The Harder They Fall

source: The Harder They Fall

The perils of boxing is revealed in this taut drama. Certainly an unflinching expose of the dark, underbelly of this dubious professional "sport." Humphrey Bogart gives one of his most arresting performances here--a compelling piece of work, in which he displays his consummate acting skill. What an inspired piece of casting to have Rod Steiger as his crooked counterpart; when the two of them collide, sparks fly. The lamentable business of fixed fights is an important subject, in which competing athletes are "bought off" to take a "dive." "The Harder They Fall" pulls few punches in pointing up this highly illegal and unethical practice, thereby making an important social statement. Kudos to the writer, director, and entire production team for so effectively bringing this revealing drama to the screen.

For some reason this film,Bogey's swan song,is fitting and deserving of praise.As Bogart started his career playing mean and gangster-tough villains,an extended it toward's more introspective yet still tough-minded roles,so too are we graced in this movie to have a little bit of both Bogart world's.The tough and never flinching Bogart,and the thinking man persona,who can out muster other's with sheer forethought. Within this movie are many good Film noir elements,such as the shadowy street's and dark cornered recesses,along with an urban setting and extremely Noirish script.Budd Schulberg's writing is perfect for this type of drama,giving it the needed oomph for all those double crossing and talking weasel's,that make up cast of dishonest and likely foe's to Bogart's possible combination of the two.For in this movie Bogart's character has to truly reinvent and come to terms with the inner conflict of movie plot.A true denouement of storytelling and gritty realization coming together to demononstrate an offer a nice touch for lead character,in movie climax. With very nice filming of fight sequences,replete with the necessary smoke and crowd din to bring added authenticity and feel,as if one where back in the 50's doing the usual saturday night gig.Which was either going to the fight's,or listening on radio or possible TV.The ensemble cast works almost flawlessly and believable shows off what the fight game,behind closed door's was probably like.The key fighter {Big Mexican lug} manages to both amaze and bewilder with a combination that dosen't consist of a good left jab or right cross,but with an innocent and much less than tough-man bravura that gets caught up in mixed bag of what a prize fighter should be.His Character has depth and compassion,but also manages to be easily influenced by success and the power that it weilds.Power is the true name of this game and who better to play than Bogart,and who better to unravel and instruct audience with his brand of persona and believability. 4 out of 5 star or 8/10 for well displayed power grab.And a few pulled punches,also.

Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart at 56yo) is hired as a sportswriter by a boxing manager, Nick Benko (Rod Steiger), who wants to promote his protégé. Willis has been out of work, so he takes the assignment to put a story together to promote Toto Moreno (Mike Lane), an Argentinean boxer. From the start, Willis is eager to write a memorable story. However, during his journalistic investigation, Willis finds out that Benko has been taking advantage of the naive, younger, foreign boxer. It seems that Benko is relying upon Willis' outstanding status in the boxing arena to cover up that fact that he's fixed a series of fights in order to get the 'glass jawed' Moreno into the championship ring with a vengeful champion, Buddy Brannen (Max Baer); a true sadist who resents the publicity Willis has be writing about Toro. So, Brannen is bent upon getting his revenge when he fights Toro for the championship. Willis knows the scoop & has to choose if he's going to warn Toro. After Willis decides to write a story that exposes the racketeers, he becomes a hunted man. It seems fitting to write a brief bio of Humphrey Bogart here because he died within a year after filming t/his final flick. According to who we believe, Bogart was either born (claims Warner Brothers) at the end of the 19th century, on December 25th, 1899; or according to 2 US Census Bureau reports, at the beginning of the 20th century, on January 23rd, 1899, in Manhattan, to an opium addicted surgeon (father). Bogart began acting, instead of going to medical college, to pay off his father's considerable debts. Bogart was 37yo before he had his breakthrough key role as Duke Mantee with Bette Davis in Warner Brothers' "The Petrified Forest (1936). The 5'8" 'Bogie' went on to play in 28 films in 20 years! During one of those films, Bogart starred & fell madly in love with Lauren Bacall, who'd also been born in Manhattan, on September 16th, 1924: a considerable 25 years after Bogey. When she was just 19yo, the 5'8.5" Bacall was given her 1st key role as Marie Browning in, "To Have and Have Not" (1944); a thriller whose leading man was (by then) a great actor, Humphrey Bogart. Her performance with Bogey set the stage for the rest of her still fabulous career, one of Hollywood's greatest love stories & marriages (in 1945), and it was the first of many acclaimed Bogey & Bacall films. The Bogarts have 2 children, son Stephen, born January 6, 1949 (named after Bogey's character in "To Have and Have Not," & daughter Leslie, born August 23, 1952 (named after Leslie Howard who insisted that Bogey be given the key role in "The Petrified Forest"). Humphrey Bogart is a screen legend who graced it in major roles for only 20 years until he died of throat cancer, at the age of 57, on January 14th, 1957; when his son was 8yo, daughter was 4yo & wife was 32yo. 53 years later, Lauren Bacall is now 83yo & still playing leading roles in a wide variety of film genres. Her screen career is 64 years long, at this writing in 2007. Bacall has another son, actor Sam Robards, born December 16th, 1961, with second (ex)husband, actor Jason Robards. Bacall's long-time friend & 4 time Oscar winner, Katharine Hepburn (May 12th, 1907-June 29th, 2003), was his godmother for 42 years, until she died at 96yo. Here's one statement Lauren Bacall made about Bogey: "Was he tough? In a word, no. Bogey was truly a gentle soul." Hope you enjoy this brief bio~

