User reviews

Humphrey Bogart is truly brilliant in this, his last film. "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.

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.

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 on screen 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.

Humphrey Bogart's last movie was a triumph! His acting was terrific! Excellent movie!

Eddie Willis was once a top sports writer, but now he is down on his luck and searching for work. He gets a proposition from dodgy promoter Nick Benko, he is to write up sensationalist press for Benko's new discovery, the gigantic Toro Moreno. Trouble is is that Moreno is a poor boxer, powder puff punches and a glass jaw. But each fight is fixed by Benko and along with Eddie's press writings, this propels Moreno to being a household name, thus a crack at the heavyweight title is in the offering. However, Eddie starts to feel conflicted the more the story unfolds and just around the corner is a tragedy that will shape the destinies of everyone who is involved.

This was sadly to be the last film from the great Humphrey Bogart. He would pass away the following year, but thankfully this Mark Robson directed piece proves to be a fitting swansong. He puts depth to his portrayal of Willis and his face off scenes with Rod Steiger's Benko are a real acting joy to observe. The film itself {great scripting from Phillip Yordan} is a scathing and critical look at the boxing circuit, corruption, greed and a scant care for human life come bubbling to the surface, with Burnett Guffey's stark black & white photography adding grime to the nasty underbelly. Real life {and one time heavyweight champion of the world} boxer Primo Carnera sued {and lost} Columbia because The Harder They Fall's story was close enough to his own life story, that in itself makes this film's core story all the more interesting. 8/10

Humphrey Bogart died about a year after this movie was completed. That alone would give the film poignancy. But, for Bogart, this final work was a grand coda indeed! In many respects, this was a brave effort in 1956 to expose the seedy side of boxing, and it did so in a most spectacularly effective manner, likely better than any other effort that came before or after it.

Near the end of the film, long after the swindle was known by the audience, as well as the protagonist (Bogart), the bookkeeper continued pouring over every tidbit of budget magic showing the details of how the boxer was skillfully swindled of his money. All of the expenses were taken out of his share, as the others in the heist took their money off the top.

Other movies would have made it a swift effort, but director Mark Robson knew that the details of the swindle is what made it seedy, and so he wanted the audience to see and hear it all. And it is the details that come after the brutality that make the conclusion all the more powerful.

Ultimately, the moral lesson is that the worst profession a person can undertake is one that profits off the bodies of other people.

Of special note are the number of actual boxers who acted parts in the film, including Jersey Joe Walcott, who was heavyweight champion from 1951-52, and who delivered one of the best lines of the movie, when asked why their boxer didn't protect himself like he was instructed, replied, "Some guys can sell out and other guys just can't. Goodnight!" There was a lot about this movie that was ahead of its time, including the meaningful roles of black actors such as Wolcott.

Max Baer was the other real world fighter who played an important role in the film. He was heavyweight champion from 1934-35, winning the title against Primo Carnera, an historical fact that was eerily paralleled in this movie. So well did Baer play the role of the bloodthirsty pugilist, that his reputation as an actual boxer was sullied by people who foolishly confused his actual boxing career with his performance in this film!

It should not go without notice that two real-world heavyweight boxing champions played prominent roles in this film, which very much exposed the corruption in the sport. Today, that corruption is well known, but this film was made in 1956, when most people took the sport as being clean.

Today, the film remains as relevant as ever, and Bogart's skill is a prime reason why. He expertly sells the movie with the kind of adroit and nuanced acting that was the hallmark of the legend's career. Few actors get to make such a strong statement in his final role!

Eddie Willis(Humphrey Bogart) is a down on his luck boxing critic who has just lost job when his newspaper goes bust. Nick Benko(Rod Steiger) a crooked boxing promoter hears of this and invites Eddie over to discuss some business,Benko wants him to use his press connections to promote his new boxer the Argentinian Toro Moreno,a brute of a man but with little or no talent for boxing.Eddie laughs off Moreno's chances in a ring with anyone, but as Benko later explains the fights are going to be fixed and Edie can have a percentage of the takings. A more hard hitting and gritty boxing drama you might find hard to find, the film really exposes the seedy under belly of the sport with all its corruption and vices. Its often been mooted that Bogart's last screen role was possibly his best and I can see why, there is a depth in his character that was not always there in some of his roles, Steiger too is phenomenal as in fact are the whole cast. Robson's direction is always assured and the pacing is nigh on perfect. A word too for Burnett Guffey's cinematography which captures the wonderful locations and fight scenes beautifully.A Swan song that delivers a fitting end for a legend.

