. She's beautiful but dumb. (And she IS babalicious too.)
There are all kinds of ups and downs and other shenanigans. Rooney gives a speech defending prize fighters as a kind of nobility that makes a living by spilling its own blood, in contrast to the Suits that manipulate figures on Wall Street and sacrifice nothing. The scene isn't entirely convincing because it's intended to bring Ann Blyth and her snootiness down a notch, but she's said nothing to deserve being scolded with such emotion.
But there are well thought-out scenes too. Bob Steele never had many good roles. He made a few cheap Westerns and serials. But he was okay in "Of Mice and Men" as Curly, and he's quite good here as "Sailor", with whom Rooney has a professional bout. Rooney decks him. Afterward, in a restaurant, Blyth tells Rooney that there must be a great deal of hatred between Rooney and Steele as a result of the knockout. "Nah, we're in the same business," replies Rooney, and just then Steele and his girl friend enter and join Rooney and Blyth, and Bob Steele is all lit up with jollity over some news -- the fight long forgotten.
Rooney was too recherché a character to become a leading man. The guy -- R.I.P. -- was a shrimp and had curiously comic features and boundless energy. Even when he was standing still he look like he was about to pop. But this is a fine role for him and he's not bad. And not to feel too sorry for him. He was married to Ava Gardner for a while.
Unfortunately, Rooney is saddled with a loving but inadequate father who is a drunken gambler, continually throwing money away. That's Phillip Dunn, who won an Academy Award for a similar role in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Dunn was dogged by a drinking problem in real life, and so was Brian Donlevy, who has the role of the sneaky but sentimental role of Rooney's manager. It's a rather neatly written part because although he operates under a phony name and is terribly rich, Donlevy wants his daughter, Ann Blyth, to keep believing that he runs an investment firm and that's where his wealth comes from. She believes it too. She's beautiful but dumb. (And she IS babalicious too.)
There are all kinds of ups and downs and other shenanigans. Rooney gives a speech defending prize fighters as a kind of nobility that makes a living by spilling its own blood, in contrast to the Suits that manipulate figures on Wall Street and sacrifice nothing. The scene isn't entirely convincing because it's intended to bring Ann Blyth and her snootiness down a notch, but she's said nothing to deserve being scolded with such emotion.
But there are well thought-out scenes too. Bob Steele never had many good roles. He made a few cheap Westerns and serials. But he was okay in "Of Mice and Men" as Curly, and he's quite good here as "Sailor", with whom Rooney has a professional bout. Rooney decks him. Afterward, in a restaurant, Blyth tells Rooney that there must be a great deal of hatred between Rooney and Steele as a result of the knockout. "Nah, we're in the same business," replies Rooney, and just then Steele and his girl friend enter and join Rooney and Blyth, and Bob Steele is all lit up with jollity over some news -- the fight long forgotten.
Rooney was too recherché a character to become a leading man. The guy -- R.I.P. -- was a shrimp and had curiously comic features and boundless energy. Even when he was standing still he look like he was about to pop. But this is a fine role for him and he's not bad. And not to feel too sorry for him. He was married to Ava Gardner for a while.