Directed by:
Mark RobsonScreenplay:
Philip YordanCinematography:
Burnett GuffeyComposer:
Hugo FriedhoferCast:
Humphrey Bogart, Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling, Max Baer, Edward Andrews, Harold J. Stone, Nehemiah Persoff, Felice Orlandi, Jack Albertson, Robert Fuller (more)Plots(1)
Humphrey Bogart stars in one of his most memorable performances as Eddie Willis, a sportswriter who joins forces with a corrupt boxing promoter named Benko (Rod Steiger). Together, they scheme to deceive Toro Moreno (Mike Lane), a clumsy, seven-foot giant, and the public intobelieving Moreno has a shot at the heavyweight title. Through a carefully arranged series of fixed fights, Toro is duped into believing that he is a capable contender, only to have his dreams - and his huge body - shattered when he is brutally beaten in a genuine fight with the heavyweight champion. Jersey Joe Walcott appears as Moreno's trainer, with former boxing great Max Baer as the heavyweight champ. The Harder They Fall is an intriguing film in the tradition of Bogart classics. (Columbia TriStar UK)
(more)Reviews (1)
Humphrey Bogart ended his career on a high note. While his final film role might not be his most iconic, it certainly deserves attention. It's quite fitting that he concluded his career with a role like this — Bogart embodies the archetype of his classic characters, providing a sentimental capstone to a career that ended too soon. Bogie was a true professional, giving his all even when he knew his time was short. I’ll always admire him for that. I enjoy boxing dramas, and this one delves more into the behind-the-scenes machinations than the struggles of the fighters, though those are well represented by the character Toro Moreno. His relationship with sportswriter Eddie Willis, who initially exploits him but later grapples with his conscience to make a morally right yet personally costly decision, is the film's core. The final scene serves as a beautiful epilogue to the illustrious career of one of cinema's greatest legends.
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