THE HARDER THEY FALL

US, 1956, 107 minutes, Black and white.
Humphrey Bogart, Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling, Mike Lane, Max Baer.
Directed by Mark Robson.

The Harder They Fall was Humphrey Bogart's last film. It is an expose of the boxing world and doesn't generally pull its punches. Bogart gives a strong performance at the end of his career although this is not one of his greatest films. He is well matched dramatically with a snarling Rod Steiger. The film was directed by Mark Robson who made a number of varied films over several decades, including the film versions of such best-sellers as Peyton Place, The Valley Of The Dolls. However he brings a much more vigorous style to this black and white study of boxing and corruption.

1. The indications of the title? The cynicism, the hard-hitting nature of the film? How enjoyable was this film? Or did it give a nasty atmosphere?

2. What is the value in films like this? Their hard-hitting exposure of rackets? Or are they sensationalising the rackets and presenting them sensationally? e.g. presenting the boxing sequences brutally and sensationally? Did you think this film kept a balance between exposure and sensation?

3. How realistic are films like this? Are the situations possible? Was this story of a world champion plausible? Do rackets operate like this really? Why do men become involved in rackets like this? Can they opt out? Are they after the money only? Are people as naive as Toro and his manager to be tricked like this? What is your response to these situations?

4. Comment on the style of the film and its relationship to its themes and treatment. The use of harsh black and white photography, the use of lighting and darkness, the pace of editing, the hard-hitting, fast-spoken dialogue, the tough atmosphere of the film, the tough style of acting, the cynicism and the sentimentality, the use of the boxing sequences? How successfully were the technical devices used?

5. Did you have sympathy for the victim of the rackets? The possibility of their naivety? The fact that Toro could believe in himself and his skill? Sympathy for his disillusionment? Revulsion at the way he was used? The options that he had at the end - to opt out, to lose the money, or to go on trying? What was best for Toro at the end?

6. What is your attitude towards boxing after seeing this film? As a sport with skill, as being used by racketeers, the brutality, the point of boxing? The sequences of death and brutality in the ring? What emotional response did the film-makers intend from the audience?

7. How interesting was Eddie Willis as the central character? Were we meant to identify with him? The Humphrey Bogart personality? Sympathy for him? Why did he become involved with the rackets? Did he just need the job? The money? Was he a weak character? The influence of his wife? His disillusionment? His personality clashes with Nick, Leo and the others? Why did he change his mind? Why did he repent? Did he redeem himself adequately? Where? His reconciliation with his wife? His helping of Toro? His writing the exposure?

8. How evil was Nick Benko? Was Rod Steiger's performance convincing? Realistic? Was it a caricature? Do such people live and act like these caricatures? How brutal was he? Selfish? Did he have any feelings? Did he deserve being taken down?

9. How did Beth act as an humanising influence in the film? Her love for her husband? Her putting the choices to him? Or was she a cliche character, the loving wife etc.?

10. What was the picture of the promoters? What morals did they have? Scruples? Sense of values? The nature of the deals, the styles of life and personality? Toro's manager as contrasting with this?

11. The place of the fatal fight in the film? Presupposing the previous parts of the film? Our emotional reaction to the death, and 11o Toro's merciless bashing?

12. Was the film convincing in its moving towards a final message? The ending with Eddie Willis writing his articles?

13. How valuable are films like this? As insights into human life and values? As presenting cynicism and brutality? As an appeal to human feeling? How pessimistic are films like this about the success of exposure of racketeers?