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IMDbPro

The Set-Up

  • 19491949
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
9.4K
YOUR RATING
Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in The Set-Up (1949)
CrimeFilm-NoirSport
Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
9.4K
YOUR RATING
    • Robert Wise
    • Art Cohn(screenplay)
    • Joseph Moncure March(from the poem by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Ryan
    • Audrey Totter
    • George Tobias
    • Robert Wise
    • Art Cohn(screenplay)
    • Joseph Moncure March(from the poem by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Ryan
    • Audrey Totter
    • George Tobias
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 92User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award

    Photos21

    Percy Helton, Robert Ryan, and George Tobias in The Set-Up (1949)
    Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in The Set-Up (1949)
    Hal Baylor and Robert Ryan in The Set-Up (1949)
    Alan Baxter and Edwin Max in The Set-Up (1949)
    Hal Baylor, Ben Moselle, and Robert Ryan in The Set-Up (1949)
    Alan Baxter, Edwin Max, and Robert Ryan in The Set-Up (1949)
    Hal Baylor and Robert Ryan in The Set-Up (1949)
    Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in The Set-Up (1949)
    Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in The Set-Up (1949)
    Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in The Set-Up (1949)
    Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in The Set-Up (1949)
    Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in The Set-Up (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Ryan
    Robert Ryan
    • Bill Thompson aka Stoker
    Audrey Totter
    Audrey Totter
    • Julie Thompson
    George Tobias
    George Tobias
    • Tiny
    Alan Baxter
    Alan Baxter
    • Little Boy
    Wallace Ford
    Wallace Ford
    • Gus
    Percy Helton
    Percy Helton
    • Red
    Hal Baylor
    Hal Baylor
    • Tiger Nelson
    • (as Hal Fieberling)
    Darryl Hickman
    Darryl Hickman
    • Shanley
    Kevin O'Morrison
    Kevin O'Morrison
    • Moore
    • (as Kenny O'Morrison)
    James Edwards
    James Edwards
    • Luther Hawkins
    David Clarke
    David Clarke
    • Gunboat Johnson
    Phillip Pine
    Phillip Pine
    • Tony Souza
    Edwin Max
    Edwin Max
    • Danny
    Herbert Anderson
    Herbert Anderson
    • Husband
    • (uncredited)
    Larry Anzalone
    • Mexican Fighter
    • (uncredited)
    Arthur Berkeley
    • Cafe Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Phil Bloom
    Phil Bloom
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Burman Bodel
    Burman Bodel
    • Man
    • (uncredited)
      • Robert Wise
      • Art Cohn(screenplay)
      • Joseph Moncure March(from the poem by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The clock on the square at the beginning shows 9:05 PM, and the same clock at the end shows 10:16 PM. The movie takes place in real time.
    • Goofs
      When Stoker is laying on the dressing room table after the fight, the position of Gus's "Love" magazine, located above Stoker's head, changes from the medium shot to the closeup.
    • Quotes

      Stoker: Well, that's the way it is. You're a fighter, you gotta fight.

    • Connections
      Featured in Film Review: Robert Wise (1967)
    • Soundtracks
      A Touch of Texas
      (1942) (uncredited)

      Music by Jimmy McHugh

    User reviews92

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Great depressing stuff in the dressing room, a gripping fight and a solid narrative
    Bill "Stoker" Thompson is 34, not old perhaps but in the world of boxing that makes him an old man. Despite the protestations of his wife Julie, Stoker still believes that one more punch, one more fight will see him making it into the marquee fights and the big time rather than being on the support bill. As he waits in the dressing room full of similar hopefuls (some his age and tired, others just starting and full of big dreams) his trainer is busy making the fix with the opposition – for Stoker to go down like a $10 ho and not last the distance. However, Stoker isn't told as his manager assumes that Stoker losing is a given and that the "fix" is unnecessary and easy money for them all; however with Stoker feeling this is "the one", it may not be that simple.

    Although Rocky is the one that most people will throw at you when you ask them to name a great boxing movie, The Set-Up is much, much more interesting as its aspirations are empty, its sights never getting much beyond the gutter and the men merely small players in a game that never plans for them to win. The narrative is essentially about Stoker entering a fight not aware that he has already been bought to lose but the actual film is much better than this limited plot suggests. For much of the first third we are treated to an intimate look at the small time boxers – whether it be the punch-drunk old timers or the youngster who believe that they will only be doing this level for one or two fights before hitting it big. This is the reality – as much as we love to see the Rocky tale of the underdog getting his day in reality the underdogs of life generally remain just that – underdogs. In this section of the film this is very well painted and, although the characters are not deep enough to be people they are definitely well enough written to be interesting and engaging.

    The other two thirds of the film are concerned with the fight and the aftermath, with the fight taking up the majority of the second half of the film. The fight is realistic and tense throughout, I was genuinely unsure how it would go. The aftermath is short and punchy (sorry!) and is effectively dark and gritty for it. The end result is a film that is dark, low key and gripping throughout; it exists in the gutter, in the small time where all our characters seem destined to remain regardless of heart or talent. The cast deliver well, particularly the lead role from former college boxer Ryan. He is really in touch with his character and delivers convincingly in his dialogue, his boxing and his mannerisms; while in the dressing room his facial responses to other boxers show thoughts within his head and conflicting emotions that his experience and age allow him. He is the dominant figure of the film and his is a great performance. Totter is a little less refined but her emotional delivery works well in both of her main scenes with Ryan – although her wandering the streets could perhaps have been trimmed a little bit. The support cast are less well written but do still play their parts well enough but it is Ryan's film and worth seeing for him alone.

    Luckily he is not the only reason to see it as the film is engaging, well written, dark, gritty, tense and very enjoyable. The lower number of votes (and potentially therefore, younger viewers) is a tragic state of affairs considering the class on display in this short punchy product and I for one will be answering "The Set-Up" when asked to name a great boxing movie.
    helpful•40
    3
    • bob the moo
    • Apr 19, 2005

    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 2, 1949 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Tunnel overlook, 400 block of N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 13 minutes
      • Black and White

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