The Set-Up
Director: Robert Wise
Year Released: 1949
Rating: 3.0
Tough-as-nails little boxing picture that caught Martin Scorsese's eye and was a major influence on his making Raging Bull (as homage, he provides commentary on the DVD). The first act plays out a little awkwardly - it's based on a poem by Joseph Moncure March (who also wrote The Wild Party), so the other boxers in the locker room come across as hulking, sweaty philosophers - but it gets significantly better as it progresses, with the in-court boxing match looking more like a battle for survival than a sport (boxing itself is hardly glorified - the fighters' eyes suggest terror rather than pleasure). Robert Ryan is perfectly cast as the lead boxer, and looked to be in astounding physical condition for the role.
