Hard Times
New Orleans, 1933. In Those Days Words Didn't Say Much.
Charles Bronson demonstrates exactly what tough is in this two-fisted action drama about a drifter suddenly caught up in the fight game during the Great Depression. Chancy, a down-on-his-luck loner, hops a freight train to New Orleans where, on the seedier side of town, he tries to make some quick money the only way he knows how-with his fists. Chaney approaches a hustler named Speed and convinces him that he can win big money for them both. Chaney wins a few tough illegal fights bare-fisted but Speed's carelessness with his money and indebtedness to a gang of thugs forces Chaney to fight one last match with Street, a huge monster of a man. The final bout is a no-holds-barred, knock-down, drag-out fight that Bronson fans will love.
Member Reviews
Bronson at his best in a very memorable picture - Superdave
This great looking, rather downbeat slice-of-lowlife action picture shows us the grim, dusty Depression era in suitably unglamorous, bled out colors and starkly realistic sets. Everything seems faded, flaking paint, cracking, on the verge of breaking apart - much like America itself at the time. Charles Bronson drifts into New Orleans and joins the underground bare knuckle boxing scene. The laconic Bronson, who has about a hundred words of dialogue in the whole picture, hooks up with fight manager James Coburn, who talks about a hundred words a minute. The contrast between the two extends beyond the verbal - Coburn jangles about energetically, while Bronson is a study in stillness. No wasted motion, no baggage. You get the feeling he could tote his whole world around in one pocket. When Coburn tells him that he lost his fight contract gambling, Bronson looks at him and says one word: "Dumb." It's a stunning under-performance. Coburn is the rushing river and Bronson is a rock. Jill Ireland, Bronson's real-life wife and frequent co-star, appears as a pretty woman who wants more out of life than what the aging, drifting Bronson can offer. Their relationship and chemistry is wonderful, and sad as it quickly becomes obvious that whatever they might have together is temporary. Once again, as everything seems to in this picture, this resonates with the temporary and unstable nature that everything seemed to have during the Depression. It was a dark time, and the Depression colored everything around it, and the picture reflects this in all of its tiny details. Great period film-making, great dialogue and terrific performances all around.Classic - blasters
Arguably Charles Bronson's best performance as an aging pick-up fighter in depression era New Orleans. He give a gritty portrayal of a simple man who says little. Co-starring james Coburn as "Chick", the well-meaning, self-defeating manager, who can never seem to stay ahead of the game.Hard Times - lasram
Although Charles says very little, you can't help but hang on every word. This is one of his best; another I recommend is Death Hunt. I've often wondered how the many spaghetti dusters featuring Eastwood would have improved had they also Mr. Bronson.
Member Reviews
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Bronson at his best in a very memorable picture - Superdave
This great looking, rather downbeat slice-of-lowlife action picture shows us the grim, dusty Depression era in suitably unglamorous, bled out colors and starkly realistic sets. Everything seems faded, flaking paint, cracking, on the verge of breaking apart ...Classic - blasters
Arguably Charles Bronson's best performance as an aging pick-up fighter in depression era New Orleans. He give a gritty portrayal of a simple man who says little. Co-starring james Coburn as "Chick", the well-meaning, self-defeating manager, who can never ...Hard Times - lasram
Although Charles says very little, you can't help but hang on every word. This is one of his best; another I recommend is Death Hunt. I've often wondered how the many spaghetti dusters featuring Eastwood would have improved had they also Mr. Bronson.