Hard Times (1975)

	Directed by: Walter Hill	COUNTRY USA GENRE Action/Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Harde tider RUNNING TIME 93 minutes
	Produced by: Lawrence Gordon
	Written by: Walter Hill Bryan Gindoff Bruce Henstell

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Chaney	Charles Bronson	½
Spencer "Speed" Weed	James Coburn
Lucy Simpson	Jill Ireland	½
Poe	Strother Martin
Gayleen Schoonover	Margaret Blye	-
Chick Gandil	Michael McGuire
Le Beau	Felice Orlandi	-
Pettibone	Edward Walsh	-
Doty	Bruce Glover	-
Jim Henry	Robert Tessier

Review

After making a name for himself as one of Hollywood's hottest new screenwriters, Walter Hill made his directorial debut with this atmospheric and amiable film about bare-knuckle fighting during the Great Depression. Charles Bronson had by now adopted his laconic, understated acting style, and although his character here comes across as more dull than enigmatic, the actor's physique and movement certainly warranted his casting as a fighting champion, despite his advancing age. The real thrill of Hard Times, however, is not the fights themselves, but the build-up to them and all the wheeling-and-dealing behind the scenes between various characters who are more or less desperate to make a buck. James Coburn plays Bronson's impresario of sorts, a guy who sets up fights and hopes to make enough money from them to appease his woman and keep his gambling problem going. He's in essence a tragic figure, but Coburn gives him the sort of life and spunk to make you root for him – or at least sympathise with him. As their venture takes them through various successes and setbacks, Hill's main accomplishment is the world he creates around his characters and welcomes you into: an arduous, destitute and dangerous, but nevertheless hopeful and warm world that is genuinely enjoyable to spend 90 minutes in.