Summary
As bare-knuckled boxing enters the modern era, brash extrovert Jim Corbett uses new rules and dazzlingly innovative footwork to rise to the top of the boxing world.
Cast
Errol Flynn
James J. Corbett
Alexis Smith
Victoria Ware
Jack Carson
Walter Lawrie
Alan Hale
Pat Corbett
John Loder
Carlton De Witt
William Frawley
Billy Delaney
Minor Watson
Buck Ware
Ward Bond
John L. Sullivan
Madeleine Lebeau
Anna Held
Rhys Williams
Harry Watson
Monte Blue
Gambler in "Lucky Guy"
Pat Flaherty
Harry Corbett
Arthur Shields
Father Burke
Dorothy Vaughan
Ma Corbett
Hooper Atchley
(uncredited)
Milton Kibbee
(uncredited)
Richard Kipling
(uncredited)
Charles Lang
(uncredited)
Edwin August
Olympic Club Member (uncredited)
Eric Mayne
Olympic Club Member (uncredited)
Charles Meakin
Olympic Club Member (uncredited)
Count Stefenelli
Olympic Club Member (uncredited)
Clara Blandick
Woman on Train (uncredited)
Winifred Harris
Woman at Opera (uncredited)
Wade Boteler
Policeman (uncredited)
Walter Byron
Ringside Telegrapher (uncredited)
Hal Craig
Telegrapher (uncredited)
Robert Fiske
Telegrapher (uncredited)
Georgia Caine
Mrs. Geary (uncredited)
Mary Gordon
Mrs. Casey (uncredited)
Johnny Calkins
Boy (uncredited)
Lon McCallister
Page Boy (uncredited)
Davison Clark
Auctioneer (uncredited)
Wallis Clark
Judge Geary (uncredited)
Joseph Crehan
Duffy - Referee (uncredited)
Freddie Steele
Referee (uncredited)
Dick Wessel
Referee (uncredited)
Harry Crocker
Charles Crocker (uncredited)
Wade Crosby
Manager (uncredited)
William B. Davidson
Donovan (uncredited)
William 'Wee Willie' Davis
Flannagan (uncredited)
Jean Del Val
Renaud (uncredited)
Joe Devlin
Hogan (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson
Bellboy (uncredited)
Peggy Diggins
Beautiful Actress (uncredited)
Joan Winfield
Actress (uncredited)
Lester Dorr
Reporter (uncredited)
Lew Harvey
Reporter (uncredited)
Victor Zimmerman
Reporter (uncredited)
James Flavin
George Corbett (uncredited)
Art Foster
Jack Burke (uncredited)
Jack Gardner
Usher (uncredited)
Frank Hagney
Mug (uncredited)
Creighton Hale
Championship Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Mathew McCue
Championship Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Bert Hanlon
Clerk (uncredited)
Carl Harbaugh
Smith (uncredited)
Jack Herrick
Bodyguard (uncredited)
Herbert Heywood
Man on Telephone (uncredited)
Si Jenks
Old Man (uncredited)
Tor Johnson
The Mauler (uncredited)
Fred Kelsey
Sutro (uncredited)
Joe King
Col. McLane (uncredited)
Ed Lewis
Hoghead (uncredited)
George Lloyd
Harrigan (uncredited)
Charles Marsh
Station Master (uncredited)
John Maxwell
Stockbroker (uncredited)
Frank Mayo
Gov. Stanford (uncredited)
Mike Mazurki
Jake Kilrain (uncredited)
Pat McKee
Callahan - Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Wilmuth Merkyl
Headwaiter (uncredited)
Leo White
Headwaiter (uncredited)
Jack Wise
Headwaiter (uncredited)
Frank Moran
Spectator - Sullivan Fight (uncredited)
Pat Moriarity
Spectator - Sullivan Fight (uncredited)
Wedgwood Nowell
Broker (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley
Detective (uncredited)
Lee Phelps
Detective (uncredited)
Emory Parnell
Dennis Simmons (uncredited)
Jack Roper
Donaldson (uncredited)
Syd Saylor
Hansom Cab Driver (uncredited)
Edwin Stanley
Bank President McInnes (uncredited)
Sammy Stein
Joe Choynski (uncredited)
Dan Tobey
Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Charlotte Treadway
Matron (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan
Stage Manager (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson
Gurney (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Raoul Walsh
Dialogue
Hugh Cummings
Screenplay
Horace McCoy
Screenplay
Vincent Lawrence
Reviews
John Chard
April 23, 2020
9
If I get lost, I'll send up a rocket.
Loosely based on the James J Corbett biography "The Roar Of The Crowd", Gentleman Jim is a wonderfully breezy picture that perfectly encapsulates not only the rise of the pugilistic prancer that was Corbett, but also the wind of change as regards the sport of boxing circa the 1890s.
It was like trying to hit a ghost!
The story follows Corbett (a perfectly cast Errol Flynn) from his humble beginnings as a bank teller in San Fransico, through to a chance fight with an ex boxing champion that eventually leads to him fighting the fearsome heavyweight champion of the world, John L Sullivan (beefcake personified delightfully by Ward Bond). Not all the fights are in the ring though, and it's all the spin off vignettes in Corbett's life that makes this a grand entertaining picture. There are class issues to overcome here (perfectly played out as fellow club members pay to have him knocked down a peg or two), and Corbett has to not only fight to get respect from his so called peers, but he must also overcome his ego as it grows as briskly as his reputation does.
Along with the quite wonderful Corbett family, and all their stoic humorous support, Corbett's journey is as enthralling as it is joyous, yet as brash and as bold as he is, he is a very likable character, and it's a character that befits the tagged moniker he got of Gentleman Jim. The film never sags for one moment, and it's a testament to director Raoul Walsh that although we are eagerly awaiting the final fight, the outer ring goings on are keeping us firmly entertained, not even the love interest sub plot hurts this picture (thank you Alexis Smith). The fight sequences stand up really well, and they perfectly show just how Corbett became the champ he was, his brand of dancing rings round slugger fighters is now firmly placed in boxing history.
As the final reel rolls we all come down to earth as an after fight meeting between Sullivan and Corbett puts all the brutality into context, and it's here where humility and humbleness becomes the outright winner, and as far as this viewer goes, it will do for me to be sure to be sure. 9/10 for a truly wonderful picture.
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00
