Hard Times (1975)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Walter Hill (screenplay) and
Bryan Gindoff (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 September 1975 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

New Orleans, 1933. In those days words didn't say much. [DVD]

Plot:

In the depression, Chaney, a strong silent streetfighter, joins with Speed, a promoter of no-holds-barred street boxing bouts...

Plot Keywords:

New Orleans | Gambling | Tough Guy | Bare Knuckle Fighting | 1930s

Cast

Charles Bronson	...	Chaney
James Coburn	...	Speed
Jill Ireland	...	Lucy Simpson
Strother Martin	...	Poe
Margaret Blye	...	Gayleen Schoonover (as Maggie Blye)
Michael McGuire	...	Gandil
Felice Orlandi	...	Le Beau
Edward Walsh	...	Pettibon
Bruce Glover	...	Doty
Robert Tessier	...	Jim Henry
Nick Dimitri	...	Street
Frank McRae	...	Hammerman
Maurice Kowaleski	...	Caesare (as Maurice Kowalewski)
Naomi Stevens	...	Madam
Lyla Hay Owen	...	Waitress

Also Known As:

Street Fighter (Philippines: English title)
The Streetfighter (UK)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:AA (original rating) | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The movie was shot in 38 days in New Orleans, of which the final fight took more than a week alone.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Bronson smokes a filtered tipped cigarette. Filters were not used on cigarettes until the early '50s.

Quotes:

Speed: Chaney, I'd like you to meet my old friend Poe. He'll fix up your cuts, bruises, things like that.
Poe: I have two years of medical school to recommend me.
Chaney: Two years don't make a doctor.
Poe: During my third year, a small black cloud appeared on campus; I left under it.
Speed: What he means is that he is a bona-fide hophead.
Poe: I have a weakness for opium.
Chaney: That's a hard habit to break.
Poe: Some are born to fail, others have failure thrust upon them.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fight Club (1999)

Brilliant piece of Work

I first saw Hard Times with my Father when it was title "Streetfighter". I was 16 years of age.

Ever since then I would have to say that it still is my favourite Movie, mainly because of the character that Charles Bronson portrays. The Movie basically begins with Bronson (Chaney) stepping of a freight train. If you study his face before he steps of the train you can basically see the hard if not troubled life he has lived up to that moment. One wonders how many of these situations that is about to confront him, has he already been through.

Throughout the film Bronson portrays a loner who knows what he has to do and he does it with complete style. Chaney is a man on a mission and James Coburn (Speed) is the perfect person to assist him. Although he does not show hard earned money enough respect, Speed does know how to make it and he see's Chaney as his biggest chance.

Strother Martin is perfectly casted as Poe, Chaneys mender, although most of the time Poe is never required.

The fight scenes are brilliant and can be watched time and time again, mainly due to Chaneys style, confidence and skill. The last two fights really show his skill, not only as a hitter but as a blocker and tactical fighter.

The final match-up draws out to be a fight of complete tactics with many moments of respect shown between the two fighters.

The "In-betweens" are very interesting and fall into place around Chaneys lifestyle.

The setting of the Movie is perfect, and the remainder of the cast play their parts precisely.

I think Chaney is the type of person most men would want to be. Strong, confident with no strings attached. Look carefully at the condition of Bronson's physique at age 54!

I wonder if Poe and Speed do go back and take care of Chaneys Cat!