Clevercell Very disappointing...

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

trimmerb1234 Like Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront", a boxer is being paid to lose. Here though its not the character who should have been a contender, it's the movie which should have been and isn't. There's no question, it's a gritty and promising noir: the locale, action and spot-on realistic looking and sounding low rent end of professional boxing. With star, Robert Ryan, and these ingredients it instead rather disappoints and unsurprisingly failed to get awards.As others have mentioned, the scenes containing the peripheral characters are very well drawn. The problem is the rather slack telling of the main story about Stoker (the boxer) and his girlfriend. There are repeated sequences of her looking over a roadbridge at passing buses while she thinks about - what? And of Robert Ryan in the ring (during the fight) repeatedly glancing at the empty seat she should have occupied. The central fight is very long but. again the ebb and flow of the fight doesn't engage the viewer. In real life, some of the most enjoyed bouts are ones where the fighter who has been knocked down several times goes on to win the fight.Robert Ryan, in reality a former Marine and boxing instructor, is too commanding and too fit looking to appear like a washed up boxer in his last chance fight. The plot has him thought of as a no-hope loser. I've watched boxing (on TV) for many decades but was disappointed by the boxing sequences here. Real boxing happens fast - sometimes only understandable in slow motion. Boxers take advantage of moments of vulnerability. If a boxer is fast he can get two or more punches - with alternate hands - in very rapid succession before the opponent can take defensive action. Here almost every sin of movie fights was committed. Boxers pausing to admire the effect of a blow before delivering a follow up. Boxers rocking backwards and forwards after being hit. In reality boxers as a matter of pride and self-interest do their best to cover up being hurt. I assume it was Director Robert Wise who imposed this stagey staged fight. Perhaps a genuine professional boxer could have more convincingly faked a fight. Not something I guess a boxing instructor in the Marines would ever do - and it shows.

mark.waltz When an older fighter (Robert Ryan) is ordered to take a fall during the follow-up to the main bout, he is torn as to what to do, especially having promised his worried wife (Audrey Totter) that he would back out. This old war horse just wants one good fight to make enough money to get out for good, and instinct takes over his promises and the threats he's received. Then, there's the audience, demanding a good fight with the women in the audience even more blood thirsty than the man. Ryan knows that even if he looses the fight, he will have to deal with the criminal element who made the order for him to take a dive. It's not just the sport here that holds your interest. It's the quick editing, the carnal desire for blood, and the integrity which Ryan feels deep inside. He's the Rocky of the 40's, and wife Totter is his Adrianne. Totter makes more out of her role than just another big screen devoted wife. She waits for Ryan to come back in vain, then leaves in disgust, knowing that he's betrayed her. As she walks around the local arcade, she begins to smile a bit and even laughs until she spots a man and a woman playing a boxing game. Standing on a bridge for a lengthy emotional still-life, her soul pours out into the minds of the audience, one of the most unforgettable shots of a single person simply standing there and not saying a word.George Tobias and Percy Helton are grippingly real as Ryan's trainers. Helton has that pathetic look of a junkyard dog that must have influenced the casting directors of "Rocky" to cast Burgess Meredith in an almost identical role. The brilliant Robert Wise directs, utilizing his past experience as a film editor to give every frame an exciting edge and gritty look. This certainly is as far from being an "A" picture as you can get, but it can definitely be called one of the greatest film noir ever made.

Senthilnathan SK This one is an amazing picture for sure. having lasted for 80 minutes barely; it glues you to your seats till the end of the picture. It captures well the moments of the boxers before they go for a fight. I was amazed at the way Robert Ryan was boxing; but only after going thru his biography it was revealed that he was a real-time boxer before. He fitted the bill pretty well. The audiences of the boxing match too emote very well. Even during the course, I have emoted as well. The picture pulls you into the boxing arena. The end scene was a sensible one. Good performances by the actors, a well directed movie. I could not find a reason why you skip watching this movie despite the fact you know seldom about boxing. Don't miss it.

jotix100 The world of boxing attracted a kind of individual of a special breed. The sport, as it is considered, flourished around the times where it was the way for poor urban individuals to get out of their surroundings, for it offered the promise of fame and money using one's fists, not one's intellectual powers.This story takes us to one of those cities during the period after WWII where the chief means of entertainment was boxing on Wednesdays, and wrestling on Fridays. The criminal element behind the fights saw big business in the way money could be made by fixing the matches. Tiny, the manager of Stoker, an aging boxer, figures he stand to make some easy money because his pugilist's career is over. The only problem, he never tells Stoker about his plan. Danny, who is Little Boy's henchman, is told by Tiny that Stoker Thompson is through and will be defeated, a sure bet for the criminal to make money by betting on a sure thing.Stoker Thompson lives in a seedy hotel with Julie. He has seen better days, but unfortunately, this is the only thing he knows how to make a living. He goes on fighting because he figures it is the only ticket to get out of a bad streak he is having. Julie is apprehensive about tonight's fight because Stoker is facing a younger boxer, who no doubt will beat him.The atmosphere shows us the crowd that have come to the arena. Stoker will be the last to fight. We watch the reaction of the people in the audience as Stoker sits in the dressing room waiting his turn to go. Julie, who was given a ticket for the event, spends a restless night refusing to go to see Stoker taking a punishment.When the moment arrive, Stoker gets to the ring. He looks toward where Julie is supposed to be sitting, but she is nowhere to be seen. The bout will be four rounds. Tiny, the manager, and Red, the assistant, are sure Stoker will go down at any moment because his opponent is having a great night. To their horror, Stoker pulls a victory that is not expected. Stoker back in the dressing room gets an unexpected visit of Little Boy, the man who lost money and will not let Stoker Thompson go without punishment."The Set-Up" is one of the best films about boxing, bar none. This tense noirish drama, directed by Robert Wise, working with the screenplay by Art Cohn, gives a tense account of that world in a 72 minute feature that keeps us riveted to the action we are watching. It is quite a contrast for this director, whose minimalistic account creates an action packed picture that has kept its punch even after more than sixty years after it was made.One of the best things in the film is the way the fighting scenes were 'choreographed'. Mr. Wise, who started as a film editor, was influenced greatly by his association with Orson Welles. Let's not forget this man was the editor for "Citizen Kane". The camera work in this film by Milton Krasner puts the viewer inside the sports arena while the fight is going on. We watch the reactions of the crowd in vivid detail, an achievement of Mr. Wise as he involves us in the drama.Stoker Thompson was one of Robert Ryan's best roles in his film career. The actor gave an amazing performance. Audrey Totter's Julie was also one of her best appearances in movies. The minor characters are quite well drawn. Alan Baxter, George Tobias, Wallace Ford, James Edwards, Darryl Hickman, David Clarke, and the rest made valuable contributions in getting us care for these people.One of Robert Wise's best films of all times.