"The Harder They Fall", based on the brutally real novel by Budd Schulberg, presents us with an aspect of the boxing world that no one talked about in those days. The sport was dominated by the racket men that made tremendous profits at the expense of the young pugilists that came from poor backgrounds.

Mark Robson, the director, was a man that understood that underworld well. He had already directed the excellent "Champion", so he proved to be a natural for taking the helm of this movie. Mr. Robson, worked as an editor for Orson Welles and knew what worked in the cinema. Working with the cinematographer Burnett Guffey, a man who was one of the best in the business, Mr. Robson created a film that was a ground breaker. New York City in the fifties is the background for the story that was shot in real exteriors that added a drama to the film.

This was the last film in which Humphrey Bogart made. In fact, Mr. Bogart shows signs of the illness that would take his life after the film was completed. Humphrey Bogart's Eddie Willis is a man that clearly wants to be fair to the poor boxer, Toro, from Argentina, who is being manipulated by the bad guys under the evil Benko. This was one of the best appearances of Mr. Bogarts in the movies.

The other surprise in the film is the portrayal by Rod Steiger of the mob man that wants to use Toro for his own illegal gains. Rod Steiger stood in sharp contrast with Humphrey Bogart. Being a method actor, his technique was entirely different from the one of his co-star. Yet, when both men are seen on the same frame, one can sense two great actors doing what they did best.

The interesting cast put together for the film made it better than it could have been. Under Mark Robson's direction we see a lot of New York based actors in the background. One would have liked to see more of Jan Sterling, who plays Eddie's understanding wife Beth. Also in the cast, Nhemiah Persoff, Jack Albertson, Max Baer, Jersey Joe Walcott, Mike Lane, Carlos Montalban, make good contributions to the film.

The boxing sequences are masterfully staged by Mr. Robson, who gives us a ringside seat to watch the matches. This film shows the director at the top of his craft.

I just saw this film and now realize that Sly Stallone must have watched it about a hundred times before staging the fight scenes in Rocky – he even recreated the subtle touch when Toro's coach cuts his eyelid in the fight to release the built-up blood (except in this film, you only see him go for the eye with a scalpel but don't see him actually cut it as you do in Rocky). The final fight at the end of this movie is THE most gruesome fight ever filmed. Stallone tried to capture this in Rocky, but it has nowhere NEAR the realism of the fight in The Harder They Fall. This is partly because it is shot in black and white, which for some reason makes everything seem more gruesome than color; partly because of the foggy, staggering way it is shot, as if you are seeing the punches through the groggy boxer's eyes; and partly because the actor who played Toro was not a star like Stallone or DeNiro in Raging Bull – they could make him look like a true wreck, a distorted, disfigured wreck – without fear of diminishing his "star" quality handsomeness.

My favorite line in this movie is when Bogart angrily asks Steiger how he'd like to have his jaw broken like Toro's. Steiger's henchmen immediately start to converge on Bogart, who says, "He didn't have 5 guys in the ring with him." It's a great line that brings home how the powerful are protected from the very pain they inflict on others.

The movie's title, from the old saying, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall," is also very ironic, because the "big" guys – Steiger and the corrupt fight backers – actually never "fall" – it is only the "little" guys, like Toro, who fall the hardest.

By the way, it was really spooky seeing Max Baer himself re-create his historic fight with Primo Carnera in this film, which is based on Max Baer's historic fight with Primo Carnera! You can see a film of this 1934 fight online, in which Baer knocks Carnera down 11 times in 11 rounds. By round 2, Baer was actually chasing Carnera around the ring, and at least 3 times he knocked him down so hard that he actually fell on top of him!

This was an interesting story but not always enjoyable to watch, simply because it's a real downer in spots, and seeing an ill Humphrey Bogart was sad.

Bogart, as "Eddie Willis," plays a decent guy who knows he's doing the wrong thing so he's ornery for most of the film. His conscience is getting the best of him. Not many others in here are happy, either, for that matter, in this tale of crooked boxing. Boy, filmmakers in the '40s and '50s loved making crooked boxing stories.

