Winner Take All

Jimmy Kane is sent from New York City to the Rosario Ranch and Hot Springs in New Mexico to regain his health after spending too much time with women and drink. There he meets young widow Peggy Harmon and her son Dickie, and a romance begins to form with Peggy. The move sets up the emotional stakes that drive his later actions.

Peggy must cut short Dickie's treatment because she will not receive an insurance payout. To raise six hundred dollars, Jimmy agrees to a dangerous fight in Tijuana. This decision binds his fortunes to a harsh display of pugilism for love.

Jimmy fights in Tijuana and earns the money Peggy needs. The marks on his face become visible reminders of how the funds were obtained, underscoring the moral cost of his actions. Peggy's trust and love deepen despite the scarred reminder.

Back in New York, Jimmy has one fight and is introduced to flighty socialite Joan Gibson by his manager. He falls for her, mistaking her playful interest for true love. The romance marks a shift away from Peggy and sets up future conflicts.

Influenced by Joan, Jimmy secretly has his nose and cauliflower ear repaired by a plastic surgeon. He also takes etiquette lessons from Forbes to polish his image. The changes provoke tension with fans who preferred his old, colorful style.

Pop Slavin arranges a championship shot, but Jimmy turns it down to preserve his new look and the romance with Joan. He chooses to protect the changes over chasing glory. The decision signals a shift from fighting for fans to fighting for personal image.

Jimmy is fed a sequence of lesser opponents as Pop tries to shape his campaign. He also begins telling Peggy that he is seeing someone else, further straining their relationship and complicating his loyalties. The dynamic tightens the romantic rivalries drama.

Joan's butler implies she is unavailable, but Jimmy bursts into her party anyway. He declares he will fight one last time for the championship, after which they will marry, and sends ringside tickets to seal the plan. His bold move shows his stubborn commitment to the idea of marriage.

On the night of the bout, Jimmy worries when Joan is not in the arena. After the first round, he fights with renewed aggression, determined to win. Rosebud reports that Joan plans to depart on an ocean liner within twenty minutes, heightening the drama of the match.

Jimmy fights furiously and knocks out the champion, fully leaning into the moment. He hails a taxi to the pier and searches for Joan, who lies about her sister needing her. Roger Elliot appears, but Jimmy punches him and kicks Joan when she bends over the unconscious body, exposing the truth of her betrayal.

After the dramatic confrontation, Jimmy reconciles with Peggy and proposes marriage, embracing a return to the life with love that began in New Mexico. The path forward resolves the triangle between Peggy, Joan, and himself with a clear commitment to Peggy. The tone ends on a hopeful, reinvigorated relationship.