[3]
This early silent film from Alfred Hitchcock features some creative photography and editing, but an overly simplistic story and incredulous characters make it a frustrating watch. Carl Brisson stars as ‘One Round’ Jack, a circus sideshow boxer who takes on any challenger and pays them a cash reward if he doesn’t defeat them in one round. He and Mabel, the ticket-seller (Lillian Hall-Davis), are planning to get married, but her lustful heart wanders when Jack is defeated by Bob, a bystander (Ian Hunter) who happens to be a heavyweight champion. Bob hires Jack as his professional sparring partner and Jack marries Mabel, but an adulterous love triangle nevertheless begins to form.
The characters are insufferable here, with wimpy Jack tolerating Mabel and Bob’s obvious betrayal for far too long. I mean, Mabel keeps a framed photograph of Bob on top the piano, for shit’s sake. Mabel and Bob are unredeemable assholes, too. The only relatable and entertaining character in the film is Gordon Harker as Jack’s trainer, a perpetually unimpressed man whose sour face and droll reaction shots bring welcome comedy to the proceedings.
The film’s big climax is one you can see coming from miles away, pitting Jack and Bob against each other in the boxing ring while that slut Mabel watches. To the inducing of much eyeball rolling, Jack wins her back by winning the match. I hoped against hope that he’d punch that floozie in the face and drop her body next to Bob’s, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
With Forrester Harvey and Harry Terry.