Where to watch Hard Times online

Storyline

In the depression, Chaney, a strong silent streetfighter, joins with Speed, a promoter of no-holds-barred street boxing bouts. They go to New Orleans where Speed borrows money to set up fights for Chaney, but Speed gambles away any winnings.

Released

1975-08-13
Revenue

$5,000,000
Budget

$2,700,000
Runtime

1hr 33m
Genre

Drama, Action, Crime
Status

Released
Language

English
7.2
Production

Columbia Pictures, Claridge Productions, Major Studio Partners

Crew

Walter Hill

Director

Walter Hill

Screenplay

Lawrence Gordon

Producer

Keywords:

martial arts sports bare knuckle boxing gangster new orleans, louisiana louisiana great depression street fighter fighting illegal fistfight streetfighting prizefight neo-noir boxing 1930s action hero

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Cast

Charles Bronson

Chaney

James Coburn

Spencer "Speed" Weed

Jill Ireland

Lucy Simpson

Strother Martin

Poe

Margaret Blye

Gayleen Schoonover

Michael McGuire

Gandil

Felice Orlandi

Le Beau

Edward Walsh

Pettibon

Bruce Glover

Doty

Robert Tessier

Jim Henry

Nick Dimitri

Street

Frank McRae

Hammerman

Maurice Kowalewski

Caesare

Naomi Stevens

Madam

Lyla Hay Owen

Waitress

John Creamer

Apartment Manager

Robert Castleberry

Counterman

Becky Allen

Poe's Date

Joan Kleven

Carol

Anne Welsch

Secretary

Fred Lerner

Caesare's Hitter

Jimmy Nickerson

Barge Fighter

Chuck Hicks

Speed's Hitter

Walter Scott

Pool Player

Max Kleven

Pool Player

Valerian Smith

Handler

Bob Minor

Zack

Larry Martindale

Driver

Charles W. Schaefer Jr.

Card Player

Leslie Bonano

Card Player

Ronnie Philips

Cajun Fighter

Ron Centanni

Fight Spectator (uncredited)

M.C. Gainey

Party Guest at Mansion (uncredited)

Brion James

Man (uncredited)

Laura Misch Owens

Prostitute (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Hard Times

A Review by ky1958

Written by ky1958 on 2017-02-20

Another great Walter Hill film with a strong cast. Bronson, Coburn, and Martin are all favorites of mine. A depression-era street fighter ho... read more

A Review by John Chard 8

Written by John Chard on 2019-05-30

You're not going to do it for free. Hard Times sees Charles Bronson play Chaney, a drifter who travels to Louisiana during the Great De... read more

You're not going to do it for free. Hard Times sees Charles Bronson play Chaney, a drifter who travels to Louisiana during the Great Depression and begins competing in illegal bare-knuckled boxing matches that are set up by his new found partner Spencer 'Speed' Weed (James Coburn). Directed by Walter Hill on his directorial debut & produced by Lawrence Gordon, the film also stars Jill Ireland, Strother Martin, Margaret Blye, Michael McGuire & Robert Tessier. Hard Times, if you pardon the pun, pulls no punches, it's tightly scripted (Walter Hill in conjunction with Bryan Gindoff & Bruce Henstell) and thankfully doesn't get moralistic and didactic on the depression and hard times era in general. This features tough men earning a living, the respect is there, but it is brutal, with the violence on show very effective. It may be too strong for some, but Hill has pulled it together astutely to make sure we know these are masters of their craft during a very troubling time in history. It is by definition, an honest living for our pugilists. The bitterness that is here is reserved for those outside of the fight floor, as Chaney observes a bear in a cage as it roars in almost anguish, that whole scene then says so much without Bronson's Chaney actually uttering anything. To which it sounds weird to call Hard Times an evocative period piece, but it is. The locations are perfect for the story unfolding, kind of acting as a rich counter point to the violence played out amongst the men. The land worth fighting for perhaps? Tough and with no little bite, the film benefits from having Bronson as the lead. Yes, Coburn takes the honours for acting gravitas, but Bronson keeps Chaney enigmatically interesting. Chaney is loyal and has the potential for love. We know next to nothing about him, but such is the restraint that Bronson shows in the portrayal, we are grateful to not have had back story filler to bog the story down. This is about this point in a man's journey and in particular the next phase of that journey, one which we, thanks to Bronson, are personally involved with. It's a great understated performance from Mr. Buchinsky. Jill Ireland too is excellent with a touching performance as the down-and-out girl who captures Chaney's attention, while Strother Martin is ever reliable as a dope addict forced to work unlicensed as a medic who Speed has brought in as Chaney's cuts and bruises guy. A smashing and undervalued 70s movie that takes this part of history and refuses to entertain by basking in histrionics and parable's for the masses. Blood, brains and brawn cloaked in an evocative cloud of hope. 8/10

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)

A Review by ky1958

Another great Walter Hill film with a strong cast. Bronson, Coburn, and Martin are all favorites of mine. A depression-era street fighter hooks up with a compulsive gambler and a morphine addict. I've watched it multiple times over it's 40 ...

A Review by ky1958

Written by ky1958 on 2017-02-20

A Review by John Chard 8

Written by John Chard on 2019-05-30

You're not going to do it for free. Hard Times sees Charles Bronson play Chaney, a drifter who travels to Louisiana during the Great Depression and begins competing in illegal bare-knuckled boxin...