The Harder They Fall

A solid adaptation of Budd Schulberg's gritty novel "The Harder They Fall" (1947). Throughout his life, Schulberg encountered all the pinnacle forms of showbiz, which became the foundation for his literary work. He briefly collaborated with F. Scott Fitzgerald, and in his youth, he was shaped by his father's decision to leave the family for actress Sylvia Sidney. After the war, he was part of the Nuremberg Trials. These and many other life experiences formed his worldview, so it's no surprise that even a seemingly trivial story about corruption behind the scenes of professional boxing comes across as so mature. Thanks to the professionalism of the team around Mark Robson, they managed to create a film that lived up to the expectations of its source material. The boundary of novelistic fiction can be evidenced by the unsuccessful lawsuit Primo Carnera filed against Columbia. For this reason, it would be a shame to dismiss all this and label the film merely as the final project of a dying Humphrey Bogart. That would be truly insufficient. (12/07/2024)

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. (07/11/2021)