Review of The Big Chance

Films about prize-fighting are many, and most of them are very similar in nature. But this low-budget feature presents a hero so boring and plot developments so overly predictable that even the most tepid of those films are practically outstanding in comparison. John Darrow is the most unlikely of prize-fighters, especially when compared to later ones like William Holden, John Garfield, Robert Ryan and even Sylvester Stallone. He looks more like he stepped out of society than a gymnasium and in fact only barely comes to life when he's involved with the film's socialite heroine (Myrna Kennedy) and flirting with a femme fatal (played by Natalie Moorehead, who seems to be old enough here to have been fellow vamp Theda Bara's college roommate) set up to keep him from getting distracted from the criminal element trying to make a quick buck off of him. A few stereotypical characters pop in to try to liven up the action, and there's even a very young Mickey Rooney as Kennedy's younger brother tossed in for some cute comic relief. Even at a short running time, the film ranks as a disappointment because it lacks the oomph which later films (especially those of the film noir era) made so much better.