Rating: 
Summary: Charles Bronson's Masterpiece
Review: Loosely based on the early career of Jack Dempsey, 'Hard Times' captures the spirit of the depression era South and tells a story of a simple man who 'knocks people down' to make a few dollars and 'to fill some loose ends'.
Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Walter Hill were never better. No car chases, no cardboard villians, no vigilante executions......just a great story deftly told.
Rating:
Summary: A Knockout
Review: Many like to laugh at Charles Bronson(myself included) because of his typecasting in 80s vigilante style action flick where he's usually portrayed as a senior citizen taking out the scum of the earth. You won't be laughing at him in Hard Times. Bronson made good movies, played good roles(see The Great Escape for another good example). Hard Times is one good movie. Bronson is the textbook definition of "tough guy". He plays a street fighter in the 30s who doesn't say much, but can knock the taste right out of your mouth. Basically, it's the Bronson version of Every Which Way But Loose, minus the laughs and the ape. Watch him beat the snot out of guys who think they're tougher than nails, and woo Jill Ireland in the process. Watch James Coburn give another great performance(as usual). Watch the movie, man!! It's astounding that Bronson was 54 when he did this. 54!!! He's solid muscle in this film, you'd have to be crazy to want to fight the guy! Vin Diesel? Russell Crowe? Amateurs! Tough guy wannabees! You won't see them looking like this and kicking tail when they're 54, that's for sure. It may be an all but forgotten film now, but thank god for dvd. That means you'd better march your butt down to the video store. Pronto.
Rating: 
Summary: Repeat viewability, good reason to add to your collection!
Review: No this is hardly a genuine classic film. The performances are decent, but nothing special. Still, this is one of those films; you just want to see again. Charles Bronson plays a drifter, down on his luck with one marketable talent. He's a great bare-knuckle fighter who needs to earn a few bucks to live on for a while. Nothing is ever explained who he really is, or how he became such a good fighter. His explanation to his new found promoter (played with some flair by James Coburn) is that fighting is something he's doing just for a while.So why is this something you'd want to see again. Actually, it's the fighting. Rarely has anyone filmed a movie with more innovative fist fighting styles. I'm guessing that a lot of the actual punches thrown, would not be practical in any real fight, still they look great on film. Each of the main fights has its own array of tactics that make in interesting. The best of which, is the second before last fight, which boasts some interesting, overhead camera work. I'm guessing this movie obtained in character, what Patrick Swayze, was trying to accomplish in Road House. A woman he meets treats Bronson as a shiftless drifter. After a brief attempt to get to know her, she dumps him when she finds a man with a steady job. He then shows himself to have some real character, (at least to himself and the audience) by putting it all on the line. Instead of leaving town, he decides to help his new promoter, who's gotten in trouble with the load sharks. This gives the movie an ending, and even somewhat of a purpose outside of the great fistfights. The DVD looks to be a little thin on extras', which is too bad; I'd love to know more about how they staged those fight scenes. A film this old that has not quite made the bargain bins in price, means the demand is still hot. It usually means it's worth adding to your personal collection for repeat viewings.
Rating:
Summary: Repeat viewability, good reason to add to your collection!
Review: No this is hardly a genuine classic film. The performances are decent, but nothing special. Still, this is one of those films; you just want to see again. Charles Bronson plays a drifter, down on his luck with one marketable talent. He's a great bare-knuckle fighter who needs to earn a few bucks to live on for a while. Nothing is ever explained who he really is, or how he became such a good fighter. His explanation to his new found promoter (played with some flair by James Coburn) is that fighting is something he's doing just for a while. So why is this something you'd want to see again. Actually, it's the fighting. Rarely has anyone filmed a movie with more innovative fist fighting styles. I'm guessing that a lot of the actual punches thrown, would not be practical in any real fight, still they look great on film. Each of the main fights has its own array of tactics that make in interesting. The best of which, is the second before last fight, which boasts some interesting, overhead camera work. I'm guessing this movie obtained in character, what Patrick Swayze, was trying to accomplish in Road House. A woman he meets treats Bronson as a shiftless drifter. After a brief attempt to get to know her, she dumps him when she finds a man with a steady job. He then shows himself to have some real character, (at least to himself and the audience) by putting it all on the line. Instead of leaving town, he decides to help his new promoter, who's gotten in trouble with the load sharks. This gives the movie an ending, and even somewhat of a purpose outside of the great fistfights. The DVD looks to be a little thin on extras', which is too bad; I'd love to know more about how they staged those fight scenes. A film this old that has not quite made the bargain bins in price, means the demand is still hot. It usually means it's worth adding to your personal collection for repeat viewings.
