“Iron Man” Tale of Boxing Arena

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6626, 12 August 1931, Page 5

“Iron Man” Tale of Boxing Arena

In "Iron Men,” which opens on Saturday at tho Kosy Theatre, Universal has given Lew Ayres a picture of power, strength ,and utter sincerity. It is to the credit of the star—and it is Lew Ayres ’ first real starring picture—that he rises to the occasion ana proves himself an actor, and one which makes no concessions to the situations or solutions which are "typically movie.” It proves with inevitablcncss from start to finish. Strangely enough, this story, taken from W. B. Burnett’s novel, is tho love story of a man, but not of a woman. Perhaps, as such, it has more appeal to feminine audiences than to masculine, although it is a picture that deals with fights and fighters, and resounds with tho thud of punches in the squared arena. "Iron Men” is the tale of the development of a fighter, from tho time he is a "palooka,” or ham fighter, until he wins the lightweight crown. Tho man directly' responsible for this result is the fighter’s manager, played by Robert Armstrong, who gives a portrayal which proves again what an excellent actor ho is. Ho knows how to handle his young fistic artist, how to nurse him through his moods, how to deflate his ego a.t the proper time, and how to inflate it when it means success.- :

Lew Ayres has -won his long battle with Universal, the company which placed him on long contract on completion of "All Quiet on tho Western Front,” at a salary which was originally £l7 10s a week, and was ‘ voluntarily” increased to £SO after revelations, in various journals.