Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Gentleman Jim Blu-ray Movie Review

A technical knockout.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 6, 2024

Loosely based on boxer James J. Corbett's own 1894 autobiography The Roar of the Crowd, Raoul Walsh's Gentleman Jim was (and still is) a crowd-pleasing affair with a truly fantastic lead performance by Errol Flynn. Highly entertaining and exciting with just the right amount of humor, it's a great mixture of Golden Age Hollywood drama that takes a few cues from its own subject: a man who changed the evolving sport of boxing with his then-unorthodox style and brash, charismatic behavior both in and out of the ring. Bolstered by great production design, a fine original score, and solid supporting performances, Gentleman Jim speeds along at just 104 minutes but still feels larger than life.

Plot-wise, I'll keep it breezy: if there's one area where Gentlemen Jim doesn't feel especially ambitious, it's surprises. We've seen so many underdog sports movies during the past 80+ years that Jim feels almost quaint, but really what it's doing here is laying the groundwork for future genre staples like Rocky and Raging Bull. This being 1942, of course, Gentleman Jim plays more like straightforward escapist entertainment rather than some kind of full-bodied character portrait, with titular Jim Corbett (Flynn) depicted as a man who just happens to talk his way into the sport.

It opens in 1887 San Francisco, when Jim and his best pal Walter Lowrie (Jack Carson) attend an illegal bareknuckle boxing competition which is broken up by the police. Also in attendance is Judge Geary (Wallis Clark), who serves on the board of directors at the bank where Jim and Walter work... but Jim's able to smooth-talk the Judge out of trouble, and he even earns a pay raise for his efforts. Concurrently, it turns out that the Judge is also looking to make the then-unsavory image of boxing more "respectable" by bringing in more gentlemanly types to, you know, beat the snot out of each other as the crowd cheers for blood. Employing the "Marquess of Queensberry" rules (three minute rounds with breaks, mandatory gloves, ten-second counts, etc.), he also brings in British coach Harry Watson (Rhys Williams) to scout new talent... which just to happens to include Jim, a surprisingly handy fighter whose looks and charisma should be able to draw a crowd. Jim's got no shortage of challenges ahead, from local fighters of all skill levels all the way up to reigning champ and man's man John L. Sullivan (Ward Bond). He also finds resistance from members of the upper class including lovely Victoria Ware (Alexis Smith), but Jim's feelings for her aren't reciprocated at first.

Unsurprisingly, the film's fundamental strengths (cinematography, editing, music, etc.) ensure that Gentleman Jim runs at a four-star pace from start to finish, rarely venturing into even stronger territory but almost never dipping below that mark either. Everyone pulls their weight, but Flynn's lead performance -- which may just be his best in a non-adventure film -- really ties everything together. Even so, Gentleman Jim earns some extra credit for marrying some of its content to the real subject; for example, by emphasizing not only Jim's then-unorthodox "scientific" approach to the sport, but even showcasing his footwork during several bouts. (It's reported that not only did Flynn and company train extensively for the boxing scenes, but the former even suffered a very mild heart attack in the process.) In all respects, the solid work put into almost every part of Gentleman Jim clearly shows on screen: though rarely brought up in conversations about great sports movies, this one deserves at least a very strong honorable mention if not more.

Long overdue for rediscovery, Warner Archive presents Gentleman Jim in a solid Blu-ray debut that really looks like the next best thing to a bona fide 4K edition. It's another top-tier restorative effort for the most reliable boutique label in the business, enough so that the formidable strength of the main feature isn't even this release's high point.

Gentleman Jim Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I needn't have to tell you that any Warner Archive Blu-ray release sourced from a new 4K scan of the original camera nitrate negative yields anything but perfect results, but Gentleman Jim absolutely exceeds any and all expectations set by fans of this era of classic cinema. As usual, fine detail is nothing short of revelatory from start to finish, specifically in regards to its costume and production design, which really run the gamut of extremes from the run-down and rustic environment of its opening bout to the lavish Olympic Club and, of course, the all but inevitable main events that dot the film's second half. Black levels, contrast, and shadow detail are exemplary, even in challenging conditions such as foggy weather or scenes shot at night or in similarly low lighting and, as always, Warner Archive's reliably solid disc encoding ensures a viewing experience free from compression-related issues such as banding, macro blocking, and posterization. Five stars all the way for yet another Blu-ray disc that pushes format limitations.

Gentleman Jim Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner Archive's DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix offers a largely clean and crisp split-mono presentation of its original source, one that features clear dialogue that's nicely mixed with background effects and other elements. The original score by Heinz Roemheld (The Lady from Shanghai, Strawberry Blonde) adds some sonic personality to the experience and enjoys a solid dynamic range, thanks to the boutique label's typically careful touch in the restoration department. Certain levels of hiss and crackle still remain at times; it's an almost unavoidable byproduct of this careful touch, but one that's understandable and doesn't get in the way of an overall very satisfactory audio presentation.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature, not the extras listed below.

Gentleman Jim Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

As usual, this release arrives in a keepcase with artwork based on the bland original poster. No inserts are inside, but a nice little assortment of era-specific bonus features helps to round out the package.

• Vintage Warner Bros. Cartoons - A trio of enjoyable shorts newly restored in HD and looking great.

• The Dover Boys (8:58) - More fully known as "The Dover Boys at Pimento University, or the Rivals of Roquefort Hall", this relatively early Chuck Jones cartoon is a playful parody of The Rover Boys, a popular book series of the era aimed at younger readers. An early example of "limited animation", it follows the titular three brothers as they face off against their eternal rival, the evil Dan Backslide.
• Foney Fables (8:13) - Another 1942 short, this one directed by Friz Freleng, Foney Fables is a series of extremely short "fractured fairy tales" (an extremely common theme in animation at the time) including then-modern skewers of Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs, Old Mother Hubbard, and several others.
• Hobby Horse-Laffs (6:41) - Director Norm McCabe helms this 1942 black-and-white Looney Tunes outing, again a spoof of a then-popular property (in this case, a radio series titled "Hobby Lobby"), in which a dozen or so unique hobbies and interests are lightly examined in very short vignettes.

• Screen Guild Radio Broadcast (29:38) - Episode #183 of the long-running radio series is played in full; originally airing on Valentine's Day 1944 , this highly abridged program features Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, and Ward Bond reprising their respective roles. (Long-time John Ford / John Wayne collaborator Grant Withers capably fills in for Jack Carson as James Corbett's friend, Walter Lowrie.)

• Original Theatrical Trailer (1:43) - This short but entertaining promo piece can also be seen here.

Gentleman Jim Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Raoul Walsh's crowd-pleasing biopic Gentleman Jim remains solidly entertaining more than 80 years after its original release due to an accessible and well-paced story, interesting subject, and of course the pitch-perfect lead performance from Errol Flynn, an absolute shoe-in for the role. You don't have to be a fan of boxing in any era to enjoy it either, but followers of "the sweet science" will also appreciate its contributions to the sport's early evolution in cinema. As usual, Warner Archive's Blu-ray is a winner by knockout, pairing another top-tier A/V presentation with an assortment of era-specific extras. It's a standout release, and one well worth picking up for fans and first-timers alike.