Conflict
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
David Howard
John Wayne
Jean Rogers
Tommy Bupp
Frank Sheridan
Ward Bond
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Pat Glendon works as a stooge for boxer Gus Carrigan. His job is to gain the confidence of small rural communities, and then, pretending to be a stranger, to knock out Carrigan in order to drive up bets before a fight. Once in the ring, he lets Carrigan win, and they split the profits. This racket is run by Sam Stubener's gang. Pat and gang member Spider Welsh are sent to the next target, a lumber camp in the Northwest, with instructions to do good deeds to win over the suspicious lumberjacks. Because social worker Maude Sangster is so attractive, Pat begins to read the books she offers. Unknown to Pat, however, Maude is really a reporter trying to help round up Stubener's gang. After Pat saves a drowning boy named Tommy, a runaway from an orphanage, the boy follows Pat home, where Pat takes him in. Meanwhile, posters have gone up announcing Carrigan's arrival and Tommy suggests that Pat fight him when he comes to town. At a local picnic, Pat and Kelly, the favorite of a rival lumber camp, get into a fight over Maude, and Pat wins. Afterward, Dennis, Pat's boss, asks Pat to represent the camp at the Carrigan fight. Pat goes into training under Tommy's managership. When Carrigan arrives and Stubener starts collecting everyone's money, however, Pat starts to feel bad about taking money from people he has grown to like and tells Stubener he will not go through with the fight. When Stubener insists, Pat warns him that the fight will be on the level. A drunk recognizes Pat from an earlier fight and advises everyone not to bet on him. Maude tells Pat about the rumors, but even she cannot stop him. When Spider sees Stubener's men putting plaster of paris on Carrigan's fists, he tries to warn Pat, but is shot before he can. Maude hears Spider's warning and tells the referee, who discovers the hardened plaster. After it is removed, Pat beats Carrigan with a knockout. Maude and Pat now plan to marry and adopt Tommy.
Director
David Howard
Cast
John Wayne
Jean Rogers
Tommy Bupp
Frank Sheridan
Ward Bond
Eddie Borden
Harry Woods
Bryant Washburn
Lloyd Ingraham
Frank Hagney
Margaret Mann
Bruce Mitchell
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's pre-release title was The Showdown. In 1924, Universal-Jewel made a film based on the London novel entitled The Abysmal Brute, which was directed by Hobart Henley and starred Reginald Denny and Mabel Julienne Scott (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.0007).
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1936
Released in United States 1936
