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~