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Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jill Ireland, Strother Martin, Michael McGuire ... see more see more... , Robert Tessier , Nick Dimitri , Felice Orlandi , Ed Walsh , Margaret Blye , Robert Castleberry , Bruce Glover , Chuck Hicks , Maurice Kowalewski , Frank McRae , Jim Nickerson , Naomi Stevens , Max Kleven , Fred Lerner , Bob Minor , Lyla Kay Owen , Walter Scott , Larry Martindale

Also known as The Streetfighter, Hard Times stars Charles Bronson as Chaney, an aging bare-knuckle boxer, trying to scratch out a living in the middle of the Depression. "Speed" (James Coburn) is the ... read more read more...two-bit promoter who books Chaney in the tank towns of the South and Midwest. He is briefly reinvigorated by an affair with the lovely Lucy (Jill Ireland, Mrs. Bronson in real life), but it's back to the seedy realm before too long. Hard Times represented the directorial debut of Walter Hill, who even at this early stage demonstrated the gritty verisimilitude that he'd bring to such future projects as The Warriors (1979) and 48 Hrs. (1984). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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29% want to see it

3,761 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

9 critics

PG, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Walter Hill

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (179)

  • sanjurosamurai
    January 15, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    fantastic fight flick
  • ajv2688
    January 2, 2011
    ajv2688
    Sure it's a tough violent movie, but the story is familiar and predictable. It has a good cast, but it's pretty boring for the most part.
  • kenstachnik
    August 3, 2010
    kenstachnik
    Coburn and Bronson together again? Under the direction of Walter Hill? What's not to love?
  • rubystevens
    August 5, 2009
    rubystevens
    a gritty film about bare knuckle boxing in depression era new orleans. nice atmosphere, coburn is entertaining, and bronson is alright as long as he keeps his mouth shut. strother martin is interesting as the philosophical cut man
  • 76Majikat
    June 26, 2009
    76Majikat
    I have very little to write about this film other than it is dull and boring and very one-dimensional, without much of a story at all.
  • garyX
    June 8, 2008
    garyX
    Charles Bronson plays Chaney, a drifter who chances upon small time bare knuckle boxing manager James Coburn and they form a partnership to make some money in depression era New Orleans. A great sense of period in a similar vein to Bonnie And Clyde permeates this compelling stree... read moretfighting drama, directed with the usual no-nonsense approach of boy's own favourite and Peckinpah protege Walter Hill. To be sure, it's a veritable testosterone fest, but it's by no means your typical Van Damme style action nonsense. Bronson has never been better as the laconic fighter who sees his bouts as pure business; there's no malice in him and there's a total absence of the kind of glorification of violence you see in most boxing films. In this way it has far more in common with the likes of Raging Bull or On The Waterfront. Coburn is also excellent as the smart mouthed hustler he befriends and Jill Ireland's unsentimental love interest has never made the down at heel seem more glamorous. A simple but effective story that highlights Bronson's consummate badassery without the usual trashiness that accompanies most male-orientated tough guy films and easily one of Hill's best moments.
  • adammahler1
    March 7, 2008
    adammahler1
    Bronson seems to have 50 extra muscles in his face for minute changes in expression; like he became the best at one very small part of acting
  • Dannyrovira
    July 31, 2011
    Dannyrovira
    A hard-hitting powerful drama and richly textured film by Walter Hill in his auspicious directorial debut, a engrossing tale about a middle-aged drifter and bare-knuckle street-fighter named Chaney, who is a quite man of great integrity and few words, and an absolute master when ... read morecomes to his amazing fighting skill, he is memorably played by Charles Bronson in one of the finest performances of his long career. Chaney gets caught up in the brutal illegal bare-fisted fight game of New Orleans during the Great Depression, he is out to make some quick money the only way he knows how, with his fists. Chaney approaches a slick small-time hustler named Speed, played by James Coburn who delivers a wonderfully colorful performance, and convinces him to be his manager and arrange bouts for him for a piece of the action, by knocking out his opponent in first few seconds of the first round, of his very first fight, impressed by Chaney fighting ability Speeds plans for a big money fight with the local champion, a grinning muscle bound giant nicknamed Skinhead, superbly played by character actor Robert Tessier, in a sensationally choreographed fight sequence in a steel-mesh inclosed bull pen at warehouse, Chaney wins more than a few fights, but Speed's carelessness with his money and indebtedness to a gang of cutthroats, put his very life on the line, if Chaney does not have one last fight with a monstrous fighter named Street, played by Nick Dimitri in a chilling cold-blooded performance who they have brought in special from Chicago just to take on the unbeatable Chaney.The final bone crushing climatic match between Chaney and Street is truly spectacular, it is one of the best hand-to-hand combat sequences in cinematic history, brutal and intense. There are two terrific supporting performances by Strother Martin, as opium addicted ex-medical student named Poe, and Jill Ireland as a lonely street walker named Luby Simpson. Marvelous cinematography by Phillp H. Lathrop, and a splendid score by Barry DeVorzon, a compelling and utterly winning motion picture. Highly Recommended.
  • cacutshaw
    January 17, 2008
    cacutshaw
    Bronson kicking ass in the depression. Great film that works dramatically and as an awesome duke it out film.
  • AD917
    September 5, 2009
    AD917
    Charles Bronson fighting for money in Depression era New Orleans. Pretty cool, but nothing too special. Bronson is one of the few actors who I?ve ever bought as a legit tough guy, so that helps it a little.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
May 25, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Rough and grim knuckle-fighting drama headlining Charles Bronson.

Chuck O'Leary
October 21, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

Walter Hill's first film as a director is spare, elegiac and as tough as a nickel steak.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

May 9, 2005
New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Cole Smithey
October 19, 2007
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
June 17, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Jake Euker
July 4, 2004
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

Carol Cling
August 22, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Tony Toscano
October 25, 2002
Tony Toscano, Talking Pictures (U.S.)

No review available.

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Hard Times Trivia

  • In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, how many times does Obi-Wan shoot General Grivous before he dies? (Pretty hard!)  Answer »
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  • What movie is this quote from? "I guarantee that there will be hard times. I guarantee that at one point,one or both of us will want out of this. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."  Answer »
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