The Harder They Fall (1956)

An ex-sportswriter is hired by a shady fight promoter to promote his latest find, an unknown but easily exploitable rising star from Argentina.

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

Philip Yordan (screen play), Budd Schulberg (based on a novel by)

Stars:

Humphrey Bogart, Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Humphrey Bogart	...	Eddie Willis
Rod Steiger	...	Nick Benko
Jan Sterling	...	Beth Willis
Mike Lane	...	Toro Moreno
Max Baer	...	Buddy Brannen
Jersey Joe Walcott	...	George
Edward Andrews	...	Jim Weyerhause
Harold J. Stone	...	Art Leavitt
Carlos Montalbán	...	Luís Agrandi (as Carlos Montalban)
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Leo
Felice Orlandi	...	Vince Fawcett
Herbie Faye	...	Max
Rusty Lane	...	Danny McKeogh
Jack Albertson	...	Pop

Storyline

After 17 years as a recognized and respected sports journalist in New York City, Eddie Willis finds himself out of a job when his newspaper folds. He's approached by a major fight promoter, Nick Benko, to act as a public relations man for his new heavyweight fighter Toro Moreno. Eddie knows the how the fight game works and after watching Toro in the ring, realizes Toro is nothing but a stiff who has no hope of succeeding. Benko offers him a sizable salary and an unlimited expense account and given his financial situation, he agrees. Benko's strategy to make money is one that has been used time again. Starting in California and moving east, they arrange a series of fights for Toro with stiffs and has-beens. All of the fights are rigged to build up his record and get him a fight with the heavyweight champion, Buddy Brannen, where they will make a sizable profit at the gate. Along the way, one boxer gets killed in the ring and Eddie begins to have serious doubts about what he is doing.

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | boxing | sports writer | argentinian | boxing champion | 

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Taglines:

The Only Thing That's On The Square ...Is The Ring Itself...

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Sport | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

31 March 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

La caída de un ídolo

Filming Locations:

FDR Drive and Houston Street, Manhattan, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,350,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Mike Lane.

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Goofs

As Eddie crosses a row of seats on his way to sit down at the Dundee fight, the collar of his overcoat turns up and down.

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Quotes

Eddie Willis: Why did he take that swful beating? Why didn't he fight like you told him to?
George: Some guys can sell out; some guys can't.

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Connections

Referenced in Sports Jeopardy!: Episode #2.42 (2016)

User Reviews

Bogie's last

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.