Review of Gentleman Jim (1942) by Addie - — 10 Feb 2011

Gentleman Jim (1942) -- [6.5] -- Errol Flynn plays a banker who takes up boxing and makes it all the way to a climactic match against the heavyweight champion of the world. "Gentleman Jim" is more entertaining than I imagined, thanks to Flynn's persistent charm and healthy doses of wit and humor.

Alan Hale returns to Flynn's side, this time playing his proud papa, while Alexis Smith takes over the leading lady duties. She's no De Havilland, but she holds her own in a romantic subplot that is unusually tolerable for the time.

The film's main problem is that Flynn's character never encounters much hardship, neither in the act two crisis nor the climax itself. Things are just too easy for him. But that is decidedly the spirit of the film, and it's nonetheless entertaining.

I especially enjoyed the seaside boxing match, a scene featuring an impressive set built around a tank of water with hordes of actors positioned on three different levels -- the mainland, a recessed dock, and a schooner ship.