Fisticuffs (1938) User Reviews

Max Baer At 29

[boblipton · 7/10 · 26 January 2022]

A Smith called Pete narrates this short about boxing in the person of Max Baer. Max had spent 364 days as World Heavyweight Boxing champion until beaten by James Braddock -- if you haven't seen CINDERELLA MAN, you should. Smith is more arch than comical; this is one of his shorts in which the audience is expected to learn something, rather than just laugh.

Cameraman Lester White uses simple set-ups to make sure you can see what's going on.

A cackling bozo spouts lame jokes as a lumbering galoot . . .

[oscaralbert · 5/10 · 5 March 2019]

. . . makes like a serial killer, knocking nine ninnies into comas by bashing their noggins and "braining" them. FISTICUFFS presents itself as a boxing "how to," but it is not content to follow the "rules" of proper pugilistic parlays. Instead, featured brute "Mad Max" clubs his unwary victims with "rabbit punches," elbows, kidney shots, low blows, wrist-first backhands, and worse. For misguided "comic relief," a sadistic blonde called "Elizabeth" or "Liz" slaps, bites, and finally cold-cocks a would-be Good Samaritan trying to protest her (and her attire) from the ring riot. (Without the benefit of perhaps a dozen "between takes" costume changes, Liz would wind up bloodier than CARRIE-after-her-bucket-dousing from all the arterial spray necessarily elicited by FISTICUFFS). This short was released by the Pachyderm Party's propaganda machine during the Planet's run up to World War Two, when many treasonous traitors of the Elephantine Persuasion hoped that America would enter the fray on Der Fuhrer's side. In Real Life, Storm Trooper Max was merely "The Brown Bomber's" wedding night sparring partner, as a warm-up for his later clobbering of Iron Cross nominee "Max What-do-you-Smell."

Charming Short from Smith

[Michael_Elliott · 18 August 2013]

Fisticuffs (1938)

*** (out of 4)

This Pete Smith Specialty from MGM takes a look at one-time heavyweight champion Max Baer who shows us his moves inside the ring as well as those outside the ring with a cute lady. Like many of the Smith shorts from this period, this one here tries to not only educate on various boxing moves but there's also bits of humor thrown in. Overall I'd say this here is one of the better films in the series for a number of reasons. For starters, Baer is such a likable fellow you really can't help but enjoy watching him "act" here for the camera. This includes some slow-motion shots of him inside the ring teaching you how to hit but there's also that comic style of his where he's constantly trying to hit up on a young woman who wants none of it. This comic charm is something classic film buffs will notice from some of Baer's other film roles. Smith is also quite funny here with him comments on the boxing action. Baer's reputation has pretty much been ruined due to a very popular film out there but this film certainly shows him in a different light and in a light most people said was more like him.