Hard Times

If a certain movie star has an appeal, you tend to enjoy the movie more. I perticularly enjoyed this movie which isnt even available in NZ. Boxing is something I learnt once and when people fight I understand whats going through their minds. Its a shame they didnt include James Coburns Wing chun style Kung fu abilities in the movie. Maybe him fighting in an alley against thugs or what-not? James Coburn was a student of Bruce Lees once. No one utilised that fact?
But the action scenes are great,you just cant help admire what goes into making combat-to-combat action sequences in movies. Some stars really pull it off.

Definitely one of Bronson's best. James Coburn also fits in perfectly. They both put on an amzing show. Very entertaining to watch no-nonsense, down-to-earth "Chaney" going about his business!!

Wish a reivew had alerted me, but I should have checked the aspect ratio before purchase anyway. The movie is pan and scan other than the credits. A real rip-off. I'm not waiting to rate the movie, guess I'll do that whenever I get to SEE the whole thing. Whatever the strengths of the movie, DO NOT BUY THIS DVD PRODUCT.

He don't talk much, doesn't Charles Bronson. Clint Eastwood, by comparison, is considered a chatterbox. First time director Walter Hill puts Bonson's trademark laconism to very good use in HARD TIMES, probably my favorite Charles Bronson picture. HARD TIMES strays from Bronson's shoot-'em-up formulas, although it does have its share of action sequences. But this film is more a gritty period piece and a low-key character study. Its enigmatic central character plays to Bronson's tight-lipped, no-nonsense persona. Some folks don't think Charles Bronson was much of an actor. But his spare performances always led me to believe there were hidden reserves, something of consequence going on, beneath the inscrutable expression and the lack of loquaciousness. To me, this translated a subtle depth to his characters, that merely by Bronson's weathered presence, a back story is intuited.

Chaney is a drifter, riding the rails, and like everyone else struggling mightily during the Great Depression. He eventually ends up in New Orleans where he tries to build up a nest egg by engaging in bare knuckle brawls. He lands a shifty promoter named Speed, who at first looks him over and observes: "You look a little past it." As played by James Coburn, Speed is always working a hustle and flashes that toothy grin. Speed is a rogue, and he has an interesting dynamics with Chaney. Coburn and Bronson play off each other beautifully, Coburn's brash likable heel striking a nice counterpoint to Bronson's craggy -faced dude of few words.

We go into the film not knowing much about Chaney. He exits with us still in the dark about his past. We know that he likes cats, that money motivates him, although he does show kindness towards and even halfway courts a lovely but cynical woman (played by his real wife Jill Ireland). We learn that he does demonstrate a reluctant loyalty towards his manager pal, and that he's not as much of an underdog as initially perceived. At the end of the film we realize just how much of a hard mo-fo he is. In a way, Chaney is a precursor to other cinematic over-the-hill fighters like "Honey" Roy Palmer (Diggstown) and Jerry Ferro (The Hammer).

Charles Bronson was one of the top box office draws in 1975, having just scored big the year before with Death Wish. He was 53 years old when he shot HARD TIMES and was still in phenomenal shape. He always did have a chiseled figure, and he looks amazing here and did most of his own stunts. Yet he also sported that face that was so rugged and weathered it looked like a Thomas Guide map (but a Thomas Guide map that could smack you across the room). Somewhere Lance Henriksen is probably jealous.

I like that HARD TIMES doesn't try to sermonize about the human condition. That sort of message usually goes over better if it's not being beaten into your head. The movie allows you to read between the lines, lets you make connections without them being pounded into you with pretentious exposition. I like that there's a kind of code of honor amongst these shady characters. There's no real animosity among the fighters. It's all business, making money, surviving and moving on. When Speed fails to pay off his debt, he gets a visit from the loan shark's enforcers, who then takes it out on his car. Speed protests feebly, but he's just going thru the motions. He minds, but he doesn't really mind. It's what's expected. Chaney, by virtue of his enigmatic, laconic presence, achieves an almost mythic aura. He's not quite up there with the Man with No Name, but Chaney, a kindred spirit and fellow mysterious loner, can sidle up to a bar next to him and won't be rebuffed.

