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You're going to want to rent this movie to see Errol Flynn as a boxer. He has plenty of sweaty, shirtless scenes to keep you satisfied, but believe it or not, those scenes won't be the ones that keep you coming back to this movie over and over again. Yes, he's adorable, but it's Ward Bond who steals the show. He plays "John L. Sullivan himself", the champion boxer Errol hopes to beat. Not only does he put on a hilarious Irish accent and bare all in his own boxing scenes, but he sinks his teeth in the meaty, emotional role. In my favorite scene, Errol challenges him to a fight by insulting his age and virility, and Ward loses his temper, while making sure to finish his meal. You'd never guess that Ward Bond could steal the spotlight away from the incomparable Errol Flynn, but he does.

Back to the lead, though: Errol comes from a poor background, and he often gets into fistfights. When he learns he can make money from boxing, he makes it his mission to become a gentleman. Alan Hale, usually Errol's sidekick, gets to play his loud and proud father. Alexis Smith is the snooty love interest who sees his poor background through his tuxedo. How does it turn out for the boxers? You'll have to watch this adorable, entertaining '40s flick to find out.

This is one of Errol's best films and performances as Gentleman Jim Corbett. He's loose and lively with his movie star charm and charisma in full evidence. He's also well matched with Alexis Smith one of the most undervalued of golden era actresses. They made four films together with this being the best of the bunch. Well directed by Walsh with a quick pace and a great group of the Warners stock company assembled. Ward Bond in particular stands out in a nice scene as John L. Sullivan passing the torch of championship on to the next generation. An excellent example of the studio system working at peak efficiency where all the components fall into place and turn an average script into something more.

If you like Flynn, Jack Carson, Alan Hale, Alexis Smith, William Frawley and/or Ward Bond, then this is the film for you. This film is a biopic about the boxer, James "Gentleman Jim" J. Corbett, who was one of the first boxers to fight under the modern boxing rules. This film deals with his ascent to stardom, courtesy of his brash cockiness and natural talent as a boxer. Carson portrays his less attractive friend who enjoys the perks involved in being friends with a star. Hale is his Irish father who is hilarious.

Smith plays a woman whom Flynn courts throughout the entire film. She pretends to loathe him, mostly because of his arrogance, but throughout the film, you can tell that she's got the hots for him (and who wouldn't?) even though she tries to suppress it. Frawley is Flynn's boxing manager who tries to keep him a serious boxer, but struggles at times. Finally Bond plays John Sullivan, the reigning heavyweight boxing champion who Flynn ends up challenging. Their fight is the climax of the film. There's a very touching scene between Flynn and Bond at the end of the film. It's followed by a very funny scene involving Hale and Carson. Highly recommended. Even if you're not a boxing fan, you'll find this film enjoyable. Flynn so effortlessly makes his "cock of the walk" character utterly charming. In lesser hands the part of Jim Corbett could have easily become obnoxious, but Flynn's personality and charisma makes the audience root for his character.

Although the mention of Errol Flynn most often evokes images of his bravura Golden Age performance in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (his portrayal of that character was ranked the 18th greatest American film hero by the American Film Institute), 1942's "Gentleman Jim," with Flynn as old-time boxer James J. Corbett waging his most famous fight against the great champion John L. Sullivan, is my favorite among Flynn's estimable body of work.

Flynn, considered the successor to Douglas Fairbanks as the screen's king of the swashbucklers, lived up to that promise with starring roles in films like "Captain Blood," "The Charge of the Light Brigade," "They Died with Their Boots On," "Dodge City," "Santa Fe Trail" and "San Antonio."

But "Gentleman Jim," based on Corbett's autobiography, "The Roar of the Crowd," and directed by the great Raoul Walsh, is quintessential Flynn, the sleek, daring young man on the rise and at the top of his game, here supported by a deep, perfectly cast group of actors that included frequent Flynn sidekick Alan Hale (this time as Flynn's father), Ward Bond (as a barrel-chested Sullivan), Alexis Smith (as his smitten but sassy love interest) and Jack Carson (as his well-meaning but gullible and socially awkward best bud).

And, yes, that's William Frawley a decade before "I Love Lucy" and Fred Mertz, stealing scenes in a pivotal role as a cigar-chomping, opportunistic but sometimes disbelieving little fight promoter.

Alas, the real-life Flynn, who had trained so hard to be in shape as Corbett, died at the young age of 50 in October 1959, his body aged well beyond its years, his personal life and film career in tatters, victims of a burn-the-candle-at-both-ends and all too often scandalous lifestyle (see his autobiography with ghostwriter Eric Conrad, "My Wicked, Wicked Ways," and David Niven's memoir, "Bring on the Empty Horses," for a glimpse of his complex and troubled life).

As for Corbett (1866-1933), who graduated from Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco and was "rumored" to have a college education, he's been called the "Father of Modern Boxing" for his athletic dodging, dancing and weaving technique in the ring, Muhammad Ali before there was a Muhammad Ali. That entertaining and often harrowing style against sometimes bigger and stronger opponents, plus being blessed with a natural sense of theatricality and movie-star good looks that led to a second career in stage acting, resulted in his being christened Gentleman Jim by an admiring press eager to capitalize on his charisma.

But this was Flynn at his best, as he should be remembered, a match with character made in cinematic heaven.

If you haven't seen "Gentleman Jim," or if it's been a while, have a look.

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.