Rating:
Summary: Hard Times is Good time of Entertainment
Review: Not your classic action movie. More of a drama. But there's plenty of action to see. That's what makes it so good to see. You get a good plot, excellent fight scenes (and Charles Bronson's physique is cut and looks like he may be one of these brawlers in real life), without all the blood, explosions, and sex -- and yet it still keeps you glued to the set. Now, to me, that's a good movie. Enjoy the fights.
Rating:
Summary: By far, Bronson¿s best movie.
Review: Old stone-face Bronson wasn't always like that, although he certainly was in this movie, which I think is his best by quite a long shot (although I did like "Chato's Land", "Death Hunt", and "The Mechanic" quite a bit). Centered in or around New Orleans in the depression era, the film is about men who earn their living as bare-fisted street fighters, and one of the best is an unknown fighter played by Charles Bronson. James Colburn is great as his sleezy manager in trouble with the mob. This is a highly entertaining movie with some good performances (even Bronson's) along with a realistic view of the era. Between 1 and 10, "Hard Times" gets a well-deserved 8.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent period piece, Bronson's best
Review: Portrayal of a quiet humble street fighter that drifts into New Orleans, hooks up with Coburn a slick but loosing gambler who sets up his street fights. Bronson at his best. Great settings and depictions of the area and times. Very Good supporting cast especially Strother Marting who plays his cocaine addicted ex medical student role with humor and compasion. Portrayed as violent but not nearly so by todays action picture standards.
Rating:
Summary: "Outstanding!"
Review: Saw this film in the theatres when I was a kid and have rented it about a thousand times. Classic Bronsan. The epitome of "cool". I even own the movie poster. Great, great movie. I'm going to purchase it right now.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Bronson DVD
Review: This film is, in my opinion, one of the best Bronson films along with Honor Among Thieves, Rider on the Rain, Red Sun, and From Noon Till Three. This role is tailor made for Bronson's tough, silent persona(like Chato's Land). This film was released in 1975 but was filmed in 1974-most films, after they finish filming, go into post production, editing and then are released up to a year after they actually finish shooting the final scene. Bronson was 52 yrs old(not 54) when he appeared in Hard Times. Bronson was born in Nov. 1921 and Hard Times was shot prior to his 53rd birthday in 1974.
If you watch the scene in the meat packing plant in Clint Eastwood's film Every Which Way But Loose, it seems like a direct rip-off of the Hard Times scene in Pettibon's joint--the manager of the defeated fighter won't pay up until a gun is produced. Also, in Eastwood's sequel Any Which Way You Can, Wilson, after scouting out Philo Beddoe's fighting ability, remarks "It's been a pleasure watching you work". This, to me, is a direct rip-off of Gandil's line to Chaney after the final fight in Hard Times. Interesting to note that Hard Times was released 3 yrs before Every Which Way... and 5 yrs before Any Which Way... I happen to be a Bronson "fan" and own most of his starring role films as well as many of his supporting role films, but even if you are not all that interested in Bronson's work, you will still probably find this an excellent film in it's own right. The DVD is, in my opinion, crystal clear both in picture and sound, and gives you the added bonus of viewing in full or widescreen formats(the widescreen is 2.35:1 and is authentic widescreen). Towards the beginning of the film, there is a scene between Bronson and Coburn which takes place in an oyster bar. At one point, when Bronson is speaking, he is cut off from the scene in the fullscreen version but is completely visible in the widescreen version. Anyway, the DVD is well worth purchasing and I trust you will enjoy the film. All the best!
Rating:
Summary: Ever been hit in the face with a bare FIST ??????
Review: This is a Great Sunday afternoon watcher.... my favorite Charles Bronson movie... this guy would probaly knock you out for real!!!!!
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