Wednesday, May 8, 2013


Errol Flynn is my actor of choice today and the movie..."Gentleman Jim".  It was a slightly fact-based movie about two Irish-American boxers - John L. Sullivan and James J. Corbett.  

John L. Sullivan was considered the first champion of gloved heavyweight boxing. He was also known as the "Boston Strong Boy" and the last heavyweight champion of bare knuckle boxing.  (The movie shows John L. only as a sympathetic figure and makes no mention of his racist beliefs and unwillingness to fight any non-white boxers.)  

James J. Corbett or "Gentleman Jim" Corbett was best known as the man who took the heavyweight championship from the great John L. Sullivan.  

I am fanatic and passionate about Irish-Americans (being one myself) so this movie piqued my interest on that level as well.   Errol Flynn was born in Australia, but referred to himself as Irish, so I was in Irish heaven.  

Alexis Smith was Gentleman Jim's love interest. Ward Bond played the part of John L.  

I thought the only fight scene in movie was well choreographed...and after each round Gentleman Jim would tell his trainer to fix his hair, which added a clever comical touch. What is not well known is that Errol Flynn could only spar for one to two minutes at a time during the film's shooting due to his lack of physical fitness. (He tired easily perhaps due to his time partying on the town.) 

There is a touching scene at the end of the film after Gentleman Jim pummels John L.  A swell party is being thrown at Gentleman Jim's residence. Everybody is dressed to the nines while drinking and singing in the grand and hell raising fashion of the Irish. Quiet comes over the room as the defeated John L. walks in.  He offers his championship belt to Gentleman Jim.  John L. has accepted his defeat in a tear jerker courageous way!  He tells Gentleman Jim that he (Gentleman Jim) has probably changed the face of boxing, in a positive way, forever.  (That, in fact, is true.  Jim Corbett was credited by the boxing historians as the "Father of Modern Boxing".)   Gentleman Jim (Errol Flynn) accepts the belt with humility and sensitivity.  He contemplates his own life and the loneliness that John L. must feel now that he has fallen from his pugilistic throne.  

I really enjoyed watching Errol Flynn who, by all my measures, was a gorgeous man.  I am throughly going to enjoy watching him in every movie he ever made. I am all about the beautiful men, Irish or otherwise.












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