The combination of a great subject and a great character actor should have produced a minor masterpiece, but DIAMOND JIM misses the mark. Arnold, a golden-tongued thespian who never gave a bad performance, plays the title role with elan, first a baggage man for the railroads, then a
salesman, then a supplier of equipment to every railroad in the nation. (Actually Diamond Jim made his fortune on the sale of barbed wire first, then railroad equipment.) Only about fifteen minutes is spent on chronicling Diamond Jim's rise, when most of the movie should have been given over to
this colorful career. The script and director Sutherland, who was always more at home with co...
Released:
1935
Rated:
NR
Length:
90 mins