after a bunch of early film where robert taylor be play both modern and costumed romantic lead and take full advantage of his extraordinary good look and robert taylor ask for some more rugged type role . louis b. mayer answer to his most cooperative of star be to cast him first in a yank at oxford and then in the crowd roar . in the first film and taylor row crew for dear old oxford where he be a matriculating student . but in the crowd roar he even more rugged a a boxer . the role be choose for him so he could have lot of opportunity to go bare chested and show that in fact he get hair on his chest . taylor himself make that comment and back in those more innocent day it be to show he be not a powderpuff a if have follicle on your anterior be proof of that . overlook in this hairy situation be the fact that robert taylor get a very fine role for himself a a boxer determine to make a quick buck and get out as fast a possible before become a punch drunk rummy . he have poor and he have rich and rich be well . back when he be poor he be live hand to mouth with a near do well father and frank morgan and and a gentle mother who take in washing because her husband couldn not hold down a job . taylor mother in the crowd roar be play by emma dunn in a brief and but very telling role . anyway when young gene reynolds grow up to be robert taylor he now support dear old dad who still drink and gamble . those two habit be nearly the undoing of his son when he fall into the hand of rival gambler edward arnold and nat pendleton . the usual bumbling oaf that frank morgan portrays on screen be play far more serious here . it one of frank morgan best screen role . arnold have his secret also and his daughter maureen osullivan and her ditzy friend jane wyman think arnold be a stockbroker and a if that wasn not also gamble . taylor in court sullivan do not disillusion her . look for another good performance by william gargan a a former light heavyweight champion who take an interest in young gene reynolds and lionel stander a gargan trainer and later taylor trainer . the crowd roar be a fine film from mgm that go a long way in expand robert taylor range a thespian . and we prove he have hair on his chest .