Avis sur le produitThe Harder They Fall (DVD, 2003)

1956 Bogart's Final Motion Picture Playing Eddie Willis

Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart at 56yo) is hired as a sportswriter by a boxing manager, Nick Benko (Rod Steiger), who wants to promote his protege. Willis has been out of work, so he takes the assignment to put a story together to promote Toto Moreno (Mike Lane), an Argentinean boxer. From the start, Willis is eager to write a memorable story. However, during his journalistic investigation, Willis finds out that Benko has been taking advantage of the naive, younger, foreign boxer. It seems that Benko is relying upon Willis' outstanding status in the boxing arena to cover up that fact that he's fixed a series of fights in order to get the 'glass jawed' Moreno into the championship ring with a vengeful champion, Buddy Brannen (Max Baer); a true sadist who resents the publicity Willis has been writing about Toro. So, Brannen is bent upon getting his revenge when he fights Toro for the championship. Willis knows the scoop & has to choose if he's going to warn Toro. After Willis decides to write a story that exposes the racketeers, he becomes a hunted man.

It seems fitting to write a brief bio of Humphrey Bogart here because he died within a year after filming t/his final flick. According to who we believe, Bogart was either born (according to Warner Bros.) at the end of the 19th century, on December 25th, 1899; or according to 2 US Census Bureau reports, on January 23rd, 1899, in Manhattan, to an opium-addicted surgeon (father). Bogart began acting, instead of going to medical college, to pay off his father's considerable debts.

Bogart was 37yo before he had his breakthrough key role as Duke Mantee with Bette Davis in Warner Bros.', "The Petrified Forest (1936). The 5'8" 'Bogie' went on to play in 28 films in 20 years! During one of those films, "The Big Sleep" (1946), Bogart starred & fell madly in love with Lauren Bacall, who'd also been born in Manhattan; however, a considerable 25 years after Bogie, on September 16th, 1924. When just 19yo, the 5'8.5" Bacall was given her 1st key role as Marie Browning in, "To Have & Have Not" (1944); a thriller whose leading man, Humphrey Bogart, was (by then) considered a great actor. Her performance with Bogie set the stage for the rest of her still fabulous career, one of Hollywood's greatest love stories & marriages (in 1945) & it was the 1st of the acclaimed Bogie & Bacall films. The Bogarts have 2 children, son Stephen, born January 6, 1949 (named after Bogie's character in "To Have and Have Not," & daughter Leslie, born August 23, 1952 (named after Leslie Howard who demanded that Bogie remain Duke Mantee in "The Petrified Forest" movie. Humphrey Bogart is a screen legend who graced it in major roles for only 20 years until he died of throat cancer, at the age of 57, on January 14th, 1957; when his son was 8yo & daughter was 4yo & wife was 32yo. 50 years later, Lauren Bacall is now 83yo & still playing leading roles in a wide variety of film genres. Her screen career is 64 years long, at this writing in November 2007. Bacall has another son, actor Sam Robards, born December 16th, 1961, with second (ex)husband, actor Jason Robards. Bacall's long-time friend & 4 time Oscar winner, Katharine Hepburn (May 12th, 1907-June 29th, 2003), was his godmother for 42 years, until the age of 96.

Here's 1 statement Lauren Bacall made about Bogie: "Was he tough? In a word, no. Bogey was truly a gentle soul."

Notice, Bacall's spelling of Bogie is Bogey. Which was his?Lire l'avis complet...

A must see picture for Bogart fans.

Excellent movie that is very entertaining from start to finish.Bogart once again showing his great acting ability to the fullest. Am very pleased with this purchase.

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Bogart's last and one of his best

Bogart's last was also one of his finest, most underrated performances. Whatever your view of professional boxing, this expose of the sport's darker side seems incredibly relevant more than fifty years later. This isn't as well known as other Bogart classics like Casablanca or The African Queen, but it's well worth seeking out.Lire l'avis complet...

Harder they fall

Classic

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