WE HAVE JUST finished this great and largely under-appreciated film from RKO RADIO Pictures (1949). Once again, we didn't even realize that it has somehow evaded our attentions in writing our impressions of it. But, better late than never, her it (finally) is.MUCH LIKE THE greatly hailed and appreciated at the old bottom line of the Box Office, HIGH NOON (1952), the story is presented in a real time fashion; or at least what is a reasonable facsimile there of. If it wasn't exactly real time, you'd never know it with all of those clocks everywhere. (That goes for both HIGH NOON and THE SER-UP, Schultz!) AS FOR THIS business of using real time in the unfolding of the screen story, it's probable that it was used by some obscure writer/producer/director countless years earlier. We do know, however, that THE SET-UP predates HIGH NOON by some three or so years. Ergo, it is safe to say that this RKO noir piece may well have influenced that Gary Cooper "modern" Western.BUT, AS USUAL, we digress and must get right to today's honored reviewee! (DRUM ROLL!! FANFARE!!) THAT THE PROTAGONIST in the story, Stoker Thompson (Robert Ryan) is a boxer who is definitely over the hill is just one aspect of the story. Marriage problems plague this grizzled, veteran of the squared circle. His wife, Julie (Audrey Totter) is continuously growing tired of being the spouse of a professional gladiator.INSPITE OF HIS persistence of excessive pride, his manager, Tiny (George Tobias) has made a deal with some gambler to throw this his possible last hurrah in the ring. Not having delivered the fix, he is held responsible and receives a post-bout beating at the hands of a four to one ratio. (Gambler + opponent + opponent's manager + henchman).THIS ELEMENT, ALTHOUGH also not original, could well have influenced Mr. Rod Serling when he penned REQUIAM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT. There is a certain similarity; but without being a case copy-catism.EVERYTHING IN THE film is meticulously designed, defined and constructed to add to the total effect. A seedy strip in a medium sized Eastern or Midwestern "Tank Town"* It is the street where amusement is the word of the day. Dance halls, tattoo parlors, bars, pool halls and the boxing/wrestling arena dominate the landscape.EVERYTHING LOOKS SEEDY and worn out. the small "Cozy" hotel is little better than a glorified flop-house. No where is there any "air conditioning." This leaves us with the characterization of the people.EACH OF THE characters examined provide us with a wealth of varying stories. We have young marrieds (including a young Herbert Anderson), gamblers, a blind man being clued in by a sighted friend and a veritable human eating machine. All are united by the desire to see just one thing. That being seeing someone being destroyed.THE PRODUCTION TEAM leaves us in the dark as to the final fate of the main character, Stoker and his wife. Just as we casually enter this world, we leave it with no signature film music; just a dark screen with those credited.OUR VERDICT IS this should be in your film library if not already.

