Hard Times

PG

1975

1h 32m

Drama

List

94%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

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

New Yorker

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

Oct 11, 2023

Full Review

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

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

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

Rated: 3/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

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

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

So often a monolithic actor in mediocre films, Bronson’s beady-eyed smirk in this context acquires a droll dignity suggesting graduation from the school of million hard knocks, and every supporting role is colorfully filled.

Mar 16, 2023

Full Review

Radio Times Staff

Radio Times

[T]here's much to admire here, especially the fine combination of cinematographer Philip Lathrop's images and Roger Spottiswoode's editing of the exciting fight sequences.

Jan 15, 2019

Full Review

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William S

The performances are outstanding.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/24

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Robert M

Classic movie great performances all round. Bronson is superb

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

ANY1aBLUE

Smashing combo of Coburn and Bronson, showing modern actors how it should be done. Love the story, sets and mood. Everything good here……….

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/13/23

Full Review

J S

This movie managed to engage and engross me despite being based on a subject in which I have no interest. Even though it was filmed in an era where corny, one dimensional characters were due jour (think the original Battle Star Galactica), this movie was replete with gritty, complex and morally ambiguous characters. I found myself aligned with and supporting characters afflicted with addiction and whose behaviour at times would not be out of place in the mob.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/23

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
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2014
Runtime: 1h 32m

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