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DramaCrime

The Set-Up

- I want a man … not a human punching bag!

Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.

Release Date : 1949-03-29

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : RKO Radio Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Robert Ryan

Character Name : Stoker

Original Name : Robert Ryan

Gender : Male

Audrey Totter

Character Name : Julie

Original Name : Audrey Totter

Gender : Female

George Tobias

Character Name : Tiny

Original Name : George Tobias

Gender : Male

Alan Baxter

Character Name : Little Boy

Original Name : Alan Baxter

Gender : Male

Wallace Ford

Character Name : Gus

Original Name : Wallace Ford

Gender : Male

Percy Helton

Character Name : Red

Original Name : Percy Helton

Gender : Male

Hal Baylor

Character Name : Tiger Nelson

Original Name : Hal Baylor

Gender : Male

Darryl Hickman

Character Name : Shanley

Original Name : Darryl Hickman

Gender : Male

Kevin O'Morrison

Character Name : Moore

Original Name : Kevin O'Morrison

Gender : Male

James Edwards

Character Name : Luther Hawkins

Original Name : James Edwards

Gender : Male

David Clarke

Character Name : Gunboat Johnson

Original Name : David Clarke

Gender : Male

Phillip Pine

Character Name : Souza

Original Name : Phillip Pine

Gender : Male

Edwin Max

Character Name : Danny

Original Name : Edwin Max

Gender : Male

Herbert Anderson

Character Name : Husband (uncredited)

Original Name : Herbert Anderson

Gender : Male

Larry Anzalone

Character Name : Mexican Fighter (uncredited)

Original Name : Larry Anzalone

Gender : Male

Arthur Berkeley

Character Name : Cafe Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Berkeley

Gender : Male

Burman Bodel

Character Name : Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Burman Bodel

Gender : Male

John Butler

Character Name : Blind Man's Buddy (uncredited)

Original Name : John Butler

Gender : Male

Noble 'Kid' Chissell

Character Name : Handler (uncredited)

Original Name : Noble 'Kid' Chissell

Gender : Male

Bud Cokes

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Bud Cokes

Gender : Male

Heinie Conklin

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Heinie Conklin

Gender : Male

Gene Delmont

Character Name : Handler (uncredited)

Original Name : Gene Delmont

Gender : Male

Abe Dinovitch

Character Name : Ring Caller (uncredited)

Original Name : Abe Dinovitch

Gender : Male

Paul Dubov

Character Name : Gambler (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Dubov

Gender : Male

Arthur 'Weegee' Fellig

Character Name : Timekeeper (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur 'Weegee' Fellig

Gender : Male

Dan Foster

Character Name : Bettor with Bunny (uncredited)

Original Name : Dan Foster

Gender : Male

David Fresco

Character Name : Mickey (uncredited)

Original Name : David Fresco

Gender : Male

Joseph Glick

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph Glick

Gender : Male

Bernard Gorcey

Character Name : Tobacco Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Bernard Gorcey

Gender : Male

Vincent Graeff

Character Name : Newsboy (uncredited)

Original Name : Vincent Graeff

Gender : Male

William E. Green

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : William E. Green

Gender : Male

Bobby Henshaw

Character Name : Announcer (uncredited)

Original Name : Bobby Henshaw

Gender : Male

John Indrisano

Character Name : Corner Man (uncredited)

Original Name : John Indrisano

Gender : Male

Michael Jeffers

Character Name : Sidewalk Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Jeffers

Gender : Male

Dick Johnstone

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Johnstone

Gender : Male

Donald Kerr

Character Name : Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)

Original Name : Donald Kerr

Gender : Male

Jess Kirkpatrick

Character Name : Gambler (uncredited)

Original Name : Jess Kirkpatrick

Gender : Male

Joseph La Cava

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph La Cava

Gender : Male

Mike Lally

Character Name : Hawkins' Handler (uncredited)

Original Name : Mike Lally

Gender : Male

Richard LaMarr

Character Name : Vendor (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard LaMarr

Gender : Male

Archie Leonard

Character Name : Blind Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Archie Leonard

Gender : Male

Dwight Martin

Character Name : Glutton (uncredited)

Original Name : Dwight Martin

Gender : Male

William McCarter

Character Name : Handler (uncredited)

Original Name : William McCarter

Gender : Male

Mathew McCue

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Mathew McCue

Gender : Male

Lynn Millan

Character Name : Bunny (uncredited)

