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The Gladiator Reviews

Great comedy in which the unassuming Brown accidentally drinks a new serum developed by Littlefield. He quickly becomes a campus hero--a star football player--thanks to the super strengthening powers of the drug. Trouble arises when it wears off and Brown faces a wrestling champion, Man Mountain Dean. Travis is Brown's steadfast girl friend. The picture features some wonderful moments for Brown, including some great physical business on the football field and wrestling mat and a neat impersonation bit. The film is full of gags, nicely held together by the cast and director Sedgwick. The story line is based on the first of famed author Philip Wylie's novels. Wylie, best known for his works of social criticism such as Generation of Vipers, was also a talented science-fiction writer who provided the story for George Pal's Oscar-winning WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (1951).