Tense Noir picture dealing with boxing corruption and personal integrity . The movie takes place in real time concerning a big fight winds up to real tragedy , which turns out to be one of the best boxing movies of all time . Starred by Bill 'Stoker' Thompson (Robert Ryan in the title role playing one of his earliest characters as main star and he was a boxing champion while a student at college) as the has-been fighter as well as fiercely independent . He is an upright boxer who refuses to disregard his principles as he insists he can still win an important bout , though his beloved wife Julie (Joan Blondell was originally considered for the part of Thompson's wife before the part went to Audrey Totter as victimized spouse) pleads with him to quit . But his coach Tiny (George Tobias) is so confident he will lose , he takes money for a "set up" from gambler Little Boy (Alan Baxter) without bothering to tell Stoker . Suspense builds as Stoker hopes to win Tiger Nelson (Hal Baylor) , unaware of what will happen to him if he carries out .Deeply stirring as well as claustrophobic movie based on an interesting screenplay , it is a noir drama about boxing world with a honorable starring well personified by Robert Ryan and well drawn roles . Based upon a narrative poem published in 1928 by Joseph Moncure March, who gave up his job as the first managing editor of "The New Yorker" to devote himself to writing. One of the first films to be shot using the device of real time , in fact the film lasts the same length as the deeds it depicts. Other notable examples of this narrative device are High Noon (1952) and Nick of time (1995). Very good acting by Robert Ryan as an over-the-hill boxer , role who marked his illustrious career . Producers said they were willing to cast a black actor as the lead character , as it was originally written, but since there were no African-American leading actors in Hollywood at the time, he was obligated to switch the character to a white man . Main starring is supported by Hollywood's finest character actors such as George Tobias , Alan Baxter , Daryl Hickman and Wallace Ford , John Ford's brother. The violent boxing images shocked audiences of the 40s and still retains quite power nowadays. It's a grueling boxing tale with tough realism full of face-blistering, punch, knocks until ¨Raging Bull¨ surpassed it years later . In fact , Martin Scorsese is a big fan of the film and was so impressed by the boxing sequences that he had to deliberately avoid copying any of Robert Wise's camera tricks when it came his turn to make a boxing movie, Raging bull (1980). This results to be one of two boxing movies released in 1949 which are now considered seminal examples of the genre , the other films being Mark Robson's The champion (1949) and The harder they fall also directed by Robson . Dark cinematography in black and white plenty of of lights and shades by Milton R. Krasner . Atmospheric and appropriate production design by RKO's classic designer Albert D'Agostino.The motion picture was compellingly directed by Robert Wise and the shoot took twenty days . With this ¨The Set up¨, his ninth for RKO, Robert Wise fulfilled his contract with the studio and was able to go off and freelance for other studios . As he was a successful director of all kind genres as musical as ¨West side story¨, ¨The sound of music¨ , Sci-fi as ¨The day the earth stood still¨, ¨Star Trek : the motion picture ¨, ¨The Andromeda strain¨ , Terror as ¨The body snatchers¨ , ¨ Curse of the cat people¨, ¨Audrey Rose¨ , ¨The haunting¨ , Western as ¨Blood on the moon¨, ¨Tribute to a bad man¨, Epic or colossal as ¨Elen of Troy¨ and wartime as ¨The desert rats¨, ¨Run silent , run deep¨ , ¨Hinderburg¨ , ¨The sand pebbles¨ and this his best film : ¨The set up¨. Rating : Better than average . Worthwhile watching .

Robert Wise brings all of his filmmaking skill to this vivid depiction of those men who are experts of the "sweet science" of boxing. Its characters are entertaining and believable, and it refrains from any sort of melodrama, amping up the tension bit by bit. The audience will notice that it appears to unfold in "real time", as several shots settle on clocks. This is simply solid, compelling, no frills story telling (based on a 1928 poem by Joseph Moncure March), with efficient acting in every role, especially the legendary Robert Ryan in one of his best ever roles.He plays "Stoker" Thompson, a past-his-prime boxer at 35 whose record as of late hasn't been too impressive. Various unsavoury characters, including his own manager "Tiny" (George Tobias), are convinced enough that he'll lose his latest fight that they all bet against him. However, Stoker is confident that he can take his opponent (Hal Baylor), and when Tiny and corner man "Red" (Percy Helton) try to persuade him to take a dive, Stoker is determined to be a man of principle and go through this fight honestly. Meanwhile, Stokers' distraught wife Julie (an appealing Audrey Totter, herself no stranger to the film noir genre) just can't stand by anymore while her husband takes all manner of physical punishment.This tight, trim story (the movie runs a mere 73 minutes long) is focused and full of many sights and sounds, often cutting to the agitated people in the crowd, who clearly have their bloodlust boiling and are either cheering on Stoker or encouraging "Tiger" Nelson (Baylor) to wipe the floor with the older man. This goes a long way towards getting the viewer at home worked up as well. The ring action is exciting, and the finale is unbelievably tense, with a not necessarily "happy" ending. Also delivering fine performances are Alan Baxter as grim faced mobster "Little Boy", Edwin Max as his flunky Danny, Wallace Ford as Gus, Darryl Hickman as Shanley, James Edwards as Luther, and David Clarke as Gunboat.The film is a little too predictable in its outcome of the fight, but otherwise this is fine stuff and merits a viewing from any lover of boxing or the film noir genre.Eight out of 10.

Robert Wise directed this interesting boxing drama that stars Robert Ryan as Stoker Thompson, a veteran boxer who is up for one more big fight, though his wife Julie(played by Audrey Totter) wants him to quit. What Stoker doesn't know is that his manager(played by George Tobias) has bet against him in the bout, but hasn't bothered to tell him, so convinced is he that his fighter is washed-up, but Stoker doesn't quit so easily, though that won't sit well with a mobster(played by Alan Baxter) who has also bet against him... Well-directed drama plays out effectively in real-time, with fine performances and believable story.