A rollicking Raoul Walsh-directed feature starring Errol Flynn in the title role of Gentleman Jim Corbett, the pugilist who at the end of the 19th Century became the heavyweight champion of the world, beating the celebrated John L Sullivan for the title and in the process, modernised the burgeoning sport with his stylish jab and move ring craft.
For once Flynn isn't the leader of a band of marauders or even required to perform agile acts of athleticism, although he is portrayed as the eldest of a battling brood of Irish-descended brothers with Alan Hale as the boozy, presiding father and of course is required to display his boxing prowess in the ring. Naturally being a Flynn flick, there's a girl involved, Alexis Smith, as his upper-class backer, secretly financing Corbett's rise through the ranks, ostensibly hoping to see him fail, but of course whose resistance to Flynn ultimately proves as futile as Sullivan's.
I suspect the events depicted were as true to the actual facts as those in the earlier Walsh / Flynn General Custer actioner "They Died With Their Boots On", i.e. not very, but who cares when it's as entertaining as this. Flynn is as dashing and debonair as ever, Smith is also fine as the prim and proper Victoria Ware, Ward Bond is very good as the uncouth but sporting old champion Sullivan and Jack Carson is the best of the rest as Flynn's partner in crime who gets drunk a lot and also periodically shout "The Corbetts are at it again" as another family feud inevitably breaks out.
With better than expected fight sequences and fine set recreations of the boxing rings of the day, Walsh directs with a sure hand and in the delivers a knockout movie which entertains from the first bell.
For once Flynn isn't the leader of a band of marauders or even required to perform agile acts of athleticism, although he is portrayed as the eldest of a battling brood of Irish-descended brothers with Alan Hale as the boozy, presiding father and of course is required to display his boxing prowess in the ring. Naturally being a Flynn flick, there's a girl involved, Alexis Smith, as his upper-class backer, secretly financing Corbett's rise through the ranks, ostensibly hoping to see him fail, but of course whose resistance to Flynn ultimately proves as futile as Sullivan's.
I suspect the events depicted were as true to the actual facts as those in the earlier Walsh / Flynn General Custer actioner "They Died With Their Boots On", i.e. not very, but who cares when it's as entertaining as this. Flynn is as dashing and debonair as ever, Smith is also fine as the prim and proper Victoria Ware, Ward Bond is very good as the uncouth but sporting old champion Sullivan and Jack Carson is the best of the rest as Flynn's partner in crime who gets drunk a lot and also periodically shout "The Corbetts are at it again" as another family feud inevitably breaks out.
With better than expected fight sequences and fine set recreations of the boxing rings of the day, Walsh directs with a sure hand and in the delivers a knockout movie which entertains from the first bell.