The Set-Up

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Han S Nov 14, 2018 Great film showing the uglier side of boxing â" the gambling, fight fixing, bloodthirsty crowds, and boxers taking brutal beatings because theyâ(TM)re holding on to a dream of riches that is just âone punch away.â? Director Robert Wise makes us see the sport from another perspective, one that is â~behind the scenesâ(TM) as much as it is in the ring. And, despite the action and grit, itâ(TM)s also a very pensive film, with quiet moments that are brilliant. Audrey Totter tearing up her ticket and throwing it off a bridge as a train passes underneath; Robert Ryan watching as other fighters return to the locker room from their bouts. Theyâ(TM)re both excellent. At just 72 minutes and without a wasted shot, the film is lean and has just the right amount of darkness to it. The boxing scenes themselves are pretty herky-jerky, but capture the atmosphere of violence well, and made me think of gladiators in the Roman Colosseum. These poor guys get pummeled while others profit or satisfy their bloodlust â" and itâ(TM)s interesting to see that itâ(TM)s often the women in the crowd who urge the fighters on. Great example of film noir, and economy in filmmaking. See more

Rey W Aug 26, 2018 A very under appreciated boxing movie from the forties.Ryan usually plays the villain thug and in a switcharoo is a breath of fresh air in this one. See more

Theodore M Aug 6, 2018 No one will ever convince me that there is a better film about the fight game than The Set-Up. The only other boxing film that comes close enough to be mentioned in the same sentence as The Set-Up is Requiem for a Heavyweight. See more

Jun 23, 2018 Wise intended to be a craftsman not an artist, but if one is what he does then he does art and is an artist. 'The Set Up' is a little treasure of a film, not yet but almost great, but I love it just the same. It ends a bit too beautifully to not have been changer by its tyrannic studio but still if the film buff un you light not be satisfied, the person will. A minor noir that should be loved among the major ones See more

George G Aug 6, 2017 Excellent boxing film with cinematography ahead of its time, a neat take on the film noir genre.

Abraham P Aug 6, 2017 Gripping story of an aging boxer that explores ambition, age, and fame with a small screen time of 72 minutes. The direction and cinematography is innovative and attractive which shouldn't come to surprise that this inspired Raging Bull. Robert Ryan as Bill "Stoker" Thompson gives his best performance of his career, but if the lead were true to the original short story by making him African American this film could've been one of the boldest movies of all-time. See more

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The Set-Up

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