Florid boxing melodrama from director Lewis Seiler concerns a muscular, moody portrait artist in love with a reluctant band singer from New York City; she's married to a wheelchair-bound boxing manager, and it seems the only way the painter can win her over is by climbing into the ring himself (under the auspices of his new name, "Mike Angelo"!). Outrageous script was worked on by four writers (Harriet Frank Jr. and Maurice Geraghty adapted Kenneth Earl's story, which was then reworked by Gordon Kahn). Some of the lines are real howlers, though socialite Eve Arden's cynical asides are right on the money. Good for a few laughs, though several of the supporting players are uneasily cast, none more so than Zachary Scott as the invalid villain (he does everything but twist up his mustache at the corners). Dane Clark fumes and snarls in the lead, spitting out his lines like a rabid dog; one can't imagine him making a living as a boxer--he'd be more persuasive taking bets in a pool-hall. ** from ****
Review of Whiplash
