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The Set-Up (1949)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 6
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 1

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Release Date: Jan 1, 1949 Wide

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Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 1,589

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Movie Info

As shown by the clock face that opens and closes the film, The Set-Up takes place within a compact 72 minutes, with the action played out in "real time." Robert Ryan plays Bill "Stoker" Thompson, a washed-up boxer who refuses to give up his career despite the pleas of his wife Julie (Audrey Totter). There's little chance that he's going to win this evening's bout; still, Stoker's manager Tiny (George Tobias) has secretly made a deal with a crooked gambler (Alan Baxter). Stoker is to take a dive,

Unrated, 1 hr. 12 min.

Drama, Art House & International, Classics

Directed By: Robert Wise

Written By: Art Cohn

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1949 Wide

On DVD: Jul 6, 2004

Cast

Robert Ryan
Bill "Stoker" Thompson
Audrey Totter
Julie Thompson
George Tobias
Tiny
Alan Baxter
Little Boy
Wallace Ford
Gus
Percy Helton
Red
Hal Fieberling
Tiger Nelson
Darryl Hickman
Shanley
Kenny O'Morrison
Moore
James Edwards
Luther Hawkins
David Clarke
Gunboat Johnson
Phillip Pine
Tony Souza
Edwin Max
Danny
Herbert Anderson
Husband
Helen Brown
Wife
John K. Butler
Man
Abe Dinovitch
Ring Caller
Paul Dubov
Gambler
Bernard Gorcey
Tobacco Man
William E. Green
Doctor
Donald Kerr
Man
Jess Kirkpatrick
Gambler
Tony Merrill
Man
Lynne Millan
Bunny
Harry Everett Smith
Man
Billy Snyder
Barker
Charles Sullivan
Man
Ralph Volkie
Man
Charles Wagenheim
Hamburger Man
Constance Worth
Wife
Frank Mills
Photographer
Brian O'Hara
Man
Tommy Noonan
Man
Arthur Sullivan
Handler
Dan Foster
Man
Michael Lally
Handler
W.J. O'Brien
Pitchman
Al Rhein
Man
Sammy Shack
Man
Carl Sklover
Man
Jack Stoney
Nelson's Second
Herman Boden
Ruth Brennan
Woman
Lillian Castle
Kid Chissel
Handler
Gene Delmont
Handler
Walter Ridge
Manager
Dwight Martin
Glutton
Dave Fresco
Mickey
Frank Richards
Bat
Jack Raymond
Husband

Critic Reviews for The Set-Up

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (1) | DVD (7)

Its boilerplate fatalism undone by overbearing moralizing and the fact that Ryan's boxer is too one-dimensionally good to register as tragic.

May 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

This is one of the top boxing films ever made, along with Raging Bull and Body and Soul.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for The Set-Up

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this film is TIGHT.

March 29, 2007

Bob Stinson

Super Reviewer

Playing in real time, The Set-Up is the story of a washed up prizefighter looking for one last shot at glory. According to IMDb, the screenplay was actually based on a poem about a black boxer named Pansy Jones. The author, Joseph March, was reportedly unhappy about his character being changed to Stoker Thompson, a

December 28, 2008

Randy Tippy

Super Reviewer

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