Rating: 
Summary: HARD TIMES-DVD
Review: This is a wonderful film depicting the struggles of life in New Orleans in the Great Depression era. Charles Bronson is Chaney, the mysterious man who comes into town "to make some money and fill in some in-betweens". He finds local hustler, "Speed" Weed played masterfully by the late James Coburn. Speed spends money faster than he can keep it on gambling, booze and women. He also blows his money backing loser street fighters who get punched out in local bare knuckle contests. Things change for Speed when the hard-edged, soft spoken Chaney comes into his life with a proposal to be his next "hitter". It's a hard sell initially for the skeptical Speed who views Chaney as an aged, down on his luck drifter. Eventually, the two team up to make some money on these bare knuckle contests with Speed serving as the manager. The film also features great supporting roles by Strother Martin as "Poe", the "doctor"/confidant of Speed, who never quite finished medical school due to an opium addiction. Jill Ireland plays Chaney's girl who's also down on her luck with a husband in jail and no job and no prospects. The action is fantastic with some great fight scenes between Bronson and the bald headed, tatooed Jim Henry played by Robert Tessier. Walter Hill's Hard Times captures the desperation of the times in 1933 New Orleans when people were looking for a job, looking to make some money and get by day to day. As Chaney says in the film about his future plans, "I never look beyond the bend in the road". This is a classic film and in addition to Bronson's fine work, you'll enjoy the performances of the late, great actors: Coburn, Martin and Ireland.
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Summary: You Have To See This One
Review: This is the ULTIMATE macho movie. If you like Bronson, you'll love this movie. Great action, great music. From the hard days of the depression, watch THE MAN in action. James Coburn is perfectly cast as Bronson's matchmaker, Speed Weed. Whoever selected the cast did an awesome job... every character is perfect.
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Summary: Classic Bare Knuckle Action in the Big Easy
Review: This movie is a classic tribute to the subject of "prize fighting". Released in 1975 and directed by Walter Hill, it centers around a 1930's depression drifter named Chaney (Bronson). Chaney is the consummate drifter ---- indifferent and reluctant to commit. However, he ends up in New Orleans and stumbles upon the local subculture of bare knuckle fighting. He then convinces a local hustler by the name of Speed Weed (Coburn) to let him be his next "hitter". Chaney's silent, strong presence brilliantly complements Speed's enormously extroverted style ---- Chaney is the soft-spoken, rugged fighter and Speed is the colorful, manager promoter. However, Chaney's reluctance to commit proves to be a reoccurring test for Speed Weed. Even with his girlfriend Lucy, played by Bronson's wife Jill Ireland, Chaney is emotionally detached and shows an easy comes, easy goes attitude. Chaney wins a few tough illegal fights bare-fisted but Speed falls victim to his own careless wheeling and dealing and is unable to pay his debt to a gang of thugs. As a result, Chaney is forced to fight one last fight with Street ---- a big bear of a man played by Nick Dimitri. This is a climatic event in the movie with both fighters waging one of the most gripping fight scenes this side of Hong Kong. Even better ---- the fight scenes are choreographed the old-fashioned way without relying on special effects Strother Martin provides a great supporting role as the languid and shady character known as Poe ---- he provides medical advice despite an opium addiction and his failure to finish medical school. Martin also played the prison warden in the movie, "Cool Hand Luke". Also notable is veteran tough-man actor, Robert Tessier, who plays John Henry ---- the bald grinning tattooed anathema managed and promoted by Speed's rival, Chic Gandil ---- convincingly played by Michael McGuire.
Bronson's physique and muscular definition rivals that of any actor that I've seen portraying similar roles in movies --- even Stallone when he played Rocky. And Bronson was in his 50s'---- incredible! Also, impressive is the cinematography ---- scenes of New Orleans boat docks, warehouse district, cemetery and French Quarter set the mood for New Orleans during the 1930's depression. Walter Hill, as always, does a good job providing visual and aural (music) elements to the movie that emphasize the culture that surrounds the characters and events. The fights don't take place in the traditional sense --- gloved combat performed legally within the ring. Fights are illegal bare-fisted slugfests arranged on boat docks and in warehouses among crowds of gambling onlookers. You'll see plenty of the old-fashioned fist fighting techniques reminiscent of old Saturday afternoon action movies. Notice Bronson tends to fight with his arms close to his waist as if he was preparing to do a series of bicep curls ---- classic all the way. I consider Hard Times to be a true classic. It is certainly one of the greatest films of its genre.
Rating:
Summary: classic
Review: This movie should be considered a classic of action movies. Made in the 70's it is very effective in depecting the 30's depression. The story is about a street fighter who hooks up with a con man (James Coburn) who is not as sharp as he thinks he is. While not a true boxing movie it has some of the best fight scenes ever filmed. This is due to Bronson. He looks like he could do all the things he does in the movie. The amazing thing is he was in his mid 50's when the movie was made. The story has a good pace and there is no sappy ending. Good film.
