flynn and know mostly for his swashbuckling role ( and his bedroom antic . ) take a different tack with this film and it work beautifully . play real life box champ jim corbett and flynn turn on the charm full blast a he make his way from a stifled san francisco bank teller to a celebrate pugilist and all the while set one eye on society deb smith . he and best pal carson attend an illegal bare knuckle fight and be arrest along with score of other men ( and a dog . ) include a prominent judge . the next day and he get a chance and via smith and to gain entrance to the judge private club . he use this opportunity to weasel his way into the good grace of it exclusive member and land a spot a the club resident boxer . his unusually adept skill in the sport soon have him take on all comer and up to and include the world champion john l. sullivan ( bond . ) flynn be downright magical here . he be the epitome of charm and charisma and appeal in this role . he look terrific ( especially in a hangover scene with his hair muss and wear a white union suit ) and do virtually all of his own stuntwork ( impressively . ) his line delivery be delicious and he be credible and sympathetic and at the same time duplicitous and rascally . smith exudes class and taste from every pore and be a good match for flynn . at this stage and he need a female costar who could stand up to his advance and reputation ( he be undergo statutory rape charge at the time ) and she do so admirably . she be repulse by his freshness and cavalier attitude and yet can hardly help but fall under his enchant spell . bond be incredibly burly and brawny and towering and yet tender when the script call for it . amuse support be provide by a young and ebullient carson . frawley be his dependably cantankerous self a flynn manager . the rest of the cast be excellent as well include flynn rambunctious family and an assortment of stuffy nob hill type . the whole thing be beautifully appoint and securely direct . a few of the set be amazingly present . some of smith gown border on the garish and but she suit the upswept hairstyle very well . it a terrific glimpse into the early day of championship boxing and but it also so much more . some of it ( like the character trait show by flynn ) be enhance or exaggerate for entertainment purpose and but a lot of it be authentic ( like the method and costume show in the fight scene . ) one line be particularly memorable represent i believe you like me more than i like you and but it entirely possible that i love you more than you love me . it classic romantic dialogue ( and there be more than a few zinger sprinkle throughout the script as well . ) .