THE SET-UP
US, 1946, 68 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias, Wallace Ford.
Directed by Robert Wise.
The Set-Up? is considered a classic of its kind. Directed by Robert Wise after his work with Val Lewton on horror films and at the beginning of a very successful career, this brief film focuses on an hour and a quarter of an evening in the life of an ageing boxer. The screen time coincides with dramatic time and this is emphasised throughout. The focus is on a sleazy atmosphere, the boxing ring and its adjacent rooms, cafes where deals are done. Robert Ryan is excellent as the boxer and gets good support from Audrey Totter as his wife. A strong gallery of character actors creates the atmosphere of the ring - with a special emphasis on the boxing fans and their reactions. The boxer has the option to lie down or to take a stand. In this way, the boxing world becomes an image of the world where an individual, pressured, must make decisions for himself. The film is excellent in most respects, especially with a fluid camera moving unobtrusively about the rooms, street, and amongst the various groups presented.
1. The film a classic of its kind? Its focus on the world of boxing? Themes of human nature through the symbol of boxing? The tradition of boxing films - fights, training, enthusiastic fans, crooked deals and set-ups? The film in the tradition of the boxing films?
2. Black and white studio photography, the emphasis on light and darkness, the importance of so many tracking and weaving shots? The style for giving the impact of the punishment of the boxing match?
3. Musical background, the sounds of the street and cafes, the contemporary jazz score?
4. The importance of real time and dramatic time coinciding? The focus on clocks and watches? The experience of the characters and the passing of time?
5. Audience response to boxing? Pros and cons of the sport? Skill, power, brutality? The repercussions for the boxers - injuries, brain damage? The glory of winning? Boxing careers? The film's ability to visualise all these aspects?
6. The seediness of the atmosphere? The gymnasium, the dressing rooms, the boxing ring? The poverty? The boxers and their bouts, injuries, brain damage? The irony of the title 'Paradise? The range of people round the boxing? The advertisements? The set-ups and the deals? The petty gamblers? The promotion of careers? Violence and trainers escaping? Referees, etc. ?
7. The film presenting a microcosm of the American city and its toughness, harsh circumstances, pressure, fighting and losing, fighting and winning? Thompson's achievement in winning in this situation?
8. The opening and its effect: the camera weaving around the street, the advertisement, the newsboy, the blind fan and his friend, the group with the supposedly timid woman, Tiny and Red and their discussions, the infor~ mation given about Stoker? The information and mood?
9. The transition to Stoker: asleep, time, his age, his fighting career, a pleasant man, determined, not a winner? The contrast with Tiny and Red and their deals? The fight being fixed and their not telling Stoker? Julie and her trying to persuade him not to fight? Her not going to the match? His going to fight, the dressing room, watching for Julie's light to go off? The actual fight and his punishment? His going down but getting up? His reaction to his opponent? The advice of the trainer? His being told the truth? His decision to win? The exhilaration? The confrontation in the dressing room? His escape? Trapped in the alleyway? His being bashed, his hand being destroyed? His dreams for his life after his boxing? Julie's boxing about their both winning that night?
10. Julie as the supportive wife, tired of the boxing, worried, not going, entering but leaving? The importance of her absence and the empty seat? The shopping? Preparing the meal? Hurrying to him at the end and cradling him - hopes for the future?
11. The background of gangsters, Little Boy and his aides? His boxing protege and his brutality? The gangsters' girlfriends? The violence -and the off-screen destroying of Stoker's hand?
12. Tiny and Red: small-time trainers, deals, being frightened and running away?
13. The importance of the fans - a kind of chorus? The blind fan and the descriptions and his intensive response? The group with the woman becoming more vicious? The fat fan eating and drinking? The paper man and his support of Stoker? A cross-section of the world of boxing fans?
14. The film as a short story? Its insight into the boxing world? Human nature? The world as a symbol of struggle and achievement? Its basic optimism?
