This was an entertaining film, right from the get-go, and it seemed to be divided into three segments.
Segment One was a crime story in which the leading character, "Jimmy Dolan" (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) is shown as a heavyweight champion (at 170 pounds? Well, boxing stories weren't all that realistic on film for many years) who is nothing like his public image. (Hmm...sounds like something familiar, even today). Anyway, a reporter finds out Dolan is not as wholesome as he portrays himself, states he's going to blow the whistle on him and Dolan socks him in the face before he can divulge his "scoop." Unfortunately, the blow kills the man. Without going into other details to ruin it anyone who has not seen this, Dolan winds up on the lam out west in Salt Lake City.
Segment Two is a romance, human--interest story. Loretta Young and Ailine MacMahon are introduced into the film as a young woman-and-aunt who run a ranch for several disable kids who were rescued out of an institution. As things progress, Young falls for Fairbanks, and slowly takes the cynicism out of him. The kids are all pretty entertaining and among them is a very young Mickey Rooney who delivers his lines so naturally you can see why he became a big star at a young age. Anne Shirley is also among the kids.
Segment Three involves a boxing match in which Fairbanks is trying to earn money to help save the ranch for the women and kids. In that segment is a young John Wayne, with a greasy 1950s hairdo! The boxing scenes are almost laughable, but that's okay. We are more interested in what happens than how real it looks. This segment also involves Guy Kibbe, a detective who has been tracking down Fairbanks. I can't say more about him without risking spoiling the ending.
That mixture of crime, suspense, action, romance, drama, family and kids sentiment all make this 87-minute film worth your time.
Segment One was a crime story in which the leading character, "Jimmy Dolan" (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) is shown as a heavyweight champion (at 170 pounds? Well, boxing stories weren't all that realistic on film for many years) who is nothing like his public image. (Hmm...sounds like something familiar, even today). Anyway, a reporter finds out Dolan is not as wholesome as he portrays himself, states he's going to blow the whistle on him and Dolan socks him in the face before he can divulge his "scoop." Unfortunately, the blow kills the man. Without going into other details to ruin it anyone who has not seen this, Dolan winds up on the lam out west in Salt Lake City.
Segment Two is a romance, human--interest story. Loretta Young and Ailine MacMahon are introduced into the film as a young woman-and-aunt who run a ranch for several disable kids who were rescued out of an institution. As things progress, Young falls for Fairbanks, and slowly takes the cynicism out of him. The kids are all pretty entertaining and among them is a very young Mickey Rooney who delivers his lines so naturally you can see why he became a big star at a young age. Anne Shirley is also among the kids.
Segment Three involves a boxing match in which Fairbanks is trying to earn money to help save the ranch for the women and kids. In that segment is a young John Wayne, with a greasy 1950s hairdo! The boxing scenes are almost laughable, but that's okay. We are more interested in what happens than how real it looks. This segment also involves Guy Kibbe, a detective who has been tracking down Fairbanks. I can't say more about him without risking spoiling the ending.
That mixture of crime, suspense, action, romance, drama, family and kids sentiment all make this 87-minute film worth your time.