The Harder They Fall (1956)
Jobless sportswriter Eddie Willis is hired by corrupt fight promoter Nick Benko to promote his current protégé, an unknown Argentinian boxer named Toro Moreno. Although Moreno is a hulking giant, his chances for success are hampered by a powder-puff punch and a glass jaw. Exploiting Willis' reputation for integrity and standing in the boxing community, Benko arranges a series of fixed fights that propel the unsophisticated Moreno to #1 contender for the championship. The reigning champ, the sadistic Buddy Brannen, harbors resentment at the publicity Toro has been receiving and vows to viciously punish him in the ring. Eddie must now decide whether or not to tell the naive Toro the truth.
Directed by: Mark Robson
Top Billed Cast: Matty Fain, Abel Fernandez, Joseph La Cava
Runtime: 109 minutes
Full Cast List ▾
Humphrey Bogart
Eddie Willis
Rod Steiger
Nick Benko
Jan Sterling
Beth Willis
Mike Lane
Toro Moreno
Max Baer
Buddy Brannen
Jersey Joe Walcott
George
Edward Andrews
Jim Weyerhause
Harold J. Stone
Art Leavitt, TV sportscaster
Carlos Montalbán
Luís Agrandi
Nehemiah Persoff
Leo
Felice Orlandi
Vince Fawcett
Herbie Faye
Max
Rusty Lane
Danny McKeogh
Jack Albertson
Pop
Paul Frees
Priest (uncredited)
William Henry
Fight Arena Locker Room Guard (uncredited)
Frank McLure
Reporter at Hospital (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien
Ringsider (uncredited)
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Bert Stevens
Fight Crowd Spectator (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey
Fight Crowd Spectator (uncredited)
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Brandon Beach
Party Guest (uncredited)
Joanne Arnold
Pretty Girl (uncredited)
Val Avery
Frank (uncredited)
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Al Baffert
Fighter (uncredited)
Bill Baldwin
Oklahoma City Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Walter Baldwin
Boxing fan at Dundee fight (uncredited)
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Emily Belser
New York Reporter (uncredited)
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Julie Benedic
Statuesque Blonde (uncredited)
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Phil Berger
Boxer Kayoed in Bakersfield (uncredited)
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Eve Bernhardt
Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
Tony Blankley
Benko Son (uncredited)
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Penny Carpenter
Benko Daughter (uncredited)
Marian Carr
Alice (uncredited)
Steve Carruthers
Reporter (uncredited)
Tina Carver
Mrs. Benko (uncredited)
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Edwin Chandler
Chicago Television Announcer (uncredited)
