Hard Times

[silenthunterstudios]

Anyone seen the movie Hard Times, starring Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Strother Martin? Bronson plays a bareknuckle boxer drifter named Chaney, who hooks up with James Coburn's Speed, a hustler/fight promoter, in Depression era New Orleans. Strother Martin is the opium addict in charge of keeping Chaney healthy. One of my favorite lines is Strother's, "A black cloud named opium descended upon my school, and I left under it." Another one, in the midst of almost getting slaughtered at a fight, Strother Martin calms James Coburn down and says "Step lightly Speed, these boys ain't refined." One of my favorite movies. The music is subtle, but very good. I've been looking for the soundtrack for my father. Looks like pulling MP3's off the internet will be my best chance. I looked online, nothing.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073092/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Times_(1975_film)

Lucy Simpson: What does it feel like to knock somebody down?
Chaney: It makes me feel a hell of a lot better than it does him.

Speed: Chaney, I'd like you to meet my old friend Poe. He'll fix up your cuts, bruises, things like that.
Poe: I have two years of medical school to recommend me.
Chaney: Two years don't make a doctor.
Poe: During my third year, a small black cloud appeared on campus; I left under it.
Speed: What he means is that he is a bona-fide hophead.
Poe: I have a weakness for opium.
Chaney: That's a hard habit to break.
Poe: Some are born to fail, others have failure thrust upon them.

Pettibon: This has come as quite a setback for us; it was too easy.
Speed: Ain't nothin' in the rules about *easy*, Mr. Pettibon.
Chaney: [putting on his shirt] Anything wrong?
Pettibon: What's wrong, Mr. Chaney, is that you're too good. You're a ringer, Mr. Chaney.
Speed: Dammit, my man won fair and square; give us our money, goddammit!
Poe: [noticing several Cajuns walking up behind Pettibon] Steady on, Speed. These boys are not refined.
[notices one of the Cajuns has a pistol]
Poe: Somebody always brings a gun.
Speed: [being pulled toward the car by Poe and Gayleen] Oh, yeah! Well, the next time I come to this coonass place, I'm goin' to bring a gun!
Pettibon: [laughing] You do that, Speed; just make sure it's a great big one.
[to his men]
Pettibon: That's how it's done.

 

[MikeH]

I've seen it a couple of times. It's one of those movies where once isn't enough to pick up on all the good stuff. I liked it. In the same vein with Lee Marvin's King of the North.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Yep one of my favourites too, if you like that one, you might want to watch Mr. Majestyk, as always, pretty no nonsense kinda guy.
G2

 

[AeroNautiCal]

One of the best films ever produced.

And one of my favorites.

Quite liked Breakheart Pass, too.