The Harder They Fall was Humphrey Bogart’s last film, before his death. It stands out because of his performance, and because it is about a good man who is involved in a bad situation.
Bogart plays Eddie Willis, an unemployed sportswriter, who takes a job with a crooked boxing promoter, Nick Benko. Rod Steiger gives a a great performance as Benko. Eddie Willis’ job is to promote a fighter from Argentina, named Toro Moreno, (Mike Lane). This would seem to be a good situation for Bogart’s character. The problem is that Moreno has no boxing skill. It is his job, and George’s, Moreno’s trainer, (Jersey Joe Walcott), to get Toro to believe he’s a good boxer. Eddie Willis is good at his job, and gives his fighter confidence, by setting up fights with washed up boxers, who take dives.
The day comes when Toro, gets a shot at the title against Buddy Brannen, (Max Baer). Eddie Willis has done his job so well, that Toro actually believe that he can beat the champ. Eddie tells Toro the truth, which he doesn’t believe. He gets George to box with him. Toro finds out the hard truth, that he has a glass jaw. Bogart tells Toro that he will take a dive against the champ. He refuses because his family will be in the crowd. Eddie tells him Buddie Brannen will kill him in the ring. Toro chooses integrity and the champ destroys him.
After the fight, Toro Moreno tells Eddie he wants to get his money, and go home. Bogie promises both things. Eddie asks Nick Benko for Toro’s money. He tells him to ask the accountant. The amount owed to Moreno comes to forty seven dollars. Eddie Willis is outraged. He puts Toro on a plane, and gives him the $26,000 that Eddie received for his services.
When Nick Benko is told by Eddie, that Toro is gone, Benko demands money, from Eddie, because he sold Toro’s contract to another promoter. Eddie tells him no, and Benko threatens him. Eddie Willis is not moved by the threat, and says he is going to expose Benko and the corruption in boxing. The end shows Willis writing his story.
Humphrey Bogart’s last film doesn’t disappoint. He gives a great portrayal of a tortured man in Eddie Willis, who is at his core honest; but due to circumstances, takes a well paying job, that isn’t honest work. The saddest thing about the film, isn’t the subject, but that it is the end of Bogart’s film career. His scene with Mike Lane in the locker room, after the championship fight is touching. Bogart holds his own against Rod Steiger, not an easy thing to do, but the veteran actor does it in scene after scene.
What adds realism to this drama, is the casting of ex heavyweight champs, Max Baer and Jersey Joe Walcott. Max Baer does well as Buddie Brannen. His character delights in the fact Toro didn’t kill his opponent: it was him [(Buddie Brannen], who gave him grave injuries, in a previous fight. The Harder They Fall takes a hard look at the boxing industry, making it a film worth seeing.