The Harder They Fall (1956)

Humphrey Bogart's Last Film

Boxing has always had a fascination for me, and for a time I followed it closely. I have used the time afforded by the pandemic to watch some boxing films I hadn't seen before, including "The Harder They Fall", a 1956 movie directed by Mark Robson and based upon a novel of the same name by Bud Schulberg. The movie saw the final appearance of Humphrey Bogart (1899 -- 1957) who was terminally ill with cancer during its production and who died, age 57, shortly after its completion.

"The Harder They Fall" captures the seamy, violent, and corrupt world of professional boxing. Bogart stars as Eddie Willis, an out of work sportscaster who is hired by a crooked fight promoter Nick Benko (Rod Sterling), Willis is hired to publicize a new, unknown Argentinian heavyweight, Toro Moreno (Mark Lane, who also was a professional wrestler), Moreno is a large, towering strong man who lacks boxing skills and can neither punch nor take a punch. His fights all will be fixed and phony.

Much of the movie shows the interplay between Willis and Benko. The tension between the two smolders and builds throughout the film. Willis has some feelings of conscience but puts his feelings aside in his efforts to make money and to secure the material things of life and the respect which he believes comes from having money and a highly visible career.. Benko together with most of his large retinue are vicious. They care nothing for their fighters and seek only to make money through bribery, corruption and violence. Toro Moreno for his part is a decent, naive individual and is used unmercifully by the gang. He slowly comes to realize what is going on.

The movie features many unusually brutal fight scenes with none of the sentimentality films often bring to boxing. The many fixed fights are realistically portrayed as is the brutality of the few unfixed fights. Several world class boxers had important roles in this film including Max Baer, as heavyweight champion Buddy Brannen and Jersey Joe Walcott as Toro's trainer, George. The machinations of the boxing gang are portrayed in their disregard for their fighters, in their corrupt, unconscionable dealings, and in their high living replete with lavish expense accounts, extensive food and booze, and prostitutes. The cinematography of the film is outstanding throughout in the fight scenes, the scenes between Willis and Benko, the views of the streets and waters of New York City, and the travels of the Benko entourage from California through small midwestern towns leading to Chicago and ultimately back to New York City for the anticipated large payday. Bogart's performance as the reluctant publicity man is reserved and understated while Steiger offers an utterly different acting approach in his fiery and aggressive characterization of Benko. Among many other striking scenes, the film includes a portrayal of a former boxer who has been battered senseless during his ring career and who wanders the streets of the Bowery, pathetic, penniless, and alone.

This film takes an utterly harsh view of the boxing world and its gangsterism. The film was much more negative towards boxing than was Budd Schulberg, the author of the book on which the film was based. This tension was reflected particularly at the end of the film. The ending used in this Amazon version, as in most current versions, is more restrained it its attitude towards the sport than the film's original version.

I learned a great deal from Eddie Muller in his introductory and concluding remarks to the film in his "Noir Alley" series. Muller discusses the background of the movie, the different acting styles of Bogart and Steiger, the film's alternative endings, legal action concerning the film, and much more. "The Harder They Fall" is an outstanding film for those fascinated by the harsh world of boxing and for the many admirers of Humphrey Bogart.

Robin Friedman