Conflict

An American drama; A story set in 1890s about a farmer raised in the mountains by his father as a bare-knuckle boxer who becomes subject to a prize-fighting gambling scam. This sports drama is loosely based on Jack London's 1913 novel The Abysmal Brute which was previously adapted into a film in 1923. The film is hemmed down to action apart from some sideline melodrama with a kid which works quite well for John Wayne. He looks the part as the strapping pugilist and Ward Bond, swinging as a prizefighter, is a worthy opponent for the engaging conflict. Jean Rogers is charming and comely but isn't given much leeway with the role she's given. The camerawork is quite good.