The Harder They Fall (1956)

Down-on-his-luck ex-sportswriter Eddie Willis is hired by shady fight promoter Nick Benko to promote his latest find, an unknown but easily exploitable phenom 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 | argentine | based on novel | fixed fight | 

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Taglines:

No Punches Pulled! If you thought "On The Waterfront" hit hard... wait till you see this one!

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Sport | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

8 May 1956 (Japan)

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, 31 December 1956

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Humphrey Bogart was not a fan of working with Rod Steiger. Bogart was critical of Steiger's method acting technique, and confided to a friend that "This scratch-your-ass-and-mumble school of acting doesn't please me."

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Goofs

A TV sportscaster's man-on-the-street interview with a punch-drunk fighter filmed on location on Skid Row features multiple camera angles (long shot, middle shot and close-ups) - a technological luxury requiring three consecutively-rolling cameras no TV news station in the mid-Fifties could possibly have afforded.

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Quotes

Eddie Willis: I didn't come here to work out!

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Connections

Referenced in Wifemistress (1977)

User Reviews

Outstanding

Bogart is excellent as usual in this his last performance. There are times when his eyes are puddled up and it really makes you wonder: was he in pain or really that good? My answer is "yes" to both questions. Cancer would claim him within 15 months of this movie. He has a look of weariness here and it fits the character well. A first rate ending to a distinguished career. This movie is a perfect timecapsule for the 1950's and one of the better boxing movies of the period (Check out Body and Soul also). Although the ending seems a bit too convenient the performances are all first rate and this is worth a rental or purchase if you love Bogie.