Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Co-produced and directed by W.S. Van Dyke, with an original story by two time Oscar winner Frances Marion, which was adapted by John Lee Mahin and John Meehan, this average boxing film features real heavyweight champion Max Baer with Myrna Loy in the title roles. Ring champs Primo Carnera and Jack Dempsey also appear, as themselves. Walter Huston plays an ex-manager, now a drunk, who discovers Baer's character as a bouncer in a bar; Vince Barnett plays his trainer. Otto Kruger plays a gangster who's "kept" Loy's character, a singer at his club, in furs and jewels. Robert McWade plays Kruger's trigger man.Upon discovering Baer, whom he thinks will be the next heavyweight champion, Huston's character sobers up and begins promoting his young, handsome fighter. While they're doing road training, Loy's car crashes nearby such that she's rescued by Baer, who instantly falls for her. Unable to "wash him out of her hair", Loy breaks with Kruger and marries the pugilist.Huston "bans" Loy from Baer's practice camp for the good of his training, but Baer strays (with various other women) while his winning streak grows to 19 bouts over the course of a year, earning him a shot at the title with Carnera. Loy learns about the cheating, giving Baer one more chance, which he blows. Kruger is only too happy to help Baer get his chance, setting him up for a beating by Carnera, after Loy returns to his lair.The climactic fight includes Dempsey as its referee. The ending is as unbelievable as it is predictable, at least for today's audience, but it must have been "original" at the time, explaining why Marion received a Best Writing Achievement Oscar nomination for this film.

I liked this movie (especially the ending), it was marred by singing. What is really interesting about this movie is Three things. 1: The History involved such as seeing former Champions such as Jack Dempsey, Jess Willard and James J. Corbett as part of the movie, and how Max Baer used what he learned about Primo Carnera to defeat him and win the World Heavyweight Championship. 2: There is no real bad guy in the movie. I know that Willie Ryan was a gangster (and not good), but spoilers ahead: He did not order people to get knocked off, and did fire Belle (Myrna Loy) from her nightclub singing position, so she could go back to her husband boxer Steve Morgan (Baer). Speaking of Ryan, he ended up okay, much better then other guys who lost Loy characters to someone else such as Blackie Gallagher (Clark Gable) in 'Manhattan Melodrama.' 3: Myrna Loy. Her character Belle is the one who is the moral compass of the movie. Belle is different then many dramatic characters she played in her career. Gertie Waxted in 'Penthouse', 'Evelyn Prentice', Coco in 'Topaze', Anne-Marie in 'Stamboul Quest', Eleanor in "Manhattan Melodrama' and her two nastiest characters: Fah Lo See in 'The Mask Of Fu Manchu' and Ursula Georgi in 'Thirteen Women.' Come to mind. None of which are really nice. What you see with her is a very decent and strong person who is unappreciated by both Willie and especially Steve (who cheats on her). The only person who really understands her is 'The Professor' (Walter Huston) who is Steve's trainer. He said "You are not like other women.' If you see the fight where Steve is getting pounded by Carnera, and believes everyone is against him, 'The Professor' cannot help him, because Steve fired him, and Willie said to Belle "Have you seen enough?" (enjoying seeing him get beaten), it is Belle who says "We haven't even started" and gets 'The Professor' back in the corner and he helps Steve salvage a draw. Also watch the end where Steve goes down on one knee to her, and says "I don't want to be the big man, I just want you." And repeats 'The Professor's observation of her. However, she (along with 'The Professor') are going to continue to have him fight, and become the champion he can be. The one difference is unlike earlier when she was home washing dishes, she will be there making sure everything works in and out of the ring. 8/10 stars.

This novelty film provides more entertainment that one might expect. Myrna Loy is Belle, headline singer at a club owned by tough guy Willie Ryan (Otto Kruger). When Belle meets ambitious heavyweight boxer Steve Morgan (Max Baer), she is swept off her feet by his confidence and charm. Willie wants to retaliate against the iron-jawed palooka, but his love of Belle forces him to step aside and hope for her happiness.Max Baer is the center of this film. The story follows his life in and out of the ring. This is stunt casting. Baer was a prime contender for the (real) world heavyweight title. Who knew he could actually act...and sing and dance! In one scene he performs with a bevy of chorines in a number that is the best part of the film. Most dance numbers in 1933 are no match for the precision, artistry and technical skills of the choreography in the forties and later, but the "training day" motif of this dance displays real fitness and gymnastic ability. And Baer performs with them, tap for tap.The end of the film includes a boxing match between the contender and the champ, featuring three boxing champions in the ring at the same time: Jack Dempsey (as the referee), Max Baer and Primo Carnera. It also features the introduction of other ring celebrities, including James J. Jeffries. With boxing in its heyday, these cameos must have thrilled many filmgoers.As a "time capsule", this film reveals much about the culture, language and attitudes of the depression era. It is also a surprisingly effective romance.In real life, Baer would defeat champion Carnera in 1934. Baer's life was so colorful, it would make a great subject for film.

This really is not the most original or enjoyable genre movie to watch. It features a formulaic love-story about a rising boxing star who falls for the girl of a notorious criminal.It are the sport elements that still provide the movie with some good moments. It's interesting to see a boxing movie from the early '30's, when the sport itself was still so much different compared to now days. Especially the end match is a delight to watch. It's well and effectively filmed. A great finale, for an otherwise bit of dragging and formulaic movie. Not sure what to think about the style. At times it seemed like the movie-makers tried to make the movie a comedy and at others it was more a sport movie, with the usual dramatic moments in it. They even managed to put musical numbers in the movie! Can you just now imaging a boxing champion appearing, singing and dancing on a stage? The movie is really a mixture of styles, that are not too well balanced. The movie too often switches from style, to give the movie an overall consistent atmosphere. Because of that the story also doesn't always work out as effective as it could had.Not too happy about the acting in this movie either. Casting an athlete as the main character is always a questionable choice. Max Baer is good enough in some sequences but just plain bad in others, especially the ones that require some more emotional acting. Otto Kruger is also a bad choice as a tough gangster leader. He is far from believable in his role. And who ever told Jack Dempsey he could act? They gave him far too many lines, just because he is, well Jack Dempsey. The same goes for many other famous boxing champions of its period, that make a cameo in this movie toward the ending. Yet it also is what makes this movie so special to watch. What other movie does feature so many former boxing celebrities? It in a way still makes this an essential viewing for the boxing fan.Definitely true that the end fight makes this movie worth watching but by no means this movie is a must-see.6/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/