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Hard Times

Play trailer Poster for Hard Times PG 1975 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 88 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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Hard Times

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Critics Consensus

Hard Times occasionally gets knocked down by its slight and overly brutish narrative, but strong performances, atmospheric grit, and Walter Hill's sparse direction elevate it into a compellingly pulpy fable.

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Critics Reviews

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John Simon New York Magazine/Vulture Its rickety plot is a mere excuse for frequent, long, and ugly scenes of fisticuffs, unreal even in their conception of how much punishment the human body can take. Sep 27, 2025 Full Review Frank Rich New York Post Screenwriter Walter Hill... has made an enviable directorial debut and given Charles Bronson the best starring vehicle he's ever had. Sep 27, 2025 Full Review Dilys Powell The Times (UK) It is brief, it is economical. I think it is to be remembered. Sep 27, 2025 Full Review Richard Combs Monthly Film Bulletin Hill's own dull direction and Charles Bronson's familiar demonstration of a kind of bone-weary invincibility effectively reduce the film to a monolithic star portrait. Sep 27, 2025 Full Review Romola Costantino The Sun-Herald (Australia) There is high tension in the various fights, and smooth gambler Coburn and Maggie Blye as his moll bring a jazzy colour to this intense and unusual picture. Sep 27, 2025 Full Review Ciaran Carty Sunday Independent (Ireland) The sensitive feel of a writer is evident. There's a colorful sense of time and place. Sep 27, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mark N The best bare knuckle boxing movie ever. And one of the best boxing movies of all time. Definitive Chuck Bronson. Great James Coburn. And a great performance by the best supporting actor of all time - Strother Martin. Bogged down only by a romantic sub plot between Chuck and his real wife, Jill Ireland. Great Louisiana locations. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/17/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 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 Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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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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Hard Times

Hard Times (1975) Hard Times (1975) View more photos

Movie Info

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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