Maidgethma Wonderfully offbeat film!

pointyfilippa The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

ajrcvr The preeminent characteristic of this movie is that it makes you feel as if you're actually there during these "hard times" of the early 20th century, which pretty much everybody had during those days; worse once the Depression hit. Charles Bronson's character of Chaney is a mysterious man whom we never get to learn too much about - where he comes from, why he wanders about the country, how he got to be as good a fighter as he is - but he definitely developed his persona and expertise from somewhere, and it's best leaving it at that, since how he got to this state is a whole other story, which they don't tell. The story they do tell is about this man who is, appropriately enough, a drifter, travelling by train from one town to the next, making his living with his fists in street fights for pay; and he's very good at it, obviously has been for quite awhile. Chaney lives his life simply, getting along without any complications or sophisticated necessities. He meets up with Speed, a small-time promoter, who can get him into some decent fights. Strother Martin, "Poe" in the story is a friend of Speed's and becomes the medical man (He has 2 years of med school). Chaney has some fights, wins some money, and then is prepared to drift somewhere else again. He is a very cool character and the fight scenes are pretty well done. Having Coburn & Martin as backup characters surely helps the drama in this very well done and expertly directed piece.

Jim Marchese Hard Times is a story about what Cajuns did for entertainment in 1933. Street fights were held with big money being wagered by spectators and principal participants on the outcome of these confrontations.Charles Bronson plays the part of Chaney, the main principal in the story. He begins with only $6.00 to his name and after crossing paths with James Coburn (Speed), sets out on adventurous times.Hard Times portrays the American con while dealing with the rigors of the era's loan sharks. Coburn is Chaney's manager; and being the ultimate con man, is finally backed into a corner from which there appears no escape.Bronson portrays great knowledge of the boxing sport; the stance, defense, and hitting from the shoulder to name a few fundamentals. His girlfriend (Jill Ireland) is a delightful addition to the story.Robert Tessier puts on an excellent performance as one of the "hitters" in the story while Lou Antonio makes a couple of cameo appearances in the beginning.Ironically Chic Gandil, Coburn's chief rival, was the name of one of the Chicago White Sox baseball players involved in the infamous 1919 world series scandal in which several White Sox players were permanently thrown out of baseball for throwing the series to the Cincinnati National League ball club.Hard Times will definitely entertain you and the Cajun bar juke box scene is priceless.It should also be noted that 20 some odd years before, a teenage Jack Dempsey in Manassa, Colorado would essentially do the same thing to earn money. Nothing personal, strictly money !!!

A_Different_Drummer If you were born after 1970, the success of Charles Bronson could possibly be something of a mystery to you. He came up the hard way, playing character parts in TV series and heavies in movies. He even played an Indian. Somewhere along the way, the public took a shine to Bronson (especially in the oddball DEATH WISH movies, most of which were so badly made, they simply don't stand the test of time) and, typical of the soft spoken man, he supplied the star power for a handful of very unusual pictures. Of his entire body of work, this film is not only his best performance -- ever -- but also one of the best fight films ever constructed AND THAT INCLUDES ALL THE MARTIAL ARTS FILMS from overseas. First the part was practically written for him (and indeed may well have been). A taciturn, older, well-muscled individual who picks up cash in the depression by street fighting. The gag (and in this film the gag works and works and works) is that he looks like someone's father, not like a boxer. Until of course he take off his shirt. Coburn played himself, which, to be fair was not a bad thing. Jill Ireland (Bronson's actual wife, and he INSISTED she appear in each of his films, whether she fitted in or not!) is, as always, completely forgettable. The script was years ahead of its time. The writer understood something that even today's fight films have overlooked -- structure the fights, layer the opponents, so the audience can go along for the ride and actually see the action as reasonable and logical. A classic. A must see.

wes-connors Down-on-his-luck during the Great Depression, moody and muscular Charles Bronson (as Chaney) hooks up with street fight promoter James Coburn (as Spencer "Speed" Weed). The pair settle in the New Orleans area, where Mr. Bronson beats up men up for bigger and bigger bucks. Naturally, this attracts problems with underworld types. Artfully directed by Walter Hill, "Hard Times" was the Bronson film critics picked to elevate, after witnessing his 1970s super-stardom. The 1930s setting is represented by old cars and articles of clothing. Made up like a mannequin, Jill Ireland (as Lucy Simpson) looks out of place. Bronson in his squalid apartment appears most like the Depression, but the effect is more genuinely achieved with atmosphere and acting. In some cases all the latter has to work with is the former. Main villain Michael McGuire (as Chick Gandil) first impressed as the sinister "Head of Judah Zachery" on "Dark Shadows" (1970) and hopped-up Strother Martin (as Poe) of "Cool Hand Luke" (1967) has one of the best movie voices, ever.****** Hard Times (9/4/75) Walter Hill ~ Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Michael McGuire, Strother Martin