Humphrey Bogart is truly brilliant in this, his last film. "The Harder They Fall" (1956) is a stunning indictment of the boxing profession. The film also marks Humphrey Bogart's final performance as a former sports writer turned publicist — and he's in good company. Bogie's scenes with Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling and Mike Lane (as the giant Argentinian boxer) are truly memorable. In addition to Bogart's fantastic performance, Rod Steiger chews the scenery nicely as a corrupt manager. Their scenes together are really well done, and very well written. I particularly enjoyed the scene after the big fight where Bogart presses to find out how much their fighter will ultimately wind up for getting so badly beaten in the ring. There are probably a good dozen very, very good fight films, and this belongs to their number. The tension in the film derives from the ultimate conflict between Bogart's inherent decency and Steiger's unmitigated exploitativeness. The two had great on screen chemistry in their scenes together. They employed very different acting styles, Steiger being one of the first Method actors to enjoy success in the movies. Bogart was strictly old school, but he not only held his own, he dominated their scenes together. Humphrey Bogart's last movie was a triumph! His acting was terrific! Excellent movie!

Humphrey Bogart's final feature film is not his greatest, but still very good. It's a powerful drama with good acting, especially by Bogart, and good cinematography. The final boxing match in particular is very good. It will probably make you cringe, but will leave you on the edge of your seat worrying for the health of Toro, the boxer. A must-see for Bogart fans, as well as fans of boxing movies and dramas. 8/10

The Harder They Fall is adapted from a novel of the same name by Budd Schulberg and it is a re-telling of the Primo Carnera story. The real Primo however was never left in the dire straits that Toro Moreno was in the film. Nevertheless his reputation as a fighter remains under a cloud. The 6 foot 8 inch Mike Lane is brought from Argentina by boxing manager Rod Steiger and a syndicate with very much implied underworld backing is formed around him. To publicize Lane, Steiger hires down on his luck newspaperman Humphrey Bogart. Bogart becomes the only man in the group around him that Lane trusts. Of course a lot of set up fights are arranged for Lane until he's matched with the heavyweight champion. Then the poor slob is on his own. The callousness of the group around Lane is nauseating to behold. Everyone has a piece of this guy and they're all getting rich off him. Only Bogart seems to have conscience about it. Although Carnera himself wasn't as badly left off in real life as our protagonist here is, this is a story that is still being told about pugilists who get used and abused by the folks who run boxing. The Harder They Fall has the look and feel of the gyms and the arenas where the boxers ply their trade. The film is helped a great deal by the performances of two former heavyweight champions, Max Baer and Jersey Joe Walcott. And irony of ironies Baer is the guy who took the championship from Carnera in real life. His portrayal is also closer to the picture of him we have from Cinderella Man than the real Max Baer. But it's a great acting job. Baer who liked the nightlife and the show business scene, in some sense gives a better performance than either Bogart or Steiger, he really lived this film. But Steiger and Bogart are both good. Steiger is at the top of his game and this was a great role for Bogart to go out on.

Bogart is excellent as usual in this his last performance. There are times when his eyes are puddled up and it really makes you wonder: was he in pain or really that good? My answer is "yes" to both questions. Cancer would claim him within 15 months of this movie. He has a look of weariness here and it fits the character well. A first rate ending to a distinguished career. This movie is a perfect timecapsule for the 1950's and one of the better boxing movies of the period (Check out Body and Soul also). Although the ending seems a bit too convenient the performances are all first rate and this is worth a rental or purchase if you love Bogie.

There is no secret that Bogart made a lot of bad movies throughout his career, such as, oh, lets say "Sirocco". He said it himself! But there is also no secret that he is one of the greatest actors ever in history of film and that he made his share of unforgettable and great films like "Casablanca" or even the ones less famous, such as "In A Lonely Place". He is my favorite actor ever. And I am so happy that his last film was well acted and had an awesome story. Rod Steiger was also good in this historical boxing picture, with the large Mike Lane and some of the other less famous actors. But no matter what, Bogart owns this film, just as he seems to own all the other films he ever played in. Except from "The Raging Bull" (which I saw years ago!) this is the best boxing film I've seen! The fights were really well made and the "injuries" were believable and it really looked like they were bleeding or that they were really bad injured. I would say that this has about everything a great film needs, that includes Bogart. Once again, so glad this film, his last, was one of his absolute best!

Respected sports writer Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart) is jobless when his newspaper folds. Fight promoter Nick Benko (Rod Steiger) wants to hire him as the press agent for his new heavyweight fighter Toro Moreno. The problem is that Toro is a big dumb giant stiff. Benko schemes to rig Toro's fights with nobodies building up his resume and get him a fight with the heavyweight champion Buddy Brannen. Bogart is terrific as the morally conflicted Eddie. It's impressive considering he was unwell and this is his last film. He still carries the movie. Steiger is incredible as the bombastic croaked promoter. It's also a fine morality tale. The fight game has always been corrupted and this takes it to the extreme.