Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.
Robert Ryan
Stoker
Audrey Totter
Julie
George Tobias
Tiny
Alan Baxter
Little Boy
Wallace Ford
Gus
Percy Helton
Red
Hal Baylor
Tiger Nelson
Darryl Hickman
Shanley
Kevin O'Morrison
Moore
James Edwards
Luther Hawkins
David Clarke
Gunboat Johnson
Phillip Pine
Souza
Edwin Max
Danny
Herbert Anderson
Husband (uncredited)
Larry Anzalone
Mexican Fighter (uncredited)
Arthur Berkeley
Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Burman Bodel
Man (uncredited)
John Butler
Blind Man's Buddy (uncredited)
Noble 'Kid' Chissell
Handler (uncredited)
Bud Cokes
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Gene Delmont
Handler (uncredited)
Abe Dinovitch
Ring Caller (uncredited)
Paul Dubov
Gambler (uncredited)
Arthur 'Weegee' Fellig
Timekeeper (uncredited)
Dan Foster
Bettor with Bunny (uncredited)
David Fresco
Mickey (uncredited)
Joseph Glick
Minor Role (uncredited)
Bernard Gorcey
Tobacco Man (uncredited)
Vincent Graeff
Newsboy (uncredited)
William E. Green
Doctor (uncredited)
Bobby Henshaw
Announcer (uncredited)
John Indrisano
Corner Man (uncredited)
Michael Jeffers
Sidewalk Spectator (uncredited)
Dick Johnstone
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Donald Kerr
Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
Jess Kirkpatrick
Gambler (uncredited)
Joseph La Cava
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Mike Lally
Hawkins' Handler (uncredited)
Richard LaMarr
Vendor (uncredited)
Archie Leonard
Blind Man (uncredited)
Dwight Martin
Glutton (uncredited)
William McCarter
Handler (uncredited)
Mathew McCue
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Lynn Millan
Bunny (uncredited)
Frank Mills
Photographer (uncredited)
Ben Moselle
Referee (uncredited)
Tommy Noonan
Masher on Street (uncredited)
Anton Northpole
Minor Role (uncredited)
William J. O'Brien
Pitchman (uncredited)
Brian O'Hara
Man with Cigar (uncredited)
Jack Perry
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Jack Raymond
Husband (uncredited)
Frank Richards
Bat - Program Vendor (uncredited)
Walter Ridge
Manager (uncredited)
Tony Roux
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Sammy Shack
Sam (uncredited)
Carl Sklover
Man (uncredited)
Emmett Smith
Ring Second (uncredited)
Billy Snyder
Fun Palace Barker (uncredited)
Ray Spiker
Security Guard (uncredited)
Harold J. Stone
Ringside observer (uncredited)
Jack Stoney
Nelson's Second (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook
Fight Spectator Behind the Glutton (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim
Hamburger Man (uncredited)
Constance Worth
Wife (uncredited)
Phil Bloom
Minor Role (uncredited)
Director, Screenplay
Robert Wise
Screenplay
Art Cohn
Writer
Joseph Moncure March
May 31, 2019
9
Don't you see Bill? You are always just one punch away.
The Set-Up is directed by Robert Wise and stars Robert Ryan & Audrey Totter. The screenplay was adapted by Art Cohn from a 1928 poem written by Joseph Moncure March. The story (played out in real time) sees Ryan as Stoker Thompson, a 35 year old nearly washed up boxer still trundling around the circuit believing he's still got what it takes to become a champ. In spite of pleas from his fretful wife, Julie (Totter), Stoker gets in the ring with Tiger Nelson (Hal Baylor), a man 12 years younger. Unbeknownst to Stoker, though, his manager Tiny (George Tobias) has struck a deal with underworld gangster Little Boy (Alan Baxter on prime sweaty and icy form) for him to take a dive and let Nelson win.
What first struck me the most watching this was just how vile everyone apart from the boxers are. The fighters are actually the only ones with honesty and integrity running through their veins. These guys are the ones with the self respect being a chief issue for them, they are fighting not just for glory, but for a basic human trait. The first half of the film puts us in the boxers changing room as the fighters wait to go out into the ring. Here we see the number of noble pugilists stripped back to reveal either their fears or their blind beliefs - while they in turn wait to see who comes back victorious or defeated. As they chat amongst themselves the atmosphere is palpable and Wise excellently uses cutaways to the excitable and blood thirsty crowd. The impact is to that of a gladiatorial arena and shows the sport to be seedy yet utterly beguiling at the same time.
Then it's on to Stoker's fight where Ryan is terrific (he actually boxed for College for 4 years). Thompson is a character so stand up, yet driven by foolish pride, it puts Stallone's Rocky Balboa firmly in the shade, his whole "just one punch away" mantra is truly wonderful and heartfelt and leads to one of those endings that are frustratingly brilliant in its bittersweet closure. The whole fight with Nelson has a beautiful fluidity about it (former pro boxer John Indrisano choreographed it), with Milton R. Krasner's photography keeping it grim and humanistic - both in the ring and out on the darkly lit L.A. streets as Totter's conflicted wife ponders a potential battering for her stoic husband.
Boosted up by a towering performance from Ryan, and dripping with a film noir sense of desolation, The Set-Up is a simple but powerful boxing gem. A film that gets down to the nitty-gritty of the fighters and the seedy people that surround them. 9/10
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00