There's convincing attention to detail dedicated to the look and feel of the film. Thanks to this, a strong supporting cast, and a taut script, I could feel the palpable reek of desperation from these characters, hard men and women eking out and making do in the poverty-ridden climate of 1930s America. I like that the fights, staged in dank warehouses and on seedy piers, are well-choreographed and don't come off as too showy. Chaney and his opponents are honest fighters - even the bald and intimidating and disconcertingly grinny Jim Henry (Robert Tessier) - and I soaked in the grueling, no-nonsense brutality. HARD TIMES is an unsentimental, tough-minded period melodrama. It's also a great fight movie.

Charles Bronson, best known for his Death Wish movies, stars as Chaney, a lone wolf who travels from town to town to make some quick cash by fist fighting. Along the way he hooks up with an illegal street fight promoter and hustler named Speed (James Coburn). They make some cash, but Speed's carelessness with his money gets him into trouble with some local thugs.
This is a wonderful film set in 1933 New Orleans. The character's are richly developed and played wonderfully. The location is fantastic, and the script is well written.
The DVD transfer is acceptable but could have used some cleaning up; it's still decent for a film made in 1975. Unfortunatly, this is full screen only and the audio is mono.
For entertainment value I give the film 4 1/2, but as a whole package this DVD rates a three.

This depression era film captures the era brilliantly. The story is good and believable, involves the trickery and honor amongst junior gangsters, and provides lessons in the values of honesty, perseverance, determination.

James Coburn is priceless as supporting actor, as is Strother Martin, fresh off the set of Burch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. My favorite scene is when he boxes with Bob Tessier, the reputed unbeatable street fighter (Which is the European name of the film) and realistically and uncommonly uses combination punches and counter-punches. He obviously had boxed before and knew how to box. He liked to do his own stunt work, and this movie shows it.

His relationship with his actual wife in the movie is also special. The directness with which they dealt with one another causes one to believe that is how they really were in "real life". I highly recommend it; while not a exactly in the family film category, my 11 year old got its message and loved it. I highly recommend this film, which I consider a classic.

good acting from an outstanding cast.interesting description of the depression.the fight scenes, are not only exciting but predict what is now on tv.

Great film about personal honor and the warrior spirit -- in a world where no one else exhibits any. The fighter does what he has to do, what he can do -- as well as he can, as long as he can, willing to sacrifice what he must to succeed. This is warrior spirit and personal honor, which can also be seen in "The thirteenth Warrior," another much misunderstood film. Now that hard times are upon us, more of us should be watching movies like this for inspiration!

Bronson is a raw, brutal bareknuckle fighter who enters into an alliance with Coburn, a fast talking gambler, who loses more than he wins. The fight scenes are hardcore and the editing is perfect. Greed and courage are the co-stars of this fascinating film that explores human strengths and weaknesses.

Some consider Hard Times' Chaney to be Bronson's most fitting role, while others have found him offering nothing he had not previously done on screen...

But, for the most part, Hill's "Hard Times" brought new attention to Bronson and brought him respect from unexpected quarters... It also brought back Jill Ireland, as his romantic interest, and witnessed, in Bronson, a decided physical alteration appropriate to the film's time and place... The actor's somewhat graying hair was cut quite short... And, of course, his well-toned and defined musculature was, at fifty-four, still carefully enough maintained to go on public display, for the role...

Weaving outstandingly well into the plot, James Coburn and Strother Martin proved their pleasant personalities in their good acting...

This movie is a favorite.

I have the WS/FS version. The transfer is not very good; the soundtrack is mono, and does not do justice to the film. Technical issues aside, the movie is flawless. It has no special features.

If you're going to like this movie, you'll know it from the opening sequence: silence up to a diesel's rumble & whistle on the way into New Orleans; imagery to match.

Every element--acting, directing, writing, music, cinematography--is pitch-perfect. The music, in particular, is fabulous. Folk, cajun/zydecoe, dixieland, an extraordinary black gospel sequence. The location shooting, too: riverside warehouse, industrial interiors, barges and ferries, bayou community life, flop house, oyster house, Latin Quarter. Period street scenes, gorgeous automobiles, prohibition night life. You can practically smell the booze, sweat, shellfish and tobacco smoke.

The leads are truly wonderful: Bronson, Coburn, Strother Martin and Jill Ireland. So is the supporting cast.

There are many comments about the fight scenes, and I suppose they are good, but that's not what makes the movie for me. The protagonist (Bronson/Chaney) fights for money, not pleasure. He prefers knocking other people down to being himself knocked down, but he doesn't enjoy it.

