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atmosphere of an ill-ventilated smalltime arena and the ringside types who work themselves into a savage frenzy have been put on the screen in harsh, realistic terms. And the great expectations and shattered hopes which are the drama of the dressing room also have been brought to vivid, throbbing life in the shrewd direction of Robert Wise and the understanding, colloquial dialogue written into the script by
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release of the film, Robert Wise attributes the change in the protagonist's race to the fact that RKO had no star black actors under contract. Although the film did have a black actor (James
Edwards) in a minor role as another boxer, Edwards was not considered a star under the existing studio rules.
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Stoker and Julie passionately debate whether he should participate in the fight. Julie tells him that she has a headache and won't attend. Stoker says that winning tonight's fight might let him "get a top spot" in his next fight, a fight which might pay him $ 500 or $ 600. A $ 500 prize could allow
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This is no ordinary feature dealing with winner take all. It is about as non-American as a picture can be from a sports standpoint. ... film is not for sensitive souls but it will make those who see it think—about what the fight game is all about. Ryan scores terrifically. He is so dominant in his
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This RKO production ... is a sizzling melodrama. The men who made it have nothing good to say about the sordid phase of the business under examination and their roving, revealing camera paints an even blacker picture of the type of fight fan who revels in sheer brutality. The sweaty, stale-smoke
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The screen adaptation included a number of alterations to the original text. The protagonist's name was changed from Pansy Jones to Stoker
Thompson, his race was changed from black to white, he went from being a bigamist to being devotedly married and his beating and subsequent death on a subway
286:
Stoker wins the vocal support of blood-thirsty fans who had at first rooted against him. He eventually defeats Nelson. Stoker pays for his decision with a beating in an alley outside the arena. The group irreparably damages Stoker's hand by smashing it with a brick.
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At the beginning of the fourth round of what is a vicious match with the much younger and heavily favored Tiger Nelson, Stoker learns about the fix. Even though he is told that Little Boy, a feared gangster, is behind the set-up, he refuses to give up the fight.
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ot only away the mainspring of the story, they evaded the whole basic issue of discrimination against the Negro... Hollywood's attitude to the Negro in films has been dictated all too often by box-office considerations: they are afraid of losing money in the
267:, opponent called Tiger Nelson, at the Paradise City Arena. His wife, Julie, fears that this fight may be his last and wants him to forfeit the match. Tiny, Stoker's manager, is sure he will continue to lose fights, so he takes money for a "
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In 1947, almost two decades after March's poem was published, RKO paid him approximately $ 1,000 for the rights. Although March had nearly a decade of
Hollywood writing credits during the 1930s, RKO did not ask him to adapt the poem.
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them to buy a cigar stand or invest in another boxer, Tony
Martinez, and start a new life. Julie says she cares more about his well-being than money, but Stoker responds: "If you're a fighter, you gotta fight."
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After Stoker departs for the arena, Julie continues to struggle with her fear and desire to support him. Ultimately she doesn't use her ticket to the event, and instead roams the streets surrounding the arena.
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Stoker staggers out of the alley and collapses into Julie's arms. "I won tonight," he tells her, both of them realizing he can never fight again. "Yes," she answers. "You won tonight. We both won tonight."
524:. Wise used three cameras to capture the action: one focused on the ring in its entirety, one on the fighters and a third hand-held device to catch details such as a glove connecting with a body.
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9:35 pm: Julie paces with indecision, takes her ticket to the event, and leaves their room. Stoker sees the lights extinguished from across the street and believes that she will be at the match.
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was not significantly weakened by the deleted sequences. Later in the month, RKO and United
Artists settled out of court when United Artists agreed to remove 101 feet of film from
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The fight scene, which features an exchange of blows between Stoker and his opponent that is very close to the original poem, was choreographed by former professional boxer
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because he was working as a director for the studio when the film was produced, although he did not work on the film itself. In response, in March 1949, RKO rushed
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portrayal, so excellent and so real that he sometimes seems almost alone in the screen unfoldment. This is the kind of effort that should bid for an
Academy Award.