What's also different about this is the featured boxer: a 6-foot-8 Argentinian import named "Toro Moreno" (Mike Lane), a stiff who is being groomed for the heavyweight championship via a series of fixed fights, led by the crooked promoter played by Rod Steiger.

Along the way, it was interesting to see real-life fighters Max Baer and Jersey Joe Walcott.

Bogart died a little a little over a year after making this film. He looked haggard, which is understandable, but he still did his normal excellent job of acting and keeping the story interesting. Like him or not, Bogart always got your interest. He, along with James Cagney, were the best at dominating a film.

A decent boxing film, but nothing spectacular, to be honest. There are many, many better boxing movies, but this is still worth watching.

What a wonderful way to end one of the all-time great careers. Bogart's last film, "The Harder They Fall" is a tough, uncompromising, cynical look at the fight world, and Bogart is magnificent as a down and out reporter who sells out to crooked boxing promoters.

One of the things so excellent about the film is that Bogie is surrounded by fantastic performances, particularly that of Rod Steiger as a vicious, greedy promoter, Mike Lane as the big dumb lug Steiger uses to accomplish his goals, and Max Baer as an egomaniacal champion.

"The Harder They Fall" spares us nothing - not the violence in the ring, the treatment of individuals like merchandise, the preying on the downtrodden. And it doesn't spare us Bogart's haggard looks, either. However, his energy is great and his characterization of a writer turned press rep, a man who looks the other way, is a powerful one.

There's a story often told about Bogart in his last days. Friends would come over to visit in the afternoon, and Bogart would climb into a dumbwaiter in order to get down to the first floor. He was that small (80 pounds) and that weak. But there was never anything weak about the mind, the will, or the persona.

This is Humphrey Bogart's last film, and it's pretty obvious he was ill when it was being filmed. But in spite of that, he delivers a biting and memorable performance. He went out in style, that's for sure. The use of former boxers in the cast (Jersey Joe Walcott, Max Baer and Joe Greb) was a fascinating and effective touch. Joe Greb was particularly memorable as skid row bum being interviewed. Great story and thought provoking, good supporting performance by Rod Steiger. The stark black and white cinematography is very potent. The score is excellent. Apparently Humphrey Bogart was not to fond of Rod Steiger's style of acting, if so, it sure didn't show in the final production.

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.

Strong performances from everyone in this, Bogart's last movie. Rod Steiger gives what I think is the best performance of his often overrated career. This is early Steiger, before he started doing whatever the hell he calls his acting in his later works.

It's really sort of a shame that, being Humphrey Bogart's last film, this tepid boxing drama isn't any better than it is. It wouldn't have taken all that much to improve it, corruption in boxing was topical in 1956 and being based on a novel by Budd Schulberg it must have seemed like another muck-raking hit in the mold of 'On the Waterfront.' But Bogart isn't at his best and the writing just doesn't pass muster. Frankly the corruption seems a little too extreme, the boxers too stupid, the promoter too venal. It might work at a lower echelon boxing but the film falls in with the boxing movie cliché of the "title shot." I find the idea that anyone would ever go to see this mug fight for the Heavyweight Champeenship of the World flatly ridiculous.

Bogart plays Eddie Willis, a down and out sportswriter looking to cash in. Rod Steiger is Nick Benko, an apparently mob-connected fight promoter who isn't burdened by a single scruple. They collaborate to quickly turn a soft-punching, glass-jawed, South American giant (played by 6'8" pro wrestler Mike Lane) into a heavyweight contender.

If 'The Harder They Fall' has a redeeming factor, it's Rod Steiger's performance. Nick Benko should be on top of the world but Steiger gives him a manic desperation. Bogart is adequate but his character is never really developed and is ultimately as unbelievable as the rest of the film.

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.

There is no secret that Bogart made a lot of bad movies throughout his career, such as, oh, lets say "Sirocco". He said it himself! But there is also no secret that he is one of the greatest actors ever in history of film and that he made his share of unforgettable and great films like "Casablanca" or even the ones less famous, such as "In A Lonely Place". He is my favorite actor ever. And I am so happy that his last film was well acted and had an awesome story. Rod Steiger was also good in this historical boxing picture, with the large Mike Lane and some of the other less famous actors. But no matter what, Bogart owns this film, just as he seems to own all the other films he ever played in. Except from "The Raging Bull" (which I saw years ago!) this is the best boxing film I've seen! The fights were really well made and the "injuries" were believable and it really looked like they were bleeding or that they were really bad injured. I would say that this has about everything a great film needs, that includes Bogart. Once again, so glad this film, his last, was one of his absolute best!

