Summary
In the murky depths of the Bowery, a chance encounter ignites a volatile chain of events, thrusting the stoic pugilist Jim Fortune into the orbit of the enigmatic Angelica Hart. Her husband, the aristocratic amateur boxer Duncan Hart, unleashes a torrent of domestic cruelty, prompting Jim's intervention. This initial spark escalates into a public confrontation, a brutal dinner party bout where Jim, witnessing the tell-tale scars of abuse on Angelica, unleashes a vengeful knockout. The repercussions are swift and tragic: Duncan, fueled by rage, assaults Angelica, leading to a fateful struggle involving his former trainer, the drug-addled 'Toad' Jennings, and his clandestine lover, Mrs. Dale. A gun discharges, and Duncan falls lifeless. The ensuing maelstrom of accusation and grief sees Duncan's powerful father, Hagan, vow retribution against both Angelica and Jim. Yet, the unfolding drama reveals a seismic familial secret: Jim is Hagan's estranged son, a product of a past marriage shattered by his father's own brutality. Amidst the swirling currents of deceit and revelation, a shocking confession from Toad Jennings absolves the accused, ultimately paving the way for Jim and Angelica to confront their burgeoning, undeniable affection, born amidst the ashes of societal scandal and rediscovered lineage.
Synopsis
Clean-living pugilist Jim Fortune assists Angelica Hart when her husband Duncan assaults her in a Bowery café. Soon after, Jim fights a bout with Hart, an amateur society boxer, during a dinner party. Enraged by the sight of whip marks on Angelica's neck, Jim knocks Hart out soundly. In revenge, that night Hart attacks Angelica. When she pulls out a gun, "Toad" Jennings, Hart's former trainer and a drug addict, and Mrs. Dale, a widow with whom Hart had been having a romance, struggle with her before she can pull the trigger. The gun goes off and Hart is killed. Hart's father, Hagan, vows vengeance on Angelica and Jim. After their arrest, Hagan realizes that Jim is really his son by his first wife, who left him because of his brutality. In the end, Toad confesses to killing Hart because of a grievance, and Jim and Angelica realize that they are in love.
Review Excerpt
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Unmasking the Brutality: A Deep Dive into 'The Battler' (1919)
Ah, the silent era. A time when narrative prowess relied not on booming dialogue, but on the raw power of visual storytelling, exaggerated expressions, and the evocative strains of a live orchestra. And few films encapsulate this potent blend of melodrama, social commentary, and visceral action quite like The Battler. Released in tumultuous 1919, this film, penned by Forrest Halsey and Harry O. Hoyt, plunges us headfirst i..."