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Summary: Walter Hill's ode to Depression era street fighting....
Review: Tough guy Charles Bronson often copped plenty of criticism over his selection of roles and his alleged one dimensional character range. True, a lot of Charlie's choices were "shoot em 'up" avenger / crime films that ended up on video shelves fairly quickly, but Bronson was a key figure in the 1970's action genre and will be remembered for some stand out "strong, silent type" roles. "Hard Times" is generally regarded as Charles Bronson's best film role and is director Walter Hill's first feature film. Set in the Depression era in and around New Orleans, Bronson portrays the quiet , but toughened drifter Chaney, seeking to make ends meet through the prowess of his fists. After drifting into town aboard a freight train, Bronson hears a commotion emanating from a near by warehouse, Bronson then witnesses a bare knuckle bout and first meets James Coburn as the smooth talking, street wise, but addicted gambler, Speed. Bronson offers his services, to which Coburn replies "You look a little past it...", Charlie proves his worth with a one punch knockout of an opponent and the two partner up and set about winning a few dollars taking on local fighters and hoods. Coburn enlists the services of Strother Martin, who gives another wonderful character performance as the narcotic loving, disgraced medicine man Poe. The chemistry between the three is excellent, and remarkably Bronson's laid back persona is in stark contrast to the highly animated Coburn, but they work together like bread goes with butter ! And as was so often the case, Charlie found a suitable role in "Hard Times" for his then wife Jill Ireland, as his love interest, Lucy Watching the film, it's hard to believe that Bronson was 54 years old when he commenced filming...Bronson's younger years saw his physique shown off in several movies, and he was still in good enough condition to still get his shirt off and flex his muscles for "Hard Times". I recollect reading two interesting descriptions about Bronson...one said "he looks like a Clark Cable that has been left out in the sun too long", and the other likened him to a bonsai tree "gnarled, twisted and rooted to the one spot" !! Hill directs the movie with an economic style and effectively captures the hardship, struggle and cheapness of life in the Depression era...and an earthy jazz soundtrack compliments the lean feel of the film. Plus, let's not forget the gritty fight scene choreography...and Chaney's formidable opponents. Notably the bald, grinning tattoed Jim Henry played by regular on screen bad guy, Robert Tessier...and real life stuntman cum actor Nick Dimitri as the malevolent, well dressed fighter, Street. ( Look out for : The scene early in the film at which time Coburn is sitting on his balcony reading the newspaper race guide, and you can clearly see his shirt cuffs, but as the door bell rings and Coburn leaps to his feet, he is suddenly only wearing a singlet, and then reaches for his shirt to put it on !! ) A very enjoyable movie and a worthy addition to your DVD library.
Rating: 
Summary: Esthetically perfect action film
Review: Walter Hill's 1975 directorial debut "Hard Times" is about as predictable as a "Lone Ranger" radio serial. It's also one of the most esthetically perfect action films you are ever going to see. I'm not sure if there is a single original idea or thought in this Depression era bare-knuckled boxing tale, but it is blessed with a style and verve that raises its level of respectability several notches.
The New Orleans' locale is magnificently used, with detours to Cajun cookouts, strolls through Louisiana graveyards and conversations on French Quarter balconies adding memorable spice to the dramatic gumbo. The trio of stars, Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Strother Martin, a bit past their prime, but as comfortable as a worn leather jacket, are perfectly suited as men scarred by the hard knocks of life.
Bronson especially, is given one of the finest roles of his twilight career. He's a man of few words, riding the rails looking to make a buck in bare knuckle fighting. We never really know his past, with his screen persona filling in the gaps. That's a fault. And yet like a ghost, he silently moves in and out of the shadows of New Orleans creating a fiercely independent character we would want on our side. Coburn, as usual, is terrific as the conman who bankrolls Bronson. He's a fast talker, eventually too fast for his own good. Martin, one of the finest character actors in history, is nothing short of brilliant as the cut man struggling with the dark addictions of life. These three characters are going nowhere, but for a brief moment as a team, they buck a corrupt and brutal system.
The fight scenes themselves are nicely choreographed, but what one remembers from "Hard Times" are the quieter moments - Bronson having a cup of coffee in a diner with Jill Ireland, Coburn smoking a cigarette in bed with a prostitute, Martin sitting in a church listening to gospel singers. These characters are weary and tired, and the Depression has left them hopeless and forgotten.
There is really no surprise as to this film's ending. Yet in many ways it is poetically perfect as Bronson, having saved the day, disappears back into the shadows never to return. This is a street legend as old as the hills. We watch the recent film "Sea Biscuit" and roll our eyes at its excess. We watch "Hard Times" and understand this tale at heart, is a simple yet inspirational one. Rarely has the legend been more perfectly executed on film.
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