The Harder They Fall (1956)

A sportswriter (Humphrey Bogart) joins forces with a corrupt boxing promoter (Rod Steiger). Together, they scheme to deceive a clumsy 7 foot giant (Mike Lane) and the public that he is a champion boxer by fixing a series of fights. Based on the novel by Budd Schulberg (WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN?) and directed by Mark Robson (VALLEY OF THE DOLLS). A nasty, gritty look at the corruption in the boxing game. In his final performance and already dying of cancer, Bogart is excellent though I couldn't help but think his character was too smart not to know how it would all end up. Surely he knew or at least suspected that he was in bed with a bunch of devious snakes that would never keep their promise. Other than that, it was a strong  film that pulled no punches. The striking B&W cinematography by Burnett Guffey (BONNIE AND CLYDE) received an Oscar nomination. With Jan Sterling, Nehemiah Persoff, Edward Andrews, Harold J. Stone, Max Baer, Felice Orlandi and Carlos Montalban.