One At A Time

Series: Fite w/Earl Mohan

Director: Ralph Cedar

Producer: Hal Roach

Titles:

Photography:

Editor:

Stars: Earl Mohan, Billy Engle

Company: Pathé Exchange

Released: 20 April 1924

Length: 1 reel

Production No.: M-1

Filming dates: December 15-21, 1923

Rating: 1/10

One At A Time

Available on DVD:

Earl Mohan and Billy Engle in One At A Time (1924)

From the limited footage available for review:

A boxing match advertising "Thunder Fist Hogan" (Earl Mohan) offers anyone who can last two rounds with him a payment of $100. Three men (including Dick Gilbert) step up and take an interest in the event. We then see the fearsome boxer (who looks just ridiculous) attempting to hit a punching ball on the stage in front of an audience of spectators and would-be opponents. His stooge (Billy Engle) invites the members of the audience to accept the challenge of a fight and just about all the men show their interest, scaring the boxer and his stooge off the stage. They quickly return after being threatened by a heavily-armed man (Gus Leonard) backstage.
The crowd of men storm the stage and the first to step up is Dick Gilbert, who knocks Hogan down with one punch. The crowd get into it, with a woman smacking the guy sitting next to her in an over-zealous moment of enthusiasm. On stage, Gilbert continues to do a number on the boxer but the stooge waits behind the screen with a mallet and whacks the opponent over the head with precision. Another man steps up and starts throwing punches, only to receive the same fate as the previous man. The stooge comes back onto the stage and walks off with Thunder Fist Hogan. The end.

Earl Mohan and Dick Gilbert in One At A Time (1924)

Favourite bit
Dick Gilbert knocking out the supposedly tough boxer Earl Mohan with his first punch. Simplicity.

Trivia
• Copyrighted May 12, 1924.
• Rob Stone's list does not include this film, but it does include production M-1, which is described as being part of the "Prize Fight" series, and was shot Dec. 15 to 21, 1923. The letter 'M' makes sense, since it corresponds to Mohan's name, and the fact that production number D-50 is also missing from the list suggests that perhaps this film was redesignated with this latter number as Mohan's series was integrated into the catch-all 'D' series.
• This was the first film in the "Fite" series.
• Only 2 minutes and 30 seconds of footage appears on the LTL DVD (listed above).
• The board advertising the fight reads, "Today "Thunder Fist Hogan"... will meet all styles, all comers, nothing barred. One hundred dollars for anyone staying with "Thunder-fist Hogan" 2 rounds - local champions take notice".

	Earl Mohan Thunder Fist Hogan
	Billy Engle Boxing promoter
	Dick Gilbert First opponent
	Chet Brandenburg Second opponent
	Sam Lufkin Curious pedestrian
	Gus Leonard Man backstage with guns
	Don Maines Trombonist
	Jack Ackroyd Drummer
	Joe Bordeaux Spectator

Acknowledgements:
Tommie Hicks (help)
Jesse Brisson (identification of Chet Brandenburg, Sam Lufkin, Don Maines, Jack Ackroyd, Joe Bordeaux)

This page was last updated on: 22 April 2024