The Gladiator (1938 film)

The Gladiator is a 1938 American comedy and fantasy film starring Joe E. Brown, Dickie Moore and June Travis. The movie is an adaptation of Philip Gordon Wylie's 1930 novel Gladiator, which is often credited with having influenced the creation of Superman.

Plot
A man returns to college and is talked into joining the football team. He is a real joke on the team, until he is given a drug that gives him super strength.

After the formula from Professor Danner turns him into a campus hero, Hugo Kipp enters a wrestling ring against Man Mountain Dean to raise money for an orphanage. He finds out too late that the serum is only temporary, losing his strength with the match in progress. Only a few lucky moves enable Hugo to win the match.

Cast

 * Main cast
 * Joe E. Brown - Hugo Kipp
 * Dickie Moore - Bobby
 * Man Mountain Dean - Himself
 * June Travis - Iris Bennett
 * Lucien Littlefield - Professor Danner
 * Ethel Wales - Mrs. Danner
 * Robert Kent - Tom Dixon
 * Donald Douglas - Coach Robbins
 * Uncredited appearances
 * Richard Alexander - Tough Guy
 * William Gould - Professor
 * Harrison Greene - Trophy Giver/Jokester
 * Sam Hayes - Announcer
 * Eddie Kane - Speed Burns
 * Marjorie Kane - Miss Taylor, Student
 * Milton Kibbee - Assistant Coach
 * Wright Kramer - Dr. DeRay
 * Edward LeSaint - Committee Member
 * Frank Mills - Man in Movie Audience
 * Jack Mulhall - Spectator at Wrestling Match
 * Lee Phelps - Coach Stetson
 * Harry Semels - Hamburger Man
 * John Shelton - Student
 * Charles Sullivan - Football Fan
 * Charles C. Wilson - Theatre Manager
 * Robert Winkler

Production
The film reached theatres two months after the publication of the first appearance of Superman in a comic book.

There is a famous publicity picture of Brown lifting Man Mountain Dean over his head with only one hand. By bracing himself, Brown did it effortlessly on the first try. But when the director called for a retake shot, Brown suffered a hernia and was rushed to the hospital.