Customer Reviews

The Harder They Fall

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is far from one of Bogart's best movies, but it is still well worth watching. In this film, he plays a washed-up sportswriter who has been hired as a PR man for gigantic South American boxer named Toro Morena. The problem is, Morena, despite his immense size, can't box at all. Bogart and Morena's crooked owner, magnificently played by Rod Steiger, manage to take him up the heavyweight ranks by fixing a string of fights.

Of all the sports, none have inspired as many excellent films as boxing. In fact, there may be more first-rate boxing films than first rate films from all other sports combined. There are probably a good dozen very, very good fight films, and this belongs to their number.

The tension in the film derives from the ultimate conflict between Bogart's inherent decency and Steiger's unmitigated exploitativeness. The two had great onscreen chemistry in their scenes together. They employed very different acting styles, Steiger being one of the first Method actors to enjoy success in the movies. Bogart was strictly old school, but he not only held his own, he dominated their scenes together.

A couple of real life boxers played major roles in the film. Jersey Joe Alcott plays Toro Moreno's trainer. Toro Moreno himself was very loosely based on the career of Primo Canera (with the difference that Canera actually could box, the similarities being that he was a remarkably tall heavyweight who killed a man in the ring). Max Baer, former heavyweight champion and the father of Max Baer Jr. (Jethro on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES), plays heavyweight champion Buddy Brannen. The irony in this is that Baer in real life became heavyweight champion by beating Primo Canera. The in-the-ring shots are among the finest that have ever been filmed in boxing pictures.

Based on Budd Schulberg's 1947 novel, "The Harder They Fall" (1956) is a stunning indictment of the boxing profession. The film also marks Humphrey Bogart's final performance as a former sports writer turned publicist - and he's in good company. Bogie's scenes with Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling and Mike Lane (as the giant Argentinian boxer) are truly memorable. Mark Robson's no-nonsense direction makes the most of Burnett Guffey's Oscar-nominated cinematography. Unlike other screen legends, Bogart ended his career in classic fashion.

absolutely Bogart's greatest and valedictory performance. Bogart exited this life with his greatest performance. not only was this Bogart's best but this film also boasts a stellar ensemble of actors. this film dares to explore the criminal racketeering that once plagued the sport of professional boxing. the brutal realistic portrayals given by the actors is unsurpassed. from the intimidating performance by Steiger especially to the moral dilemma of Bogart is no less than incredible. an absolute must and imperative for one's film library. almost unbearable final fight to watch.

as for the DVD, some artifacts present but overall a good transfer. the audio is stereo and also good.

An ailing Bogart made his final appearance in Mark Robson's raw, hard-hitting film about corruption in the boxing world, playing a jaded press agent with a biting conscience. Steiger is in top form playing the ferocious ringleader of fraudulent bettors, and Mike Lane, as dim-witted, cruelly manipulated boxer Toro Moreno (modeled after Primo Carnero) is poignant and credible. Adapted from Budd Schulberg's novel, "Fall" spares nothing in portraying the unquenchable greed of local promoters, the rabidity of fans, and the heartbreaking physical toll the sport takes on the bodies of men who are barely regarded as human.

I was pleasantly surprised to catch this film on TV the other day. Bogart's final film is a testament to his career, a tough film about a conflicted man who ultimately rises to the challenge and pursues the morally virtuous course, at great personal, professional, and financial cost.

In addition to Bogart's fantastic performance, Rod Steiger chews the scenery nicely as a corrupt manager. Their scenes together are really well done, and very well written. I particularly enjoyed the scene after the big fight where Bogart presses to find out how much their fighter will ultimately wind up for getting so badly beaten in the ring.

But for me I truly enjoyed Mike Lane's performance as the up and coming Argentinian fighter El Toro, who is huge, honest, religious, but unfortunately a terrible fighter. His performance is precious.

Highly recommended.

The Harder they Fall is a hard hitting expose of the boxing racket, and a racket it is. Excellent performances by Humphrey Bogart, as a Sportwriter turned Boxing Press Agent,Rod Steiger, Edward Andrews, Nehemiah Persoff, and the always great ( and underrated ) Jan Sterling. An Excellent Screenplay by Philip Yordan, from a Budd Schulberg Novel. Mark Robson's Direction is swift. ***** Stars

Hollywood has had a long standing fascination with boxing. From Kid Galahad to Champion...From Requiem For A Heaveyweight to Raging Bull, all have portrayed the seemly underbelly of the "sweet science". The Harder They Fall stars Humphrey Bogart and Rod Steiger in a stunning portayal of the Mexican giant and Heaveyweight champion hopeful, Toro Moreno.