Original Name : Lynn Millan

Gender : Male

Frank Mills

Character Name : Photographer (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Mills

Gender : Male

Ben Moselle

Character Name : Referee (uncredited)

Original Name : Ben Moselle

Gender : Male

Tommy Noonan

Character Name : Masher on Street (uncredited)

Original Name : Tommy Noonan

Gender : Male

Anton Northpole

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Anton Northpole

Gender : Male

William J. O'Brien

Character Name : Pitchman (uncredited)

Original Name : William J. O'Brien

Gender : Male

Brian O'Hara

Character Name : Man with Cigar (uncredited)

Original Name : Brian O'Hara

Gender : Male

Jack Perry

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Perry

Gender : Male

Jack Raymond

Character Name : Husband (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Raymond

Gender : Male

Frank Richards

Character Name : Bat - Program Vendor (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Richards

Gender : Male

Walter Ridge

Character Name : Manager (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Ridge

Gender : Male

Tony Roux

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Roux

Gender : Male

Sammy Shack

Character Name : Sam (uncredited)

Original Name : Sammy Shack

Gender : Male

Carl Sklover

Character Name : Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Carl Sklover

Gender : Male

Emmett Smith

Character Name : Ring Second (uncredited)

Original Name : Emmett Smith

Gender : Male

Billy Snyder

Character Name : Fun Palace Barker (uncredited)

Original Name : Billy Snyder

Gender : Male

Ray Spiker

Character Name : Security Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Spiker

Gender : Male

Harold J. Stone

Character Name : Ringside observer (uncredited)

Original Name : Harold J. Stone

Gender : Male

Jack Stoney

Character Name : Nelson's Second (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Stoney

Gender : Male

Brick Sullivan

Character Name : Fight Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Brick Sullivan

Gender : Male

Harry Tenbrook

Character Name : Fight Spectator Behind the Glutton (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Tenbrook

Gender : Male

Charles Wagenheim

Character Name : Hamburger Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Wagenheim

Gender : Male

Constance Worth

Character Name : Wife (uncredited)

Original Name : Constance Worth

Gender : Female

Phil Bloom

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Phil Bloom

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Don't you see Bill? You are always just one punch away. The Set-Up is directed by Robert Wise and stars Robert Ryan & Audrey Totter. The screenplay was adapted by Art Cohn from a 1928 poem written by Joseph Moncure March. The story (played out in real time) sees Ryan as Stoker Thompson, a 35 year old nearly washed up boxer still trundling around the circuit believing he's still got what it takes to become a champ. In spite of pleas from his fretful wife, Julie (Totter), Stoker gets in the ring with Tiger Nelson (Hal Baylor), a man 12 years younger. Unbeknownst to Stoker, though, his manager Tiny (George Tobias) has struck a deal with underworld gangster Little Boy (Alan Baxter on prime sweaty and icy form) for him to take a dive and let Nelson win. What first struck me the most watching this was just how vile everyone apart from the boxers are. The fighters are actually the only ones with honesty and integrity running through their veins. These guys are the ones with the self respect being a chief issue for them, they are fighting not just for glory, but for a basic human trait. The first half of the film puts us in the boxers changing room as the fighters wait to go out into the ring. Here we see the number of noble pugilists stripped back to reveal either their fears or their blind beliefs - while they in turn wait to see who comes back victorious or defeated. As they chat amongst themselves the atmosphere is palpable and Wise excellently uses cutaways to the excitable and blood thirsty crowd. The impact is to that of a gladiatorial arena and shows the sport to be seedy yet utterly beguiling at the same time. Then it's on to Stoker's fight where Ryan is terrific (he actually boxed for College for 4 years). Thompson is a character so stand up, yet driven by foolish pride, it puts Stallone's Rocky Balboa firmly in the shade, his whole "just one punch away" mantra is truly wonderful and heartfelt and leads to one of those endings that are frustratingly brilliant in its bittersweet closure. The whole fight with Nelson has a beautiful fluidity about it (former pro boxer John Indrisano choreographed it), with Milton R. Krasner's photography keeping it grim and humanistic - both in the ring and out on the darkly lit L.A. streets as Totter's conflicted wife ponders a potential battering for her stoic husband. Boosted up by a towering performance from Ryan, and dripping with a film noir sense of desolation, The Set-Up is a simple but powerful boxing gem. A film that gets down to the nitty-gritty of the fighters and the seedy people that surround them. 9/10