Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jill Ireland

Walter Hill's colorful directorial debut has quite a cult following for its toughness and violence; it may well be his best film, in fact. Charles Bronson plays a silent street fighter in New Orleans...( read more  read more... ) in the '30s managed by the cool James Coburn. Jill Ireland, Strother Martin, and Michael McGuire costar in this spare existential Depression dirge. It owes a lot to its noir origins that Hill adores so much, yet there's something very fresh and vital about its subject and approach. That's really what made so many of these films from the '70s so endearing. An added bonus is the love and affection displayed by the real-life husband and wife team of Bronson and Ireland. --Bill Desowitz

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72% liked it

3,145 ratings

PG, 94 min.

Directed by: Walter Hill

Release Date: January 1, 1975

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001

Stats: 137 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (137)


  • August 5, 2009
    a gritty film about bare knuckle boxing in depression era new orleans. nice atmosphere, coburn is entertaining, and bronson is alright as long as he keeps his mouth shut. strother martin is interesting as the philosophical cut man
  • June 26, 2009
    I have very little to write about this film other than it is dull and boring and very one-dimensional, without much of a story at all.
  • October 13, 2008
    Bronson, Coburn directed by Walter Hill. Looks like it could have come from Peckinpah easily.
  • June 8, 2008
    Charles Bronson plays Chaney, a drifter who chances upon small time bare knuckle boxing manager James Coburn and they form a partnership to make some money in depression era New Orleans. A great sense of period in a similar vein to Bonnie And Clyde permeates this compelling stree...( read more)tfighting drama, directed with the usual no-nonsense approach of boy's own favourite and Peckinpah protege Walter Hill. To be sure, it's a veritable testosterone fest, but it's by no means your typical Van Damme style action nonsense. Bronson has never been better as the laconic fighter who sees his bouts as pure business; there's no malice in him and there's a total absence of the kind of glorification of violence you see in most boxing films. In this way it has far more in common with the likes of Raging Bull or On The Waterfront. Coburn is also excellent as the smart mouthed hustler he befriends and Jill Ireland's unsentimental love interest has never made the down at heel seem more glamorous. A simple but effective story that highlights Bronson's consummate badassery without the usual trashiness that accompanies most male-orientated tough guy films and easily one of Hill's best moments.
  • May 30, 2007
    three stars for charles bronson and james coburn who do some very good acting. some good fight scenes too! very enjoyable
  • September 18, 2009
    Bought it and watched it this week.Funky movie. Bronson is the boxer who needs money, and will be out of town as soon as he has the cash and Coburn is the manager, who wants to make some money off of him, in the process. Good stuff
  • September 5, 2009
    Charles Bronson fighting for money in Depression era New Orleans. Pretty cool, but nothing too special. Bronson is one of the few actors who I?ve ever bought as a legit tough guy, so that helps it a little.
  • August 7, 2009
    i heard people cheered in theaters when bronson and tessier originally knocked the fuck out of each other. i know i did.
  • July 19, 2009
    Charles Bronson is great the orginal tuff guy at his best
  • May 7, 2009
    The greatest Bronson film. A real mans movie.

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