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578:. In early May, a judge recommended that specific scenes be removed and that the resulting film should then be reviewed by the court to confirm that
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The film opened in 13 key markets and grossed $ 245,000 for the week, becoming the top film in the United States for two weeks.
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track was changed to an alley assault and a shattered hand. The opponent's name was changed from Sailor Gray to Tiger Nelson.
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10:10 pm: Having returned to the room, Julie warms soup on the stove while Stoker is beaten in an alley across the street.
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in federal court for $ 500,000 in damages and petitioned for an injunction to halt the release of
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10:16 pm: The long shot of the clock and the town square returns for the closing sequence.
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refused, saying "Blondell looks like she was shot out of the wrong end of a cannon now."
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Bill "Stoker" Thompson, a 35-year-old has-been boxer, is about to take on a 23-year old,
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Robert Ryan, who was cast as Stoker
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538:(1949) before its release and noticed troubling similarities between the film and
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601:(1948). The case was resolved when United Artists agreed to remove a scene from
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633:. ... 'The Set-Up' is a real dilly for those who go for muscular entertainment.
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Schallert, Edwin (1949-03-31). "Ryan Packs
Terrific Wallop as 'Set-Up' Star".
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Brady, Thomas F. (1949-05-07). "Theda Bara Movie Goes to
Columbia".
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9:05 pm: The opening sequence features a clock in the town's square.
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Brady, Thomas F. (1949-05-21). "Brackett Named New 'Oscar' Chief".
695:: BAFTA Film Award, Best Film from Any Source, United States; 1950.
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511:, Richard Goldstone's production credits had been limited to six
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Brady, Thomas (1949-03-15). "RKO and UA Rush New Fight Movies".
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Gilbert, George (March 23, 1949). "Film Reviews: The Set-Up".
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to play Julie following her performance as Zeena Krumbein in
853:. Jackson: University Press of Mississippiy. p. 144.
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Pryor, Thomas M. (1949-03-30). "The Screen in Review".
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Joseph Moncure March: Poem Noir Becomes Prizefight Film
379:(New York photographer) has a cameo as the timekeeper
484:. The passage of time is shown throughout the film:
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886:Brady, Thomas F. (1949-03-27). "Producers Feud".
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407:In an audio commentary accompanying the 2004
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1021:. April 13, 1949. p. 5 – via
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997:. April 6, 1949. p. 3 – via
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806:Wise, Robert (Director) (6 July 2004).
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847:Kennedy, Matthew (28 September 2009).
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787:film review; March 26, 1949, page 50.
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494:9:17 pm: Stoker leaves for the fight.
491:9:11 pm: An alarm clock wakes Stoker.
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1574:English-language sports drama films
532:RKO Pictures was permitted to view
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850:Joan Blondell a life between takes
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810:(Motion picture). Warner Studios.
235:. The screenplay was adapted by
1037:"Festival de Cannes: The Set-Up"
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624:, critic Thomas M. Pryor wrote:
251:was the last film Wise made for
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637:Critic Edwin Schallert of the
562:, had access to material from
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1559:Films directed by Robert Wise
1475:Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1275:The Day the Earth Stood Still
892:. p. 5 (Screen section).
823:"The Actor Who Knew Too Much"
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618:In a contemporary review for
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1544:1940s English-language films
1071:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
808:Audio Commentary: The Set-Up
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412:March later commented in an
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1539:American sports drama films
1267:The House on Telegraph Hill
1179:The Curse of the Cat People
1013:"National Boxoffice Survey"
989:"National Boxoffice Survey"
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595:(1943) and United Artists'
19:For the original poem, see
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1347:Somebody Up There Likes Me
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827:Dartmouth Alumni Magazine
682:Prize, Robert Wise; 1949.
672:1949 Cannes Film Festival
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349:Kenny O'Morrison as Moore
304:as Bill "Stoker" Thompson
223:boxing drama directed by
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44:Theatrical release poster
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23:. For the 2011 film, see
1524:1940s sports drama films
171:March 29, 1949
16:1949 film by Robert Wise
1355:This Could Be the Night
1291:Something for the Birds
977:. p. 12, Part III.
