Romance And Thrills In “The Crowd Roars”

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

Romance And Thrills In “The Crowd Roars”

A “movie” in the real sense of the! word, so packed with motion and action that it keeps the audience on the edge of its seats throughout, is “The Crowd Roars,” Robert Taylor’s latest stellar triumph. i And it is a triumph for Taylor, for he provides the surprise of the year in his first prize fight role, giving more verisimilitude to the character of Tommy “Killer” McKoy than probably, any other film player who ever essayed a fight part. It’s a virile, two-fisted* smashing role that more than fulfils the promise that the star revealed in “A Yank at Oxford.” He dishes it out, and how he takes it! This is easily the finest job of both acting and en-> tertainment that Taylor has v ever turned out. Teamed with the star again is Maureen O’Sullivan, who once more shows herself the ideal romantic foil, sincere.

►appealing and forthright. And for com* petition there’s her school chum, Jane Wyman, admirable as the blonde rival for Taylor’s affections. If anyone could “steal” the picture from Taylor, which is well-nigh impossible, so completely does he score a knockout, it would be Frank Morgan as his father, the dissolute exvaudeville “ham.” As Brian McCoy, Morgan is superb not only in his comedy that “leaves ’em in the aisles,” but in his dramatic delineation of all the character’s potentialities. It is an acting gem. Edward Arnold as the big-shot gambler who pulls the behind-the*hrena strings; William Gargan in a memorable role as Johnny Martin, exrlightheavyweight champ, who is, killed by his former pupil, Taylo’rj in a“ comeback bout; Isabel Jewell as Gargan’s wife; Lionel Stander, typical as “Happy,” Taylor’s trainer; Nat Pendleton as Arnold’s racketeering rival, and young Gene Reynolds, outstanding as Tommy McCoy as a boy, vie so closely for supporting honours that a host of other character players can but follow, in their footsteps* To director Richard Thorpe goes credit for the amazingly fast action, the breathless suspense and the warm romance of author George Bruce’s story; to producer Sam Zimbalist, plaudits for investing his picture with the most authentic flavour of any film fight ever to come out of Hollywood, and for presenting his star in a role that should win him the most enthusiastic fan following he has ever enjoyed.