Chaney has the self-confidence that comes from being good at what he does. He supports himself with his fighting, but does not live for it. Chaney lives for "the in-betweens." He is a drifter because being settled in hard times gives him no satisfaction; Chaney is an upright man in a beat-down time. His mannerisms are not genteel, though his spirit is. He does not say much, but his actions are compelling.

"Hard Times" is an old-fashioned movie about honor, loyalty, and decency and a great way to spend evening.

Overall, a reasonably high quality, no frills, DVD. My main criticism is that the full screen format left out a lot of detail at the periphery, for instance in the scene when Chaney (Bronson) challenges Pettibon's Cajun fighter. In the dispute after the fight all we hear is the click of a gun, we are left to assume from the there is an armed man because he is totally invisible. Likewise when Chaney shoots up Pettibon's honkytonk, some of the time he is aiming at invisible targets like the old fashioned pay phone on the wall (I only know this because I remember seeing this film at a movie theater back in the 70's. To appreciate what you are missing you have to compare the wide aspect opening scene (when Chaney hops off a freight train) with the rest of the film. I imagine they only transferred the opening scene in 2.35:1 so that you can read the titles. A wide aspect ratio is important when there is a lot of dynamic action going on and lets face it it's the fight scenes that are the most important part of the movie. Had it not been for this "defect" I would have given this DVD five stars, despite the absence of any bells and whistles.

Early Walter Hill film about street fighting in the 1920's with granite faced Charles Bronson as Chaney, James Coburn as huckster promoter Speed and Strother Martin as Poe, as a dope addict corner man. The best fight is a terrific battle in a cage between Bronson and movie bad guy Robert Tessier! Ol' Chuck tatooes his pointy-bald head with his fists. It is actually better than the final confronation between Chaney and a top fighter brought in by a gangster. Fun fair.

Rock'em sock'em action. "Death Wish" with bare knuckles. A must see for Bronson fans. Excellent supporting cast (James Coburn, Strother Martin).

Charles Bronson was a interesting guy,...born the son of a eastern European immigrant coalminer into a huge poverty stricken family in a dirt poor coal Mining town in western pennsylvania in 1921..his father dying of black lung at home when he was about 12,...his brother closest in age to him born frail and sickly died when Bronson was still growing up....like a lot of American families of that period it was a tough time to say the least..the only thing that saved him was that he was born with a artistic side to him and world war 2... the war got him out of that god awful town and opened his eyes to the rest of the country and the world. after the war with the G.I. bill he went to a art school in Philadelphia and got involved with a theatre company and ect...once he was in Hollywood around 1950 via new york city he got work right away...... he was a fixture in the movies in supporting roles thru out the 1950's and 60's.... for a number of years he worked exclusively in European films well into the 1970's until thanks to a low budget 1974 American film called [death wish] his star really took off when he was well into his 50's.... which leads us to hard times....hard times [1975] is a well made realistic looking film, a first class production all the way around with a solidly good performance by Bronson and everyone else....the whole film looks 1933 depression era real!...this movie was made when Bronson was about 54 years old and as one can see he was in really good shape for a guy that age....as actor's go Bronson i think probably was a little better than given credit,...his films such as [once upon a time in the west] and [breakheart pass] and [from noon til three] and even the first [death wish] movie were all solid acting performances by him.... and he made a whole bunch of other fairly good films also,.... as well as a whole bunch of stinkers!...and he appeared in a number of semi classics such as [the dirty dozen] and [the magnificent 7] and [the great escape] and so on.,... so on balance he had a body of work he and his family could be proud of....and so in a real sense his is a great American success story.

This is a great movie.
Bronson is left with fairly minimal dialogue to worry about,
but that is not what his opponnents should be worrying about.
He is definitely lean and mean but desperate times call for these measires(sorry for the cliche) he fights for survival and the bare essentials he and his family need to live.
The depression era is portrayed in the way that it should be,hard,filthy and above all with a thick layer of mistrust coming from all of the actors,Coburn is great as the mouthy fight fixer and Jill Ireland and Bronson bring their real life love to the proceeding's.
The fight scenes are fantastic,
I never get the feeling that i am being subjected to watching Bronson stand in stunt men,
Bronson's bare knuckles talk more quickly and project more about the man than any amount of script could ever manage to do.
I have been watching The Mechanic at present and this will be my next stop for more than the first time..
Bronson is never to everyone's taste however if you enjoy tough,reality driven entertainment
and bare knuckles drawing blood,you will absolutely love this.
Bravo Bronson.
Ian.