Loosely based on the real life story of the Italian champion Primo Carnera, Toro towers over his opponents, but he packs a punch that couldn't break an egg. And to make matters worse his jaw is as fragil as a Waterford chrystal goblet. Mobbed-up fight promoter Nick Bento (Rod Steiger) hires has-been sports writer Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart) as Toro's press agent. The two arrange for a series of bum-of-the-month-club bouts, with washed up pugilists. The bums are in the tank, as Toro racks up a dozen or more tainted victories. Eventually they get a shot to fight the number one contender for the heaveyweight crown. But the fighter is fresh off a brutal knock out at the hands of Buddy Brannen, (played by real life Heaveyweight champ Max Baer) the reining title holder. As he enters the ring with Toro, he is damaged goods and even Toro's cream puff blows cause him to hemmorage. Toro is devistated, as he believes his super human strength caused the fighter's death. It is now up to Bogart to convience Toro that he is innocent of this tragedy and that he must take one last fight with Brannen even though he has no chance of beating him.

Bogart and Steiger are exceptionally well cast and both deliver performances equal to their "heaveyweight" (pardon the pun) reputations. The supporting cast of Jan Sterling (Willis's long suffering wife), Nehemiah Persoff (the corrupt accountant and yes-man to Nick Bento) and real life heaveyweight champion "Jersey" Joe Walcott (Toro's sparring partner and brother's keeper) all provide the film with a gritty realism and authenticity. By the mid fifties Bogart had tarnished his remarkable film career with a series of "B" Grade stinkers. Fortunately his final role of Eddie Willis allowed this legendary and gifted actor a chance to go out with a flourish. Steiger too delivers a performance worthy of his greatest flim triumphs; On The Waterfront and In The Heat Of The Night. While The Harder They Fall may not make the American Film Institute's Top One Hundred list, it is nonetheless a finely crafted motion picture that will undoubtably make you think twice about the humanity of the "sport" of prize fighting. It might also teach you a thing or two about greed, oportunisim and redemption.

Of course this movie gets 5 stars from me. I was very fortunate
to have Pat Comiskey as my father. He was a pro heavyweight boxer in real life. Fought Max Baer, also Joe Louis in an exhibition bout. Was Lou Costello's bodyguard in Los Angeles for awhile, and even had some great stories about Marilyn Monroe. He played a mobster in Some Like It Hot. He hailed from Paterson NJ. My dad had more class in one finger than most people have in their whole body (and we're not talking money here - just real "class". There is nothing so strong as real gentleness and that describes my dad. He passed on May 24, 1989 from Alzheimer's Disease. I still talk to him to this very day. I know someday we will be together. My mother left recently to join him. Ironically on May 22, 2004 - two days short of the 15th anniversary of his passing. They are dancing in the stars together. They loved to dance. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers him. He really enjoyed working with "Bogie" on his last movie. You can e-mail me @ Bugaleena4@aol.com. Please make the title of your e-mail something including Pat Comiskey as I get lots of spam and I wouldn't want to accidentally delete your e-mail. Warmly, Terri

Whenever a new boxing film is being hyped, we inevitably get someone's list of great boxing films, yet The Harder They Fall never makes those lists. Screenwriter Philip Yordan and director Mark Robson took Budd Schulberg's tough but somewhat diffuse and repetitive novel and condensed it into an excellent film adaptation that is still a timely indictment of the corruption and brutality in the world of boxing. This was Bogart's last film, and actor's last films are generally terrible, but Bogie went out with a classic. The performances are generally excellent, and the scenes with Steiger and Bogart work beautifully, with Steiger's aggressive, fast-talking, almost lunging forward attack matched by Bogart's wary, laconic, reactive style of acting. Also excellent is the underrated Nehemiah Persoff, an Actors Studio alumnus, who himself resembles Steiger and who gave excellent support in numerous films and TV shows. Perhaps the film's only flaw is Bogart's 11th hour moral conversion, but it is acceptable enough and does lead to a final, excellent scene between Bogart and Steiger.

Not bad, The Harder They Fall was the last film starring legendary actor Humphrey Bogart. Its a tale of corruption and greed in the sports and entertainment business, Humphrey Bogart stars as Eddie Willis a sports writer who is drawn into the ring of corruption when he agrees to promote an unknown fighter from South America named Toro Moreno (Mike Lane) who despite his huge size is a lousy fighter who cannot box but soon becomes heavy weight champion of the world allegedly through fixed fights. Beyond the obvious corruption in the fight game as the movie clearly depicts, the film is also about the danger of selling out doing something you know is wrong for money. Unfortunately Eddie Willis desperately needs the money since hes out of luck, there is also a fantastic performance by Rod Stieger as the crooked manager who was quite intense and likes to steal as much money from El Toro as he uses him as a cash cow. Humphrey Bogart is terrific as always and shows of his acting skills along with the great cast, he of course had some better films like Casablanca, The Treasure Of The Seirra Madre, The Big Sleep ect. but this film was still pretty good compared to those I would say that it holds up quite well. The film was nicely directed by Mark Robson and was released in 1956 with beautifully shot fight scenes and a fantastic score along with some great b/w cinematography, this of course being the last Bogart film is very essential to Bogart fans and fans of classic cinema.