THE SET UP 1949 (WARNERS)

A great film noir set in real time.

Director Robert Wise takes us into a very dark world of boxing.

Robert Ryan stars as Stoler, a washed up boxer who is desperate to make one last try at gaining a title match. He long suffering wife, Julie (Audrey Totter) is hoping he will retire and have a much simpler and better life with her.

Stoker gets in the ring with a much younger opponent and has a great fight but his manager hasn't told him that gangsters want the fight fixed and that he has to take a fall.

Stoker gives it his all and he actually beats the young man, which sets the wheels in motion for the gangsters to get even.

After the match is over, Little Boy (Alan Baxter) and his men beat the hell out of Stoker in an alley behind the boxing palace and Stoker desperately tries to get back to his wife.

That's the story in a nutshell, but as I mentioned, it's done in real time. This means that the film which runs 72 minutes, actually takes place on screen in 72 minutes as well.

The cast is top notch and also includes George Tobias, Wallace Ford, and Percy Hilton. This is a gritty and nasty of a film noir as you are likely to see and one that comes highly recommended!!