Seeing the movie again after so many years, it was as good as the first time we saw it back in 1976.
Happy with everything Amazon have done - thanks!

I love this movie, but this transfer is horrible. The brutally abrupt pan and scan cuts literally made my head spin at points. The film is great, and worth watching, but I hope they put out a widescreen version one day. Maybe they'll do a Walter Hill boxed set with deluxe versions of all his classics. Rent this one until they do, but don't spend money on it.

dear viewers
not to slander, but in order to fully appreciate this fine film is to see it on the widescreen format. the fight sequences are out of frame otherwise. have your sellers clarify this if you want the authentic version. no offence, but the full frame version "just don't got it"

It's a man's man movie. No sissy crying in this film. Just Charles Bronson kicking butt during the depression. Good cinematography and the acting is okay for the genre.

This is my favorite movie of all time. Great depiction of bare knuckle fighting during the depression. Stunning character development and fight scenes.

"Hard Times" a film directed by Walter Hill, takes place in New Orleans during the Great Depression.

We never really learn any of the vital statistics of Chaney (portrayed by Charles Bronson). Like a lot of able- bodied men at this time, he is a drifter out of work. We don't know where he is from or where he going. His profession, relatives and family are a mystery. He says little and only what he means to say.

Chaney idly wanders into an illicit prize fight. This isn't a boxing arena with its Marquis of Queensbury rules. This is bare knuckle street fighting where there are no referees and few rules. Head butts, biting and kicking along with kidney punches are perfectly legal. Each fighter works with a gambler. Odds are given and bets are taken. Then the mayhem begins.

Observing this, Chaney gets an idea. He approaches a gambler a man named Spencer "Speed' Weed (James Coburn in one of his greatest roles) and pitches a partnership. Speed sets up the fights, takes up the bets, Chaney wins the fights.

Speed has his doubts about Chaney's capabilities. Chaney is too old. But he does have a calmly confident manner about him. He reluctantly fronts for Chaney when Chaney puts every penny he has on the line.

One thing we learn immediately about Chaney. This middle-aged man can obliterate opponents. He is hard but not sadistic. He just doesn't believe wasting time or anything else. Chaney is the kind of man all men wished they could be. He is cool and collected regardless of the situation. While we immediately know he can take care of himself, the only question is will he take care of anyone else?

Speed is impressed. With Chaney, his luck has changed for the better. As brilliantly portrayed by James Coburn, Speed can be a pain in the behind. He's loud, he can be irritatingly smooth. He the kind of guy driving an expensive car, wearing a Rolex, diamonds and a silk suit with a smile that shows everyone of his 88 teeth.

But he won't have a dime in his pocket.....

The supporting cast is brilliant including Strother (..."failure to communicate.") Martin of "Cool Hand Luke" fame. He plays Poe a failed junky ex-medical student hired to be Chaney's cut man distinguished intellectual gentle manner. Jill Ireland plays Chaney's `romantic' interest, Lucy Simpson. (This film was made not too long after Charles Bronson stole her from David McCallum while they were making "The Great Escape". But I digress.)

The ensemble cast is rounded out by Michael McGuire who plays Chick Gandil. Chick is the arch rival of Speed. He is wealthy but his passion is not the family business but gambling.

"Hard Times" is about the effects of adversity not street fighting during the Depression. The Great Depression provides the adversity. Under adversity we all find out our substance. We learn who we are who our enemies are and who are friends are. In adversity, we are stripped to the core of our being. There is no veneer left, no false fronts. Everything is out there on the table.

The fights are just a metaphor. Just like the men in the fights, if all you had were only two hands and some guts would you triumph? What rules would you play by? What kind of character would you show in victory? What kind of character would you show in defeat?

As the movie progresses we see each of the principle characters bare-chested with their dukes up. How they handle adversity and rise to the occasion is the essence of this remarkable film and its joy.

