After getting drunk at a party, left-handed boxer Jimmy Dolan (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) throws a punch at the newspaper reporter intent on getting a story, sending him sprawling backwards into a fatal fall. Without realizing his blow killed the man, Jimmy passes out, leaving his friend Doc (Lyle Talbot) to take matters into his own hands. Sure he and Jimmy's girlfriend, Goldie, will be implicated in the death as well, Doc determines that the best thing the two of them can do is leave town, which, after slipping Jimmy's watch on his wrist and setting out in Jimmy's car, they do. However, with the police on the lookout for Jimmy's car, a chase ensues, and a drunken Doc crashes. The car explodes upon impact, killing both Doc and Goldie, and with Jimmy's watch being the identification, Jimmy---who, as expected, has been accused of killing the reporter---is presumed dead.
After Jimmy comes to and learns that not only is he dead, but that he had been implicated in the reporter's death, he is advised by his attorney to take on a new identity and leave town. After being warned not to use his fists, lest he give himself away, Jimmy---now known as Jack Dougherty---hops a freighter and makes his way west.
Near Salt Lake City, Jack/Jimmy leaves the freighter behind and takes to his feet. After reaching a farm run by Auntie (Aline MacMahon) and Peggy (Loretta Young), his strength gives out, and he stays there for a time as they nurse him back to health. Jack discovers that the farm is much more than a farm---it is a hospital of sorts for crippled children---and as he stays on to work there, Jack falls in love with Peggy and becomes fond of the children. After learning that Auntie is in financial straits and that the children will be returned to the orphanage if she cannot make a payment, Jack is determined to do his part to help them out and, thus, despite his attorney's warning to not use his fists, he agrees to take part in an upcoming fight.
Back in New York, Detective Phlaxer (Guy Kibbee) spots news of the Salt Lake fight, along with a photo which looks suspiciously like Jimmy Dolan to him. Though he had long thought that the body identified as Jimmy's was misidentified, because of a mistake earlier in his career, his superiors refused to believe him. Now, with something to prove and a chance to salvage his reputation, Phlaxer sets out to Salt Lake City to meet up with Jack Dougherty and bring him back to New York as the accused killer Jimmy Dolan.
Doex Phlaxer find Jimmy/Jack? Does he bring him back to New York for trial and prison? Will Auntie get the funds she needs to save the farm? Will Peggy and Jack's love survive? How everything plays out is the balance of the film.
While not a spectacular film, The Life of Jimmy Dolan is, nonetheless, very solid and entertaining. The storyline is interesting, and it is loads of fun seeing Loretta Young when she was just 20 years old and Mickey Rooney, Anne Shirley, and John Wayne in the early days of their careers. Despite the large supporting cast, this really is Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.'s film, and he is quite good in his role. Without question, though, I preferred the Garfield remake, in part, probably, because of my love affair with John Garfield. In the remake, Guy Kibbee's role is played by Claude Rains, Loretta Young's by Gloria Dickson, and Aline MacMahon's by May Robson, and the farm for crippled children is a home for delinquent youth---played by none other than the Dead End Kids. You might want to watch both films and compare them for yourself. I give both of them 3 stars---though They Made Me a Criminal is more like 3.5.
The film is not out on DVD, so it might be difficult to track it down; however, TCM airs it fairly regularly, so you could probably catch it there within a few months.
Happy viewing!