Hard Times

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Hard Times

PG

1975

1h 32m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

During the Great Depression, Chaney (Charles Bronson) bare-knuckle boxes to survive. Speed (James Coburn), an avid gambler, recognizes his talent and becomes his manager. They hire a cut man named Poe (Strother Martin), and Speed borrows cash from some gangsters to bet on Chaney's fight. They win, but Speed gambles and loses his portion and remains in debt. In the end, a rival manager named Gandil (Michael McGuire) buys Speed's debt and forces Chaney to fight Speed against his toughest foe yet.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Hard times offers excitement that makes you feel good; Walter Hill respects the loner myth.

Oct 11, 2023

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Variety Staff

Variety

The production has a very handsome mid-1930s New Orleans period flavour but the cast can't lick the script.

Mar 26, 2009

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

A powerful, brutal film containing a definitive Charles Bronson performance.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Russell Davies

Observer (UK)

[Charles Bronson] has the inestimable advantage of looking properly mean. But when he walks out of the film at the end, he leaves a blank-faced parable to it than Kubrick's mental tour of the galleries, [Barry Lyndon]. Is that all there is?

Feb 25, 2025

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Frances Taylor

Newhouse News Service

Bronson is fine, Coburn is great as a promoter while Jill Ireland is touching as a lonely woman.

Feb 25, 2025

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

As hard as the hits land every time, it’s the capitalist exchanging of cash and leveling up of wagers on these beaten men’s ability to sock each other out that knocks you down the hardest.

Rated: 9/10

Sep 29, 2023

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welsh l

A perfectly cast movie. The pace correctly matches the era. Bronson is ideal as the silent assassin falling into Coburn’s lap for one last run at the big time. The fights are well judged and not too theatrical. The finale honest & decent.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

BARMOUTH B

Amazing depiction of a struggle in a struggling country. James Coburn is utterly believable as the bare knuckle promoter who’s gambling stumps any real progress. In walks Bronson’s old school hard man with no past & no money but dynamite fists. They slowly defeat all combatants raising the stakes each time. Leading to the climax against the mob boss and all his ambitions. You’ll have to watch it to grasp it’s slow burn beauty.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/24

Full Review

William S

The performances are outstanding.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/24

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Martin B

I've seen it a couple times years ago. Tuned in just to see the start recently but ended up watching the whole movie a third time. Just a very satisfying movie. Bronson at his strong silent type best. One of Coburns best chaaraters and with Struther Martin and Ireland at her beautiful but detached best the cast was near perfection. Addi in period wardrobe and stark settings that reflected hard times the movie hits all the right chords in my view.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/11/24

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Nik75 J

James Coburn and Charles Bronson are a solid team. Probably one of Bronson's best movies.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

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Walter Hill

Director

Charles Bronson

Chaney

James Coburn

Speed

Jill Ireland

Lucy Simpson

Strother Martin

Poe

Margaret Blye

Gayleen Schoonover

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Synopsis

During the Great Depression, Chaney (Charles Bronson) bare-knuckle boxes to survive. Speed (James Coburn), an avid gambler, recognizes his talent and becomes his manager. They hire a cut man named Poe (Strother Martin), and Speed borrows cash from some gangsters to bet on Chaney's fight. They win, but Speed gambles and loses his portion and remains in debt. In the end, a rival manager named Gandil (Michael McGuire) buys Speed's debt and forces Chaney to fight Speed against his toughest foe yet.

Director: Walter Hill
Producer: Lawrence Gordon
Screenwriter: Bruce Henstell, Bryan Gindoff, Walter Hill
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, Claridge Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2014
Runtime: 1h 32m

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