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.

JohnHowardReid One of Walsh's best films. It's directed with tremendous zest and gusto, yet with painstaking attention to detail. No doubles are used in the boxing scenes which all come across with edge-of-the-seat excitement. The witty script presents an array of flesh-and-blood characters instead of the usual Hollywood stereotypes. And it's not afraid to present even Corbett himself in an unflattering light. All the characters in fact are fully rounded. No attempt is made to gloss over their faults, although nearly everyone is pretty likable. The players do a sterling job in bringing these characters to life. Flynn delivers one of his best performances as the bumptious and boorishly over-confident but quick-thinking Corbett. Flynn makes us like Corbett by the sheer force of his personality (although, of course, Corbett doesn't do anything to antagonize us – if we accept his constant needling of John L. Sullivan). Production values are extraordinarily lavish with breath-taking sets, crowds of extras, gorgeous costumes – plus high camera angles to show them all off!

bigverybadtom First, I admit I cannot comment on how this movie compares with the real story of Jim Corbett. Very likely, it is akin to the 1962 movie "Lawrence Of Arabia", which had little to do with the actual story of Thomas E. Lawrence, but was still acclaimed for its entertainment value. I assume this movie had the same idea-a fictionalized version of the story of the title boxer. Of course I've long expected that from Hollywood.So how is it as a movie? We begin by seeing an illegal match attended by a crowd, including a respectable judge-oooh! But then the Olympic Club, a local elite establishment, decides to use the new Marquis of Queensbury boxing rules to make boxing into a respectable sport, and Jim Corbett, a bank clerk who had come to make a delivery, is chosen to be a new boxer under the new rules. He does well, but Corbett's aggressiveness and egotism get the club members upset. At home, Jim gets into fights with his brothers, and all the locals come look every time this occurs (hence the phrase).Corbett earns fame and fortune, and shares his wealth with his family, but he still wants to be a world champion. John L. Sullivan was his childhood idol from the last boxing generation-will he end up in a fight with him, and how would it go?Great performances by the entire all-star cast and no wasted moments make the film entertaining for everybody.

classicsoncall I never thought this film would have been as entertaining as it turned out to be. You can chalk that up to the effective screenplay, talented Warner Brothers cast, and the competent direction of Raoul Walsh. As with most biopics, this one makes liberal concessions to historical accuracy, yet the broad parameters of 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett's career are used to outline the story and it even manages to get some of the minor details correct along the way as well.The real Jim Corbett did come from a working class San Francisco family; his father ran a livery stable and undertaking business and if the picture had included his entire family, there would have been a total of ten Corbett children 'at it again' whenever they got into their normal roustabouts. Jim was the fourth in line, and it appears the picture wisely kept the number of siblings here at a manageable level. Interestingly, Errol Flynn himself was thirty three when he made this picture, twice the age of Corbett when he became the Olympic Athletic Club champion at age seventeen in 1883, four years actually before the date stated at the beginning of the picture.The rise of Corbett through the boxing world and the record of wins he established is fairly accurate here. Corbett was the first serious practitioner of the Marquess of Queensbury Rules, relying on skillful boxing with gloves and timed rounds with a rest period in between. John L. Sullivan, enthusiastically portrayed here by Ward Bond in a great characterization, was the archetype practitioner of the 'old' London Prize Ring Rules. That term was somewhat of a misnomer, as there really weren't any rules prior to about 1892. Sullivan reigned at a time when bare knuckle fighting would have included the kind of punching, kicking, and gouging that one might associate with 'pro' wrestling today. In other words, it was no-holds barred all the way.The story does take a minor liberty with the way the eventual match between Corbett and Sullivan came about. In the picture, Corbett antagonizes the champion into making a challenge, but in reality it was somewhat reversed. Sullivan actually placed a newspaper ad that insulted and challenged three famous boxers of the day to a fight - Charlie Mitchell, Frank Slavin and Corbett. Corbett was the first to come up with the ten thousand dollar side-stake raised from friends within his social circle. When he met Sullivan for the title on September 7, 1892, he weighed 178 pounds against 212 for his heavyweight opponent.I guess I'd have to question the way the film made Sullivan look so foolish in defeat, using a straight on bullying style against Corbett's agility. Of course, no one alive today was at that fight, so who can really say. One thing for sure, Sullivan was eight years older than his challenger and somewhat out of condition. Under the old rules Sullivan probably could have tossed him right out of the ring, but here in the twenty-first round, the champ ran out of steam and was put away by his more scientific rival.Aside from Flynn, what makes this picture fun are actors Alan Hale as Corbett's father, William Frawley as his manager, Jack Carson as long time pal Walter Lowrie, and 'brothers' Pat Flaherty and James Flavin in uncredited roles. The characters they portray lend a humorous element to the story line and are a welcome addition to the boxing sequences. The hint of a feuding romance between Corbett and socialite Victoria Ware (Alexis Smith) probably wasn't all that necessary, but did add another dimension to his character. The real life Corbett walked off his bank job at eighteen to impulsively marry a woman named Olive Lake. The marriage lasted eight years until he met Vera Taylor who became his second wife the year he won the title. That marriage lasted thirty eight years.