I have seen "The Harder They Fall" and always enjoyed it but it's interesting seeing it with the short clips Turner Classic Movies was showing on corruption in boxing. This is a good example of the 1950's noir theme of examining corruption in politics, society, and in business. Here the gangsters that were involved with "standard" gangster activities such as robbery were replaced by ones that hid in the shadows of businesses - in this case boxing. It also touches on everyday people being drawn into doing corrupt things to " keep up with the Joneses". The shadowy effects used in the boxing ring, locker rooms, travel bus etc mirrors shady dealings that were happening throughout the movie while the realism approach added to it relevance. I love the great pivotal lines delivered by George ( Jersey Joe Walcott) "Some guys can sell that other guys just can't."

It's Humphrey Bogart's last movie so it's always a little hard to watch. But it is a great one. Rod Steiger always does such a wonderful job. It seems to me when he's trying to explain why he's doing corrupt things he has this underlying tone of saying "Why are you so upset that I'm taking advantage of you?!" Which makes his character even more despicable. It's also interesting to compare Steiger's and Bogart's style of acting since they came from two different schools.

"The Harder They Fall" is a historically significant film, because it's Humphrey Bogart's acting swan song, but it's pretty good on its own, anyway. An unsubtle ("prizefighters aren't humans!") but undeniably realistic portrait of the corruption in the boxing business, this may be an unexceptional affair, but it's gripping and fast-paced. Bogart plays a cynical, disillusioned character that seems to fit him perfectly, and the rest of the cast is also good - except for Bogart's all-too-virtuous wife. (***)

Here's a film that tries to deal with corruption, of how the fighting game is built around construction, of the ways results are fixed, all the lies and all the tricks, as the boxers follow mostly, their instructions. The performances of all is quite top drawer, Toro Moreno by Mike Lane makes quite a score, Rod Steiger's crooked Nick, is aggressive and so slick, but Humphrey Bogart is the one you just adore. So if you're looking for a film that works today, that's packed with cheats, and layered with foul play, that marks the ending of a story, an actor's sublime oratory, light a cigarette, but do find an ashtray.

An out of work sports columnist takes a job building up the reputation of a boxer who has no talent. His boss, a ruthless promoter, pits the pugilist against better athletes, but has the contests rigged in favor of his own fighter. This is a tense, well acted picture which gives a graphic portrayal of the seedy side of sports.

The Harder They Fall (1956) : Brief Review -

The greatest on-screen male legend of all time exposes PR work in his final work. Humphrey Bogart, the rank #1 legend in AFI's list of greatest on-screen legends male, was ill while shooting for The Harder They Fall. That made it a hard watch for me. Watching your favorite in his final movie, giving his 100% despite illness, because he loves his work and is passionate about it-tell me, whose heart won't melt hearing this. I just experienced it fully and am feeling blessed. Boggie has been a part of many noir films, and his charismatic personality suited those dark themes. He added his Bogart touch to those movies. In The Harder They Fall, we see him playing a public relations executive who works on a commission basis. He has been an honest journalist but didn't make enough money. For a while, he forgot that words have more power than money, but that's only to learn a good lesson. He is seen doing fake publicity for a weak boxer to earn money, but he knows that someday the boxer will have to face a real fight, and that might be the last day of his boxing career and his own PR career as well. It's a gripping tale, and I, as a journalist with so many PR friends, could relate to it easily. Bogart was looking a little different here, due to his health issues, I believe, but he still had enough strength to carry the entire film on his own shoulders. What an actor! What a legend! I bow down to him. The screenplay has a strong grip, and that's why you never find yourself going out of the boxing ring. Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling, Mike Lane, Max Bear, and others have done well alongside Bogart. The script has a good message, strong principles, and a lot of exposing details from certain professions, but I think that's quite known to everybody. It wouldn't be surprising. Mark Robson has done a fantastic job keeping all things together in the right manner. It packs a solid punch of boxing noir, just like many of its contemporary greats.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The producer said let's get Humphrey Bogart for the main role. Because he can light a cigarette, then another, then give some words of wisdom, then light another cigarette. It wasn't Humphrey Bogart acting the role of whatever he was, but Humphrey Bogart acting like Humphrey Bogart.