Starting with famous actor Errol Flynn (Gentleman Jim) and directed by Raoul Walsh, they take us back to 1942 to follow this over-romanticized biopic of known boxer life James J Corbett. The story of a boxer who works his way up from lowly bank teller to boxing world heavyweight champion.
“While the film is well crafted on a technical level, especially by cinematographer Sid Hickox and editor Jack Killifer, the story lacks any kind of truly engaging conflict or character arc. Flynn’s Jim works as a bank teller in San Francisco until he charms his way into the elite Olympic Club, and is chosen as their sponsored boxer. The club quickly grows tired of his brash personality and tries to knock him down a peg, setting up a fight for him against a former world champion. The club members are certain the fighter will destroy him, yet Jim surprises them all and triumphs. This happens over and over throughout the film, all the way to his championship fight against famed Irish boxer John L. Sullivan (Ward Bond). Jim is set up against impossible odds and overcomes them easily. He has no lowpoint, no comeback, just a constant rise. There is no reason the audience should root for him except that they are expected to. Yes, Jim is handsome, funny, and confident, all the makings for a likable hero, but by modern standards he is too simplistic. He has no serious flaws or driving forces, he has nothing to make the audience think twice about him.”, commented Kyra Power to The old Hollywood Times