The Kid Comes Back

Barton Maclane has been plugging away for years to become heavyweight champion. Along the way he notices that amateur Wayne Morris has a lot of potential, so he buys his contract and mentors him. Meanwhile, Morris and Maclane's sister, June Travis, fall in love. When Maclane gets the chance to be champion, he has to fight Morris for the title, but Travis wants them both out of the ring before their brains get destroyed.

It's a one-hour Warner B from the period when they were slick, fast and mostly rote efforts, but this one is carried on the charms of Maclane's dumb lug characterization, something that I always enjoy . While he was capable of some fine performances -- he is wonderful in his supporting role in HIGH SIERRA -- he spent a lot of time in the Bs as Warner's answer to George Bancroft. The result here is decent, and is bolstered by the always amusing Maxie Rosenbloom as a competing boxer.