HARD TIMES (1975)

MORGAN'S RATING

A picturesque action film about a bareknuckle street fighter who drifts into Depression-era New Orleans and hooks up with a small-time gambler. The gambler takes over the boxer's career, arranging illegal fights and involving him in a scheme to fleece some gangsters.

Charles Bronson (Chaney), James Coburn (Spencer 'Speed' Weed), Jill Ireland (Lucy Simpson), Strother Martin (Poe), Margaret Blye (Gayleen Schoonover), Michael McGuire (Chick Gandil), Felice Orlandi (LeBeau), Edward Walsh (Pettibon), Bruce Glover (Doty), Robert Tessier (Jim Henry), Nick Dimitri (Street), Frank McRae (Hammer man), Maurice Kowaleski (Caesare), Naomi Stevens (Madam), Lyla Hay Owen (Waitress), John Creamer (Apartment Manager), Robert Castleberry (Counterman), Becky Allen (Poe's Date), Joan Kleven (Carol), Anne Welsch (Secretary), Fred Lerner (Caesare's Hitter), Jimmy Nickerson (Barge Fighter), Chuck Hicks (Speed's Hitter), Walter Scott (Poolplayer), Max Kleven (Poolplayer), Valerian Smith (Handler), Bob Minor (Zach), Larry Martindale (Driver), Charles W. Schaeffer Jr, Leslie Bonano (Card Players), Ronnie Phillips (Cajun Fighter), Brion James (uncredited).

NEW ORLEANS. 1933. IN THOSE DAYS WORDS DIDN'T SAY MUCH.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Walter Hill (Undisputed). WRITERS: Walter Hill, Bryan Gindoff and Bruce Henstell. PRODUCER: Lawrence Gordon. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Fred Lemoine. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Paul Maslansky. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Barry De Vorzon. DISTRIBUTOR: Columbia Pictures.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: October 8th, 1975 (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $5.0 million (USA) - Charles Bronson's Chaney is a man of few words, speaking barely 500 of them in the entire course of the film.

QUOTES

Lucy: What does it feel like to knock somebody down? Chaney: It makes me feel a hell of a lot better than it does him. Lucy: That's a reason? Chaney: Hey, there's no reason about it. Just money.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"In short, classic Walter Hill. Simple characters, violence, and great atmosphere. It might not add up to much, but for what it is, it's perfectly made." -- Rellimgoud, Bad Color Photography

Speed: I suppose you've been down the long, hard road? Chaney: Who hasn't?

"...and it features Bronson's best work on film." -- Richard Doyle, Cinescene.com

Speed: Well, you know Chick, like old momma said, next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing.