The Harder They Fall

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Strange coupling I know but the tragedy and the humor are both in place.

Schulberg's writing lends the proper tone to this and for me the New York locations are familiar, as is the Pompton Lakes NJ locale. View all 5 comments. Mar 03, Oliver Bateman rated it it was amazing. There's nothing tricky about what Schulberg is doing, and that's for the best: Not one of the characters in the book, from fast-talking PR man Eddie Lewis to greedy mobster Nick Latka to Molina himself, is the least bit likable, and the miserable conclusion to which Schulberg builds is nothing short of extraordinary.

The descriptions of the boxing action are top-notch Schulberg's two collections of writing about boxing, Ringside and Sparring with Hemingway, aren't exactly Liebling-quality, but they're very good , with special praise reserved for the match where massive Native American heavyweight "Chief Thunderbird" decides to make his "job" i. A must-read, to be sure.

Oct 17, Tony Gleeson rated it really liked it. Budd Schulberg's second novel, written in , is nowhere near as well known as the Humphrey Bogart film that was made from it several years later. The book is simultaneously funnier and much darker than the film, and ends on an even lower note. Despite Schulberg's rampant cynicism toward human nature, I found this book a total joy to read. That pessimism is balanced with almost sparkly writing, filled with individual sketches of every character, wry observations on life, and a Runyonesque ear Budd Schulberg's second novel, written in , is nowhere near as well known as the Humphrey Bogart film that was made from it several years later.

That pessimism is balanced with almost sparkly writing, filled with individual sketches of every character, wry observations on life, and a Runyonesque ear for slang and patter. There is some speculation that the book like his first, "What Makes Sammy Run" was based upon real characters from Schulberg's own interesting life and career. That would go a long way to explaining the depth and believability of both stories. Oct 23, Nicholas rated it liked it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.

To view it, click here. Not nearly as good as What Makes Sammy Run. I need more gold, Eddie, and then I'll-go to Mexico, six months, maybe a year, rediscover my soul, Eddie. But Dave, I can't figure it. You've been making big dough for years. You must have enough Dough sticks to your palms. This is a handful of worms that slip through your fingers. For two or three seconds in his life he had a glimpse of glory, and down through the shabby years of obscurity, those precious drops of time have grown and grown until they have blotted out the rest of his memory.

Get all the nickles you can. Keep on kidding yourself.

It is someone trying to escape from the neurotic riptide of an over-abundance of money and an insufficiency of responsibility. And as I watched it, in a kind of hateful reverence, it suddenly went out. What did Toro mean, all of you? He must have me mixed up with the others. I was Toro's friend, the only one who cared, the only one who sympathized. And yet, he had said all.

He had said all of you. Just twenty-three pages of a play that was going back into the bottom drawer of my trunk, where it belonged. Enough brains to see it and not enough guts to stand up to it. Thousands of us, millions of us, corrupted, rootless, career-ridden, good hearts and yellow bellies, living out our lives for the easy buck, the soft berth, indulging ourselves in the illusion that we can deal in filth without becoming the thing we touch.

Jan 02, Dave Morris rated it really liked it. Like all Budd Schulberg's novels this one is about artistic and ethical integrity as well as the very colourfully-depicted world of the story. In this case he's taken as his setting the seedier parts of the sport of boxing in s America. Schulberg handles a large cast of characters and makes each so distinctive that you can feel their presence in the room with you.

I laughed a laugh of horrified recognition when a former champ goes over his ghostwritten copy and starts telling the writer how t Like all Budd Schulberg's novels this one is about artistic and ethical integrity as well as the very colourfully-depicted world of the story. I laughed a laugh of horrified recognition when a former champ goes over his ghostwritten copy and starts telling the writer how to do his job. There's much smart, snappy humour like that but Schulberg pulls no punches and you know there's never going to be any syrupy sentiment to take away the sting.

Apparently there's a Bogart movie but I don't think I could watch it now; after Schulberg's storytelling it would be bound to feel fake. May 22, Richard Block rated it really liked it. Beaten to Death Budd Schulberg wrote four novels, all downbeat.