Charles Bronson plays Chaney, a street-smart, aging bare-knuckle boxer, who arrives in town as a hobo on a train. He has little money, great brawn and grit - and enough wisdom to observe and learn with little reason for small talk. While having coffee at a downtown diner, he notices activity in a nearby building. Watching a no-holds barred street-fight, he realizes he can win and make some easy money. James Coburn plays Speed, the two-bit promoter who books Chaney in street fights in small towns. Chaney has a soft side, trying to find love and adopting a stray cat, with scenes showing he cares for it. He is briefly involved in a love affair with the lovely Lucy, Jill Ireland - Bronson's real-life wife. This goes nowhere, Lucy wants stability, but Speed is strong and knows one gets hurt in life by showing feelings and forming relationships, even with a cat. So, it is back to a final gut-wrenching fight to show if Chaney is really as good as he thinks.

Even though this film is focused on male prowess and survival, it pulls its weight as a great drama and has fantastic performances by all. The movie keeps a steady strong pace, and Bronson and Coburn play on each other with great synergy meant for these rolls. Strother Martin, as Poe, is perfect sidekick and doctor of sorts. Robert Tessier, plays a great role as the toughest fighter that Bronson floors. He has tattoos and bald head with perfect face for fighter and grit of expressions.

A film nor of sorts, with beautiful scenes of New Orleans and music to frame appropriate scenes. The movie is a history of how prize fighting started and what it takes to be a man in hard times.

Yes, this is arguably the best Charles Bronson film. This movie has great fight scenes considering the fact that it was created over 30 years ago and Colburn is great.

Great movie about a middle aged man doing what he has to do to survive in the great depression.

"Hard Times" was Walter Hill's 1975 directorial debut. He also wrote the screenplay. His preferred (more accurate and better) title was "The Streetfighter," as it was/is known in Europe. Hill went on to do more popular films like "The Warriors" (1979) and "The Long Riders" (1980). The reason I was interested in checking out "Hard Times" is because it had garnered a bit of a cult reputation over the years (although not as cult-ish as "The Warriors").

THE PLOT: Charles Bronson plays a poor drifter/loner (Chaney) during the Depression who travels by boxcar to New Orleans. He spies an illegal bare-knuckle fight in a warehouse and offers his fighting talents to a fast-talking gambler, James Coburn (Speed). Bronson proves himself a formidable and profitable fighter, but Speed can't hold on to money because of his gambling addiction and is in constant trouble with the mob.

One thing that's amazing is that Bronson was 53 freakin' years-old when the film was made, yet physically looks better than most guys half that age. Bronson's beautiful wife, Jill Ireland, plays his love interest (as usual) and was 39 years old at the time.

Although very little is revealed in the film about Chaney's past (we know he had experience as a coal miner), it becomes fairly certain that he had a lot of experience with bare knuckle fighting. We know this because he is supremely confident of his skills despite his age. Chaney is not big or ultra-muscular, but he's fearless, calmly self-controlled, doesn't bleed easy and expertly knows how to READ other fighters. Chaney's weakness is that he's a loner and doesn't talk much, hence he NEEDS Speed to do the talkin' for him and set up matches in order to make money from his uncommon skills.

I first saw "Hard Times" two years ago and thought it was good, but I didn't quite get the 'great cult film' hoopla. Perhaps I wasn't prepared for the ugly/dirty Depression era sets and New Orleans locations; or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a fight film. I just saw it again, however, and all I can say is, NOW I 'get' it.

"Hard Times" has numerous memorable scenes, lines and characters. I was highly entertained throughout its 90 minute runtime -- grinning, frequently busting out laughing and even clapping (huh?). Speaking of the runtime, I love it when pictures aren't needlessly overlong.

Here's one sample of some of the great dialogue: Chaney's date asks him what he does for a living. Chaney simply responds that he makes money by knocking people down. She mockingly asks, "What does it feel like to knock somebody down?" He brilliantly replies, "It makes me feel a hell of a lot better than it does him."

Although Chaney is depicted as a likable, honorable, bold and compassionate person, his downfall is that he is unable to make long-term commitments, preferring to be "free" and mysterious. [SPOILER ALERT! -- THE REMAINDER OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND THE NEXT TWO] Because of this flaw he ultimately loses his beautiful girl to someone else. He then leaves New Orleans as mysteriously as he came, albeit now a streetfighting legend and carrying a lot of cash.

