The Big Timer (1932) DVD-R

Starring Ben Lyon, Constance Cummings, Thelma Todd, Tom Dugan,
Robert Emmett O'Connor, Charley Grapewin
Directed by Edward Buzzell

Print: black/white
Runtime: 72 min.
Genre: drama
Print Quality: B

Ben Lyon plays an aspiring boxer in this pre-code drama. Cookie Bradford
(Lyon) toils at a diner and works out at the gym while waiting for his big
break. His one supporter is the gym owner's daughter, Honey (Constance
Cummings). When her father dies suddenly, she decides to take over his
business. The fighters, however, have no faith in a woman, and they all
walk out on her -- except for Bradford. She begins coaching him and he
starts winning fights. But when they marry and head for the big city, male
prejudice towards Honey works against them until she manages to place
Bradford in a charity fight held by a socialite (Thelma Todd, on loan from
the Hal Roach Studios). Bradford then fights his way up to Madison
Square Garden, but it all goes to his head. He ignores Honey in favor of
the socialite, and dumps her as a manager in favor of Dan Wilson, a man
with a big name and big promises. But Bradford's luck runs out and he
loses his way to the bottom of the bill. It takes Honey's ingenuity to make
him into a contender once again. This was Edward N. Buzzell's debut as a
feature film director.