674:: Best Cinematography,
294:
258:
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377:Arthur 'Weegee' Fellig
1534:American boxing films
1387:Odds Against Tomorrow
645:
1569:1940s American films
1554:Films based on poems
1443:The Andromeda Strain
1371:Run Silent, Run Deep
1339:Tribute to a Bad Man
706:List of boxing films
361:as "Gunboat" Johnson
245:Joseph Moncure March
179: (United States)
83:Joseph Moncure March
1041:festival-cannes.com
554:. RKO alleged that
476:narrative structure
418:interview, saying:
219:is a 1949 American
1564:RKO Pictures films
1419:The Sound of Music
1403:Two for the Seesaw
1165:Films directed by
1105:TCM Movie Database
957:The New York Times
940:The New York Times
923:The New York Times
906:The New York Times
889:The New York Times
784:Harrison's Reports
747:2012-12-15 at the
621:The New York Times
558:, the director of
546:, the producer of
157:RKO Radio Pictures
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1500:
1491:A Storm in Summer
1235:Blood on the Moon
1227:Mystery in Mexico
1195:The Body Snatcher
1187:Mademoiselle Fifi
974:Los Angeles Times
754:The Hudson Review
676:Milton R. Krasner
640:Los Angeles Times
614:Critical response
433:Dartmouth College
371:Edwin Max (actor)
355:as Luther Hawkins
340:as "Tiger" Nelson
310:as Julie Thompson
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127:Milton R. Krasner
92:Richard Goldstone
75:The Set-Up (poem)
25:Setup (2011 film)
21:The Set-Up (poem)
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1427:The Sand Pebbles
1299:Destination Gobi
1283:The Captive City
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164:Release date
137:Roland Gross
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1467:Audrey Rose
1167:Robert Wise
1023:Archive.org
999:Archive.org
556:Mark Robson
465:Dore Schary
320:Alan Baxter
302:Robert Ryan
229:Robert Ryan
225:Robert Wise
104:Robert Ryan
89:Produced by
54:Robert Wise
50:Directed by
1514:1949 films
1508:Categories
1451:Two People
1243:The Set-Up
1123:The Set-Up
1111:The Set-Up
1100:The Set-Up
1089:The Set-Up
1078:The Set-Up
1065:The Set-Up
1046:2023-11-17
821:Burr, Ty.
712:References
653:Box office
592:The Outlaw
568:The Set-Up
564:The Set-Up
509:The Set-Up
440:Sid Rogell
398:Production
385:Background
346:as Shanley
249:The Set-Up
216:The Set-Up
192:72 minutes
175:1949-03-29
33:The Set-Up
1549:Film noir
687:Nominated
609:Reception
603:Red River
598:Red River
540:The Set-U
481:High Noon
473:real-time
438:Wise and
221:film noir
133:Edited by
79:1928 poem
1483:Rooftops
1094:AllMovie
866:6 August
832:6 August
745:Archived
700:See also
680:FIPRESCI
631:Art Cohn
584:Champion
580:Champion
576:Champion
572:Champion
560:Champion
552:Champion
548:Champion
535:Champion
514:Our Gang
373:as Danny
237:Art Cohn
205:Language
143:Music by
97:Starring
70:Based on
64:Art Cohn
1130:YouTube
1103:at the
1068:at the
1018:Variety
994:Variety
769:Variety
507:Before
460:Filming
442:wanted
403:Casting
316:as Tiny
208:English
197:Country
173: (
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1454:(1973)
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1315:So Big
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661:Awards
643:wrote:
334:as Red
328:as Gus
1435:Star!
751:from
415:Ebony
239:from
1083:IMDb
868:2015
855:ISBN
834:2015
666:Wins
295:Cast
269:dive
259:Plot
231:and
1128:on
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469:MGM
409:DVD
253:RKO
243:by
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