The Set-Up
by Robert Wise
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DVD details
Actor: Alan Baxter, Audrey Totter, George Tobias, Robert Ryan, Wallace FordDirector: Robert Wise
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: Milton R. Krasner
Editor: Roland Gross
Producer: Dore Schary
Producer: Richard Goldstone
Writer: Art Cohn
Writer: Joseph Moncure March
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 73 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-07-06
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Turner Home Ent
DVD Reviews of The Set-Up
DVD Review: Real time boxing film
Summary: 3 Stars
The Set Up has a great cast, especially the supporting players, and is directed by Robert Wise, a man who went on to win the Oscar two times.
The Wise connection is particularly interesting, as this film deals with betrayal and Wise himself had been involved in one of the biggest betrayals in film history - the editing (some would say "butchering") of "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1942). Orson Welles was stuck in Rio making a film for Rockefeller and the government and left explicit instructions to his editor Wise as to how to cut the film. RKO was upset and asked Wise to re-cut the film and also to shoot some additional scenes. Wise agreed, advanced his career and became a director ("Curse of the Cat People" in 1944 was his first directing job), and what may have been the equal to "Citizen Kane" was lost forever. Welles never forgave Wise.
His real life betrayal of Welles parallels the story in "The Set Up" where a boxer's Manager and Corner man betray the boxer to a bunch of gamblers (translated to producers) and the gamblers eventually punish the boxer (translate to refuse to bankroll his films).
Leaving aside the Wise connection, the film is one of the first "real time" dramas, made all the more obvious by Wise's constant use of watches and clocks. Wise is pretty heavy handed with his symbolism, and more would have been less.
Robert Ryan stars as the ill fated boxer. He made nearly 100 films between 1940 and 1973. In his early years he often played a villain especially in film noir dramas ("Crossfire", "Act of Violence") then transitioned into the tough guy with a good heart role ("On Dangerous Ground"). My personal favorite Ryan role is Deke Thornton in "The Wild Bunch" (1969).
Audrey Trotter plays his long suffering wife. Trotter was a staple of 40s film noir with appearances in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1946), "Lady in the Lake" (1947), and "Alias Nick Beal" (1949). She transitioned to TV in the 50s and appeared in several series ("Medical Center", "Our Man Higgins"). Although she was usually the rough talking type, in this film she shows a much sweeter side.
The supporting cast is excellent and there are a plethora of first rate actors on display, even if only briefly - George Tobias, Percy Helton, Wallace Ford, James Edwards. Darryl Hickman, Alan Baxter.
- George Tobias (1901-80) plays Ryan's manager. We know him best as Samantha's neighbor in "Bewitched". He appeared in more than 50 films including "The Strawberry Blonde" (1941), "Sergeant York" (1941), "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942), "Passage to Marseille" (1944), and "The Seven Foys" (1955).
- Percy Helton (1894-1971) plays the corner man. You won't recognize his name, but his small stature and his weasel like appearance and voice will be all too familiar to you. He appeared in more than 200 film and TV shows, usually in a scene or too, with a small talking part. He's best remembered for his role as the drunken Santa Claus in "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947) but I remember him best for his role as the shop keeper in "The Sons of Katie Elder" (1965). He had a full career playing mostly in TV westerns like Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Wild Wild West, etc. He had a recurring role as Homer Cratchit in "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1968-9).
- Wallace Ford (1989-1966) plays a trainer. Ford appeared in over 200 films from 1930 to 1965, often as a comic foil. He did 5 films for John Ford including "They Were Expendable" (1945) and "The Last Hurrah" (1958). He was nominated for a Golden Laurel in 1965 for "A Patch of Blue", his last film.
- James Edwards (1918-70) plays a fighter. This was his screen debut. Edwards is best remembered for his outstanding performance as the shell shocked soldier in "Home of the Brave" (1949). He made nearly 50 films from 1949 to 1972, and was active on TV with recurring roles on "Dr Kildare" (1965) and "Burke's Law" (1966).
- Darryl Hickman (1931) plays a young fighter. We know him best from "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959-63) that starred his younger brother, Dwayne. He was a child actor in films like "Grapes of Wrath" (1940) and "Men of Boys Town" (1941) and made 100 films before he turned 21. As with many child actors, he found the transition to adult roles difficult and went into coaching.
- Baby faced Alan Baxter (1908-76) plays the gambler. He specialized in playing villains in films like "Parole" (1936), "Each Dawn I Die" (1939), and "Escape to Glory" (1940). I remember him best in Hitchcock's "Saboteur" (1942) as the Nazi spy Freeman.
- Tiny Bernard Gorcey (1886-1955) has a brief appearance as a newsstand owner. He's best known as the father of Leo Gorcey of "Bowery Boys" fame. Bernie made 55 films, most of them with his son Leo, playing Louis Dumbrowsky.
The fighting scenes are reasonably long for a fight movie. If I'm not mistaken, Ryan appears to be pulling his punches. This is most notable when you see shots of his back as he punches. In the pantheon of boxing movies, "Champion" (1949) was made the same year and is clearly superior. Even "Body and Soul" (1947) has to get the nod. Any mention of boxing films would be negligent if it didn't list the classics, such as "Rocky" (1976), "Cinderella Man" (2005), "Raging Bull" (1980), and "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1962).
What I like about this film, in contrast to most of the other boxing films, is that this film focuses on an aging boxer in the back streets of boxing. Most boxing films feature world class boxing and championship matches. Here we have the fourth card in a small town with boxers who are far from Broadway lights.
The film is also notable for the use of brief shots of various participants, a technique that Wise copied from his mentor Welles who used it in "Magnificent Ambersons" and "Lady from Shanghai", to mention a few.
The film has many film noir elements, but is not truly a film noir as many reviewers state.
This film was part of RKO's "poverty row" productions - films made quickly and on a low budget. As such the production values are comical.
All things considered the film is OK. Its biggest virtue is the cast of supporting actors, a good performance from Robert Ryan, and the chance to see Audrey Trotter as a supportive and caring wife. It's also interesting to view the seedy side of small time boxing which is rarely glimpsed.
Description of The Set-Up
Over-the-hill boxer Stoker Thompson thinks he can still win a bout despite doubts from his wife and his manager. He goes into his next fight determined to beat his opponent not realizing his manager has taken money from a tough gambler for having Stoker take a dive. Played out in real time.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 053939674828Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
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