RE: The Last Movie You Watched
May 6, 2024 at 11:55 am
(This post was last modified: May 6, 2024 at 12:00 pm by Nanny.)
The Harder They Fall (1956) - A noir about the fixing of boxing matches, final film role of Humphrey Bogart. Bogart's character is hired by fight game mobsters to promote the 6'8" Toro Moreno, an unknown boxer from Argentina. A vivid backstory is crafted - entirely untrue - while Moreno has no aptitude for boxing. A series of boxers are paid off to dive, building Moreno's reputation while causing the raised eyebrows of insiders who can see the lack of talent. Moreno gets his shot at the heavyweight title and gets mauled. The mobsters use accounting tricks to swindle Moreno, leaving him with just $50 while the gates from his bouts have made millions for the fight game jocks. Bogarts gives his own share to Moreno before shipping him back to Argentina.
An entertaining movie. Bogart appears world worn and tired - he was in the throes of esophageal cancer - which lends to the character. Extreme overacting by the cast, as was the way of the late 50's produces some unintentional humor. Jersey Joe Walcott puts in a nice performance as Moreno's sparring partner. Max Baer appears as the champ.
Former heavyweight champ Primo Carnera sued Columbia Pictures claiming the story was meant to depict him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo_Carnera
Max Baer knocked Carnera down 11 times in the real title bout in 1934.
An entertaining movie. Bogart appears world worn and tired - he was in the throes of esophageal cancer - which lends to the character. Extreme overacting by the cast, as was the way of the late 50's produces some unintentional humor. Jersey Joe Walcott puts in a nice performance as Moreno's sparring partner. Max Baer appears as the champ.
Former heavyweight champ Primo Carnera sued Columbia Pictures claiming the story was meant to depict him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo_Carnera
Max Baer knocked Carnera down 11 times in the real title bout in 1934.
