The Set-Up
The Film Noir Classic Collection
Boxing Wednesdays. Wresting on Fridays. Stoker Thompson is on Paradise City's Wednesday card, fighting after the main event. He's been 20 years in the game and is sure he just one punch away from big paydays. But there's one thing Stoker doesn't yet know: his manager wants him to take a dive tonight.
The Set-Up comes out swinging as one of the great films about the so-called sweet-science. Robert wise directs, shaping real-time events into an acclaimed and unsparing film-noir look at the stale-air venues, bloodthirsty fans, ring savagery and delusional dreams of boxing's palooka world. Robert Ryan embraces perhaps his finest screen hour as Stoker. Audrey Totter, like Ryan an icon of the noir genre, plays Stoker's steadfast wife. in a sport that would take their last flicker of dignity, the Thompsons are reclaiming theirs.
Member Reviews
Gritty - GPG71
"The Set-Up" is a gritty look at two aspects of boxing - the washed-up fighter who refuses to hang up his gloves and the corruption of fight fixing by managers trainers and promoters.
Well acted and with a solid script add this to your ZipList if "The Fighter" has left you wanting to see more good boxing related films.The store-front and behind the scenes action of boxing events - Porkchop
The Set-Up (1949) is a work that shows the "store-front" side of
boxing, as a Friday night main-attraction. The sport competes
alongside every imaginable other commercial attraction
not unlike Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls.
It also exposes the "behind the scenes" action of boxing events, and of
boxing as a livelihood and a commercial enterprise. It shows that often
reality is often 180 degrees different from its glamorous, hip and
wholesome family entertainment image.
As with any business, it's critical that quality be balanced with
quantity and productivity, in order to keep prices down for
customers, allowing a high profit margin.
It comes as no surprise that the movie introduces viewers to the
gambling aspects of boxing, which is as important, if not more, than
the live event itself.
The fixing of fights at a cost, allows some to gain a massive edge.
Robert Ryan plays Stoker. Audrey Totter is Julie (spouse), who is
worried of the health of the boxer from 20 years of injuries
sustained in the ring (notably, brain trauma from knock-outs), as
well as the looming retirement.
The seedy downtown area of a city is underlined, where booze,
excitement, and fun gather, with men and women excstatic and
euphoric, juxtaposed with a dark alley where the boxer is assured
he will be met by the underworld, should fail to adhere to his side
of the fix.
The film is notable for accurately depicting suspense, thrill.
The passion of fans is visible as they yell "Kill 'em! " in between
live radio broadcasts and their gambling bets at stake.
The upshot, is that a great boxer, will not exist simply from there
existing a talented, focused, determined and physically fit
athlete. The person has to realize that it's a business, and the
boxer has various bosses. His skill in dealing with their greed,
selfishness and exploitation is another critical comp
Member Reviews
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Gritty - GPG71
"The Set-Up" is a gritty look at two aspects of boxing - the washed-up fighter who refuses to hang up his gloves and the corruption of fight fixing by managers trainers and promoters.
Well acted and with a solid script add this to your ZipList if "The ...The store-front and behind the scenes action of boxing events - Porkchop
The Set-Up (1949) is a work that shows the "store-front" side of
boxing, as a Friday night main-attraction. The sport competes
alongside every imaginable other commercial attraction
not unlike Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls.
It also exposes ...