Gentleman Jim (1942)

 Raoul Walsh's "Gentleman Jim"

Errol Flynn was an actor known for his action films like "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "Dodge City." At the end of his career, he was asked what his favorite performance in a film was, to which he responded with his 1942 hit "Gentleman Jim." The film is based on the life of real-life boxer James J. Corbett. Starting out as a bank teller and ending up becoming the heavyweight champion of the world, Corbett's rise to success was the perfect role for Flynn, despite its hiccups. 

Flynn had intended to star in the film after Warner Brothers purchased the rights to Corbett's autobiography, "The Roar of the Crowd," from his widow, Vera. Director Raoul Walsh was tasked with realizing the adaptation to the film screen. In fact, Walsh had even met the late boxer as a young boy. Flynn took boxing lessons to prepare for the role of Corbett. Filming for the film was to start in January of 1942. However, Flynn attempted to enlist in the military after the US entered World War II in December of 1941. However, after his application was rejected, Flynn was all-go for the film. Although shooting the film was joyous for Flynn, who had retrospectively that he had never had such a good time making the film, he also had severe health conditions. These health conditions were one of the reasons for his rejected application into the military. While filming one boxing scene, he suffered a mild heart attack. He returned to filming a week later.

"Gentleman Jim" was a great success for Warner Brothers, as it was the third Flynn film to gross over $2 million. Many critics called the film a fun time at the theater. The boxing sequences were especially fun in the film, as Walsh seemed to film actual boxing between the actors. The realistic boxing sequences would go on to inspire more boxing films to come.