The Harder They Fall (1956)

“Money’s not evil in and of itself. The purpose for which it’s used is the determining factor.” – Eddie

Number of Times Seen – 1 (24 Nov 2019)

Brief Synopsis – An unemployed sport writers becomes a boxing promoter for a South America pugilist who is expected to do great things.

My Take on it – As I’m trying to gain more film knowledge of films featuring Humphrey Bogart, I came across this one, his very last screen appearance.

The story as told here is quite boring and isn’t among the best of the films dealing with the sport of boxing.

The story is slightly enhanced by the performances of both Bogart and Rod Steiger yet neither is able to make things even more poignant or interesting to watch unfold.

The plot of the film is all about corruption in the boxing industry and they manage to show many of the small intricacies that are quite integral to making things work, but unfortunately, things constantly feel a bit off balance.

The story itself is unfortunately not powerful enough and there is something about the story seems incomplete.

The fight scenes are ok, but aren’t very among the best of its kind on film.

This was Bogart’s final performance before his death and it’s a pity that his swansong wasn’t more memorable of a film that would be on par with some of his greatest performances.

Bottom Line – Pretty boring boxing movie that is slightly enhanced by the performances of Bogart and Steiger. The story is all about corruption in the sport and they show how things work. Unfortunately, the story isn’t powerful enough and something constantly feels missing throughout. This was Bogart’s final performance and it isn’t as memorable as one would hope for his swansong which is a pity.

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Joe Greb has a small and uncredited role as a brain-damaged boxer who gives an interview about the damaging effects of the sport. In reality, Greb had a 12 year career as a boxer and fought in 119 bouts during that period. Greb suffered irreparable brain damage from his time as a boxer and was a vocal proponent of fighter safety. In essence, he plays himself in this film. (From IMDB)

Rating – BAFTA Worthy (5/10)