The Harder They Fall

Humphrey Bogart stars in one of his most memorable performances as Eddie Willis, a sportswriter who joins forces with a corrupt boxing promoter named Benko (Rod Steiger). Together, they scheme to deceive Toro Moreno (Mike Lane), a clumsy, seven-foot giant, and the public intobelieving Moreno has a shot at the heavyweight title. Through a carefully arranged series of fixed fights, Toro is duped into believing that he is a capable contender, only to have his dreams - and his huge body - shattered when he is brutally beaten in a genuine fight with the heavyweight champion. Jersey Joe Walcott appears as Moreno's trainer, with former boxing great Max Baer as the heavyweight champ. The Harder They Fall is an intriguing film in the tradition of Bogart classics. (Columbia TriStar UK)