Denny Bolton, who comes from a long line of men who have drunk themselves to death, discovers Soapy Williams, a tough bootlegger, selling bootleg hootch to his grandfather and gives Williams a sound thrashing. Denny's grandfather later dies, and Denny is suspected of excessive drinking, deeply feeling the scorn of his townspeople. When Doris Anderson, his sweetheart, also turns against him, Denny leaves for New York, hoping to get a chance to fight Soapy Williams, who has become the heavyweight champion. Denny gets a tryout at Flash Fogarty's gym and does well enough to be matched eventually against Williams. Helen Van Allen, an ardent follower of Williams, vamps Denny and causes him to break training. This relaxation undermines his constitution, and he loses the fight. Denny later meets Williams and Helen in front of a nightclub and, goaded by the champ's taunts, defeats him in a rough-and-tumble street fight. Denny then returns home to the welcoming arms of Doris.

Director:
John Ford	Director
Cast:
George O'Brien	as Denny Bolton
Billie Dove	as Doris Anderson
J. Farrell MacDonald	as Jerry
Victor McLaglen	as Soapy Williams
Diana Miller	as Helen Van Allen
Bert Woodruff	as Grandfather
Francis Ford	as Town Fool
Hazel Howell	as Oklahoma Kate
Edward Peil Sr.	as Flash Fogarty
James Marcus	as Judge Maynard
Cinematography:
Joe August	Director of Photography
Writer:
Lillie Hayward	Scen
Producer:
William Fox	Presented By

Based on the novel Once to Every Man by Larry Evans (New York, 1913).