The Harder They Fall

Of the four, the best is the least well known, The Disenchanted. This one is not as good, but is better than What Makes Sammy Run - which it resembles. As for On The Waterfront, it is so famous and close to the film that all objectivity is impossible. Schulberg was a movie brat, the son of a top executive, but he is no slouch or beneficiary of nepotism. He is a very accomplished writer, and in this tale of Toro Molina, the Primo Carnera story is retold by hack PR Eddie who is clearly the Budd character. He writes himself into his novels, but he is an entertaining and erudite storyteller.

The fight game is exposed as a corrupt, evil enterprise, full of low lifes and worse. I'm not sure this was a revelation when it was written, but it is a sad morality tale. Budd seems to specialise in them. If you ever saw the film, forget it. The book is far better.

Eddie is played by Bogart, who is 30 years too old for the role. I never read the novel because of the film - I'm glad I did. There is no down time in the novel, but the trajectory is too pat to offer any real surprises. It's a good read, a fine boxing novel, with the only sympathetic character the black sparring partner, George, who has life figured out. That's more than any of the others. Nov 22, Rayrumtum rated it really liked it Shelves: I loved the book then and read a few more times.

The Harder They Fall was another treat in the same vein centered on the boxing racket in the s. It was every bit as gripping as Sammy. There are numerous characters--mostly sleazy--except for a hapless Argentinian giant who despite his size will never be a successful boxer.

I didn't like it quite as much but the only reason is boxing resonates less with I remember reading What Makes Sammy Run by Schulberg as a college assignment many years ago. I didn't like it quite as much but the only reason is boxing resonates less with me than the world of entertainment as appeared in Sammy.

Definitely a gripping read. Aug 11, Gabe rated it really liked it.

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Well-written, propulsive, a bit funny and a bit sad with a uniquely midth-century American energy and cynicism to it. It was like watching a great forgotten noir movie play out in my mind, something like Sweet Smell of Success. Sep 26, Robert Palmer rated it really liked it. Bud Schulberg wrote the screenplay for "on the waterfront " which showed us the seamy side of the life of the Men who worked on the docks of New Jersey,this book shows us the seamy side of boxing.

Racing is the sport of kings,boxing is the vocation of the slum-dwellers who have to fight to exist. This book is crowded with people you don't want to meet. Toro Molina at 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs in at lbs.

The story is loosely based on the boxing career of Primo Carnera who did win the heavyweight championship in beating the the champion Jack Sharkey,in Max Bear knocked Carera down 11 times and won the championship in round Mar 12, Jnagle4 rated it really liked it. Starting in California and moving east, they arrange a series of fights for Toro with stiffs and has-beens. All of the fights are rigged to build up his record and get him a fight with the heavyweight champion, Buddy Brannen, where they will make a sizable profit at the gate.

Along the way, one boxer gets killed in the ring and Eddie begins to have serious doubts about what he is doing. This was an interesting story but not always enjoyable to watch, simply because it's a real downer in spots, and seeing an ill Humphrey Bogart was sad. Bogart, as "Eddie Willis," plays a decent guy who knows he's doing the wrong thing so he's ornery for most of the film.

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His conscience is getting the best of him. Not many others in here are happy, either, for that matter, in this tale of crooked boxing. Boy, filmmakers in the '40s and '50s loved making crooked boxing stories.

The Harder They Fall by Budd Schulberg

What's also different about this is the featured boxer: Bogart died a little a little over a year after making this film. He looked haggard, which is understandable, but he still did his normal excellent job of acting and keeping the story interesting. Like him or not, Bogart always got your interest. He, along with James Cagney, were the best at dominating a film. A decent boxing film, but nothing spectacular, to be honest. There are many, many better boxing movies, but this is still worth watching.

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Down-on-his-luck ex-sportswriter Eddie Willis is hired by shady fight promoter Nick Benko to promote his latest find, an unknown but easily exploitable phenom from Argentina. Philip Yordan screen play , Budd Schulberg based on a novel by. What is Emily Mortimer Watching? Nice movies about journalism. Bogart films best to worst. Share this Rating Title: The Harder They Fall 7. Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin.

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Learn more More Like This. The Desperate Hours Three escaped convicts move in on and terrorize a suburban household. The Left Hand of God Passed Action Adventure Crime. Humphrey Bogart, Lee J. The Barefoot Contessa They Drive by Night We're No Angels Knock on Any Door The Caine Mutiny Passed Crime Drama Film-Noir. Humphrey Bogart, Bruce Bennett, J. Edit Cast Complete credited cast:

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