Madison Square Garden

"Madison Square Garden" is a pre-code film about corruption in the boxing and wrestling industries...particularly boxing.

When the story begins, Doc (William Collier Sr.) is the manager of a doughy boxer (Jack Oakie) and a thick-headed wrestler (Warren Hymer). He's seen as a paragon among managers, as he's VERY protective over his clients. He also hates corruption and mobsters...something endemic to the sports. In the case of this story, a 'protection association' claims to be looking out for the best interests of their boxers...but Doc knows they are a bunch of crooks.

As a result of Doc's reputation, the folks who run Madison Square Garden hire him to be their programming director...but this means he can no longer be a manager, as it would be a conflict of interest. He refuses the job initially, but when his clients realize it's because of his fatherly attitude towards them, they fire Doc...enabling him to be a big-shot with Madison Square Garden.

In the meantime, Eddie Burke (Oakie) signs with the crooks Doc hates. Eddie doesn't realize that they want him to fail, as they are gambling on his losing the big fight. To ensure this, they keep Eddie distracted from his training and they plan to cheat...to make his opponent's hands like iron! Can Doc and Eddie manage to defeat these crooks? And, who will help them in this crusade?

The film is worth watching for boxing fans...particularly those who want to see great boxers of the past. Most who appear in the film are no longer household names, but I was surprised to see Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champ and the subject of the play and movie "The Great White Hope".

Apart from these cameos, the film works well despite the fact that Oakie looks like he'd have trouble beating his leading lady in the ring...let along his opponent in the big fight! This is because the story is fun and breezy...and worth your time.