The ending leaves many questions to ponder: What prompts Chaney to change his mind and try to save Speed by taking on an expert fighter from Chicago? Didn't Speed dig his own pit? Chaney himself angrily told Speed that he didn't owe him anything. Perhaps, as Chaney laid on his bed under the ceiling fan in his dump of an apartment, he realized that maybe he DID owe Speed for granting him the opportunity to utilize his talents and make money. In other words, without Speed he wouldn't have had his success. Perhaps he decided he wanted to make even MORE money in one final fight before leaving New Orleans. Possibly, it dawned on him that, although Speed is certainly to blame for his own problems, Chaney realized that he had fallen into his OWN-dug pits in the past and needed someone to help him get out. Or maybe he realized that, in all the world, he had less friends than can be counted on one hand and felt it was his duty to help Speed (and Poe) out.

Regardless of his reasons, the ending expertly shows Chaney's loyal and generous character. He may be a man of few words, but he certainly CARED about those connected to him, even if they were severely flawed addicts and con-artists. Heck, he even LOVED his cat!

[END SPOILER ALERT]

FINAL WORD: "Hard Times" is truly worthy of its cult film status. Enjoy!

I returned the one purchased in October 2006, because I ordered a VHS
at $4.99 and you sent me a DVD at over $18.00 for which you gave
me a credit.


I ordered a DVD last December at $7.99 plus $2.59 delivery which I
received, but why do I have to pay over $17.00 for it????????

DO NOT BUY THIS DVD ! Although I throughly enjoy this movie and the characters are as good as they get in movies...Hard Times in the "full screen" format does not do this movie the justice and appreciation it deserves.

"Hard Times" is an excellent piece of work by director Walter Hill. The cast is excellent and it is one of the few good films Charles Bronson made with his wife Jill Irelend.

First of all, Columbia-Tristar released a WS and FS edition (2 sided disc) of the DVD on its initial release but reissue with a full screen only. So those interested in the title must search for the older release which contains the WS edition.

This is a great film, one of Bronson's best and also directorial debut of the great Walter Hill. Set in depression era New Orleans, where Bronson had to earn his dollar by "street fighting". James Coburn and Jill Ireland costar as his manager/promotor and love interest (Obviously) respectively.

I would like to give this DVD a full 5 stars, but with its lack of special features, I can only give 3 stars. A must have DVD though, the 2.0 mono sound is fine and the WS image is ok but deserved to be cleaned up a bit.

Now with all of the principal stars gone (Bronson, Coburn, Ireland), I am surprised that Columbia has yet to issue a special edition of this movie, while releasing several titles over and over (Fifth element, Leon The Professional, Jumanji, legend of Zorro, etc). Please issue a special edition, as this is more deserving movie. I don't think there is any special edition DVD of Bronson's movies. Not even the first Death Wish. I hope Hard Times will be the first in many special edition DVDs to be released. Remember, Charles Bronson is one of the biggest movie star in the world.

The film shows the melancholy of that period. Charles Bronson's character is good with wrists, and thanks them he earn some dollars. He is honest, and considerate with his friends, especially a woman and a cat. Optimal performances are James Coburn's and Strother Martin's, too.

I like the open credit scenes, while the fine and suitable score. I point out also the rejoicing chorus, similar to Burt Lancaster in "Elmer Gantri."

I forgot to pay attention to the format, and I was disappointed when I realized the widescreen images vanished after the open credits. An edition like this should not be done ever. I threw away my copy. Buy the widescreen edition when be available, not this. I rate only one star because of the full screen.

Hill's attention to detail is so sophisticated in this film it belies his youth and inexperience as a director. Apart from the fact that Charles Bronson, at 54 years of age, has the physical presence that would shame a 25 year old fitness fanatic he manages to pull off a seminal performance accurately portraying a mythological mercenary character. His laconic performance is not only essential in driving the narrative but it is expertly done.

This movie earns 5 stars, but I give it a 3 because the DVD itself is a 1 or 2.

I've never been a big fan of Bronson -- who even as tough-guy action heroes go had the range of a Daisy air rifle -- but the role of Chaney in this film is perfect for his tight-lipped, minimal style.

There's no need to add further details of this great man's man cinema beyond what others have already said. Suffice to say it's a sorely needed if temporary anachronistic antidote to this emasculated age of Oprah, metrosexuals, reality shows, and self-help guides. It'd be a good double feature with Emperor of The North Pole or Fight Club. A good, tight, no-nonsense story that doesn't pull any punches or make apologies.

