'One-Round' Jack Sander is called that because he's a carnival boxer who fights any man in the audience. If they can last one round, they win a prize--a popular way to draw customers into traveling shows long ago. Jack is in love with the ticket girl, Mabel, though her head is quickly turned when Bob Corby enters the ring to try his chances with Jack. What no one at the fight knows is that Bob is the champ, so he's able to beat Jack--though it takes him some work. As a result, Bob asks Jack to become his sparring partner and give up the carnival circuit. Later, Jack improves so much that he, too, becomes a legitimate boxer. Slowly, he works his way up the rankings until he's nearly ready to take on the Champ.

In the meantime, the Champ and Mabel start running around behind Jack's back--even though by now Mabel has married Jack. So, when the final fight occurs between Jack and Bob, it's very personal and Jack is ready to kill him. Is he good enough? Will rise justifiable rage against Bob help or hinder his performance? Tune in and see.

This film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and while today this sort of film seems strange for a director known for mystery-suspense films, back in the 1920s, Hitchcock had no fixed genre which he directed or wrote (he did both for this film). In fact, in many ways this film is more indicative of Hitchcock's silent style, as a somewhat similar plot came up in one of his next silents, THE MANXMAN (also starring Carl Brisson as the wronged husband). So, while this seems a lot like a standard boxing film of the day, it was not a radical departure for this great director--even with its rather formulaic ending.

Overall, while a bit predictable and having Ian Hunter playing a boxing champ seems silly, the film works well. While far from a perfect silent, it's well worth seeing and packs a nice punch.

Of the pre-39 Steps Hitchcock films, The Ring is not quite as good as The Lodger, Blackmail and The Man Who Knew Too Much but it is better than Juno and the Paycock and Number Seventeen at least. There are some overlong irrelevant scenes and some sloppy sound, but The Ring is a good silent film that is more than just interest value. It is well made with great, clever use of editing and camera work- evidence of Hitchcock's distinctive style coming in even early in his career- and some very powerful symbolic images that are open to interpretation in some way. The music is very fitting and well-synchronised to everything else, particularly good in the final boxing match. Hitchcock also writes as well as directs, he directs with a very assured touch and he takes care in making the characters identifiable and not making the melodrama and love-triangle too hammy or turgid. The final boxing match is very exciting, getting increasingly rapid and intense, helped by it being it cleverly edited and scored. In a way though, the film does end on a slightly anti-climatic note. The acting is very good, Carl Brisson is excellent even and Lillian Hall-Davies is charming and graceful. Ian Hunter is a strong, commanding opponent and Gordon Harker brings some well-timed comic relief. In conclusion, interesting watch and a good film in general. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Carl Brisson who was a musical comedy performer from Denmark stars in this silent boxing drama, The Ring which was an early directorial effort by Alfred Hitchcock. For that reason it is still around and restored, otherwise it would have been long forgotten.

The film has Brisson starring as an amateur boxer who is a carnival attraction 'One Round Sander' having people challenge him to see if they can go more than one round with him. He's persuaded by promoter Forrester Harvey who hasn't got Brisson's best interests in mind to turn professional. That Brisson does, but the price of his learning the professional boxing trade is his marriage to Lillian Hall-Davis. A much better fighter in the person of Ian Hunter starts taking an interest in her.

The Ring will never enter the annals of great fight films like Champion or Requiem For A Heavyweight, but it does have its moments. Still I can't think except for Hitchcock completists that there would be much interest in this silent film.