The Shakedown (1929)

A boxer (James Murray) is part of a traveling scam to small towns that sets up boxing matches with rigged fights. When he gets to a new town, things change for him when he falls in love with a waitress (Barbara Kent) and an orphan (Jack Hanlon) looks up to him. Directed by William Wyler, this family friendly boxing movie is no ROCKY and the last silent film (though a partial sound version was released simultaneously) directed by Wyler. The film is helped by the appealing James Murray (who died 6 years later at age 35) in the central role. But there's nothing particularly special about the film and certainly no indication that a soon to be major director was at the helm. I'm not partial to "adorable" cinematic ragamuffins and young Jack Hanlon's orphan is a bit too precious. It's the sort of movie usually described as "heartwarming" but my heart remained chilled. I didn't dislike it, far from it but I never got into it. With George Kotsonaros and Wheeler Oakman, who makes funny faces.