The problem with this DVD is the DVD itself. The print is actually decent for a straight 35mm transfer with only a handful of grainy and artifact-ridden scenes. Audio is passable. The big problem is that it's not letterboxed -- entirely pan-and-scan, and noticeably so. It's time the studio pressed a widescreen version and cleaned it up a bit.

A couple bonus features wouldn't hurt either, but that would just be the proverbial icing. Unfortunately we've lost all of the lead actors so a retrospective would be tough to put together.

What can I say ? It's Charles Bronson in one of his all time best roles with a supporting cast that includes, Stuther Martin (An all time great character acter who is greatly missed.) as well as the late great James Coburn.

Bronson was playing the hard hitting, strong and silent type anti hero long before Eastwood ever thought about it. He set the standard and it shows in this film.

The fight scenes are some of the best I have ever seen, the costums, dialog settings and acting are all superlative.

If you don't have this film in your library, shame on you.

Buy it !

In this 1975 film, Bronson plays a bareknuckle boxer trying to make ends meet in Depression-era New Orleans. At his toothy best, James Coburn plays his manager. The great character actor Strother Martin plays Coburn's assistant, a drug addicted ex-medical student. Jill Ireland (Bronson's wife in real life) plays the love interest. Bronson has one of his best roles in a tough, unapologetic depiction of life during the Depression. At the end, at the top of his game, he walks away from it all, prompting Coburn to exclaim, "Damn, he was good!" The same might be said both of his performance as well as this entire movie.

This is a great 'male bonding' film. You know tough guys, bare knuckles, gambling New Orleans style, winner take all. That kind of stuff! Add to that Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Strother Martin and you've got a hit on your hands. A hit, get it?

Set during the Depression Era in the 30's, Chaney (Bronson) drifts into town on a southbound freight train. Broke and hungry he immediately begins to look for a way to make some money doing what he does best, fight. Quickly proving himself to be a formidable foe he hires a local down-on-his-luck gambler and promoter named 'Speed' (Coburn) to set-up his fights. Poe (Martin) is also hired on as Chaney's "cut-man" and the three are off to make some fast money.

As Chaney's reputation grows an eventual showdown looms on the horizon with the toughest, dirtiest fighter in town, Jim Henry (Robert Tessier). The big money is within reach if Chaney is really as good as he thinks.

Great performances by all. Bronson and Coburn are magic together and Strother Martin is, as always, the consumate character actor. As for Robert Tessier, well they just don't get any meaner then him. Truly one of the great bad guys of film!

So gentleman send the ladies out for the evening, put the beer on ice, order the pizza and invite a couple of buddies over. Just don't get carried away and try to duplicate anything you see on the screen.

For anyone who loves boxing movies or period pieces,DO NOT MISS THIS MOVIE! The fighting scenes barehanded really capture the 1920s aura. If you can,watch this movie in widescreen with the sound up, it helps bring you into the 'hard times' experience. Their is some really simple but great dialogue in this film. The "ring doctor" plays his role uniquely and Coburn and Bronsan are believable charactors you want to know more about. Jill Irelands poor everyday girl works well. A really good and interesting movie.

Charles Bronson stars in this depression-era movie about a man who is forced to take up bare-knuckled fighting to earn enough money to survive. Bronson arrives in New Orleans with a few coins in his pocket and no prospects. Fortunately for him (and unfortunately for his opponents) he comes across a betting fighting match hosted by two local sharpies. Bronson studies the situation with cold calculating eyes and realizes that he could earn some much needed food money with a few bouts of his own. Introducing himself to one of the local sharpies, (James Colburn, who is superb in his role of a quick talking con-man in constant trouble with the local mob), Bronson and Colburn set out to win a small fortune on the match-making skills of Colburn and the hard punishing fists of Bronson.

Although clearly aging, Bronson is a natural and beleiveable fighter, with a lean muscular body certainly capable of knocking out his opponents. With initial success, Bronson is matched with increasingly tougher opponents, culminating in two "championship" bouts that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Intertwined between the bouts is Bronson and his co-star Jill Ireland (his real-life wife), and their effort to establish a relationship.

I won't spoil the ending for you by revealing the ending, but I will say that if you missed this movie when it was first screened in the mid-1970's, you don't want to miss it again! Although it does not belong on your "classic" shelf, "Hard Times" is one of Charles Bronson's best movies and it will be a treat to view on a Saturday night.

Jim Konedog Koenig