Born to Fight (1936)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Light-heavyweight boxer Kane Richmond (as Tom "Bomber" Brown) is about to get a shot at the championship, but refuses to participate in fight fixing, then punches out gangster Jack LaRue (as "Smoothy" Morgan) in a restaurant brawl. Although he's an honest man, Mr. Richmond hits the road, forced underground and hunted by the police. Richmond (assuming the surname "Hayes") meets teenager Frankie Darro (as "Babyface" Madison) and is impressed by the young man's fighting skills. The two become companions, with Richmond turning Mr. Darro into a featherweight champ.Eventually, Richmond's past catches up with him, and threatens Darro's future... The film receives "comic relief" from rotund ring trainer Fred "Snowflake" Toones (as "Snowflake"). Mr. Toones sports a white T-shirt (which probably has little to do with his resembling a snowflake). In a scene more startling than any of the boxing matches, Toones sings the song "What Comes Over Me" (a catchy number). Darro isn't your traditional boxer, but he's fast on his feet. Richmond's love interest is attractive Francis Grant (as Nan Howard). Serial director Charles Hutchison and the crew make the most of the money available from producer Maurice Conn, who done well with Darro.***** Born to Fight (8/13/36) Charles Hutchison ~ Frankie Darro, Kane Richmond, Fred 'Snowflake' Toones, Jack LaRue

Peter B. Kyne's name always seemed to be prominent on Western oaters of the 30s and earlier. In this film, he strays to the city and the world of boxing. After a few prestigious films like "The Public Enemy" (1931), "The Mayor of Hell" (1933), "The Wild Boys of the Road" (1933) and "No Greater Glory" (1934), the mid 30s saw Frankie Darro settled into a career playing fighters, jockeys and kids gone wrong. In this film he has one of the leads as "Babyface' Madison, a young up and coming fighter.Tom, aka "Bomber Brown", (Kane Richmond), an honest prize fighter, refuses to take a dive for gambler "Smoothy" Morgan (Jack LaRue). They fight in a nightclub and Tom, fearing he has killed him takes to the road and lives among the hobos, promising his manager he will not fight. He befriends "Babyface" Madison (Frankie Darro), a young chap who is quick with his fists. He takes the kid under his wing, not revealing his true identity. They go to Illinois - Tom is now "Babyface"'s manager and the kid goes from success to success.When he finds out that Tom turned down a crack at the title on his behalf, he splits with Tom and starts believing his own publicity. He becomes involved with a shifty manager and when Tom hears that one of "Babyface"'s opponents has been bribed to take a dive so "Babyface" will win, Tom doubles the bet so he will fight his best and "Babyface" will lose. Of course the kid comes to his senses and Tom again becomes his manager.The police have been looking for Tom - it seems "Smoothy" didn't die in the fight - but Tom is still scared and takes "Babyface" to the country to train him in secret. I don't need to reveal the ending - I actually enjoyed it. For just over an hour in length it is pretty entertaining.Jack LaRue, who had a standout role in "The Story of Temple Drake" plays "Smoothy" Morgan. Sheila Mannors, who went through a couple of name changes played the "blink and you'll miss it" part of Smoothy's girl. Fred "Snowflake" Toones had a big career, unfortunately in those unenlightened days playing mostly porters. There are plenty of references to the "Brown Bomber" Jack Dempsey as well. Snowflake (my favourite person in the film) also provides the films musical moment as he sings a song about an apple pie (in a very good baritone).Recommended.

The previous review tells us that this film defies the laws of logic. If you're looking for logic, go read Aristotle. This is a 1930s B-movie. Not a good place to look for logical exposition. Take it on it's own terms: It's a very enjoyable period piece that put most of its humble budget on-screen. Serial fans will treasure it for the opportunity to see three serial regulars: Kane Richmond, Frankie Darro and Fred "Snowflake" Toones. In fact, the latter even sings here! Given his high-pitched whiney way of vocalizing, the baritone that comes from his lips in song is a bit of a stunner. Darro is Darro, but Kane Richmond suggests that he can act a little - something that wasn't all that apparent from his rather wooden serial work. The female lead, whose name escapes me, went on to a mini-career as a choreographer as well as appearing in about a dozen films. Fans of the genre, and you know who you are, will find plenty to enjoy here. Logic be damned.

This is one of those films that defies the laws of logic. A championship boxer slugs a mobster/ gambler. It doesn't really hurt him all that much. But the boxer takes it upon himself to hide out. He goes from job to job, barely making ends meet. He meets a young boxer in a hobo jungle. They escape a mob and go on the lam. As luck would have it, the guy is a pretty good lightweight, even though he prances around like a chicken and never keeps his hands up. We are led to believe that this skinny guy is going to hold off some pretty impressive boxers. Well, a whole bunch of circumstances work against him and he is put in the position of throwing a championship fight. The "Bomber," the former champ, is forced to sit in the back of the arena and puzzle over the whole thing. There are these amusing shots of him squirming in his seat, like his shorts are too tight. There are some pretty good boxing films out there. This is not one of them.