The Harder They Fall
1956
Bud Schulberg's novel is brought to the screen with distinction by Humphrey Bogart in this, his last, role. Eddie Willis (Bogart) is an unemployed sportswriter hired to write about Argentinean boxer Toto Moreno by the boxer's corrupt manager Nick Benko (Rod Steiger). Willis is on the level in the beginning, but when he .. Read more
| Starring | Humphrey Bogart, Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling, Mike Lane |
|---|---|
| Director | Mark Robson |
| Genres | Drama |
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The Harder They Fall
Bud Schulberg's novel is brought to the screen with distinction by Humphrey Bogart in this, his last, role. Eddie Willis (Bogart) is an unemployed sportswriter hired to write about Argentinean boxer Toto Moreno by the boxer's corrupt manager Nick Benko (Rod Steiger). Willis is on the level in the beginning, but when he discovers Benko's obscene exploitation of his young Argentinean protege, the tables turn and Willis to decide to write a piece promoting exposes the racket. Bogart died soon after filming.
| Starring | Humphrey Bogart, Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling, Mike Lane, Max Baer, Edward Andrews, 'Jersey' Joe Walcott |
|---|---|
| Director | Mark Robson |
| Studio | SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 45 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 27 Jan 2003 Production year: 1956 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Based on Budd Schulberg's hard-hitting novel, this riveting exposé of corruption in professional boxing is given added poignancy by the fact that the star is Humphrey Bogart in his last role, aged, mellowed and dying. He gives a terrific performance as a cynical sports journalist and he's matched by Rod Steiger playing a boxing promoter in the pay of the Mob. It is a joy to witness their contrasting acting styles — Bogie so casual and effortless, Steiger so Method and explosive. Mark Robson's direction and Philip Yordan's screenplay attempt rugged realism, but this is full-blooded Hollywood melodrama and should be enjoyed as such. Watch out for some key fight figures such as Max Baer and Jersey Joe Walcott, and the under-rated Jan Sterling as Bogie's screen wife.
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A boxing drama with Bogart (in his last role) typecast as the sports publicist who finally does the right thing and... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
A Great Swan Song
This was Bogart's last film. Sick with cancer (they operated on him a while back to remove part of his throat), Bogart pulls it together one last time to deliver a brilliant performance of a sportswriter dealing with the corruption in the box racket. No cliches or playful one liners as in his other films, The Harder They Fall reflects a somber and ponderous mood that seems to be in Bogart himself.
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Most recent members' review
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The End of an Era
I love all Bogart's movies and this was a superb performance from a great star who was sadly dying of cancer, and this proved to be his last film as he died the following year.
What makes it unique, apart from his swansong, is that he still maintains enough screen presence to carry the film off. Bogart's style of acting had almost come to an end and there were newer and more powerful actors emerging such as Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger. In fact Steiger gives an incredible performance here that was to pave the way for later actors like Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro to follow.
But ultimately it remains a classic Bogart movie and one is left knowing we will never see his like again -
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