Hard Times (1975)

Hard Times (aka Street Fighter) is a lean, gritty Depression-era drama about survival, loyalty and the price of pride. When the taciturn drifter Chaney teams with Speed, a hustling promoter of illegal street fights, they head to New Orleans to turn muscle into money. Speed rigs matches, borrows from the dangerous loan shark Doty and ropes in old partners and local fighters—while Chaney quietly becomes involved with Lucy Simpson. After an early victory brings cash and hope, Speed’s gambling and debts force Chaney into ever-riskier, bare‑knuckle bouts, including a make‑or‑break match against a champion brought in from Chicago. Seeing the film, you’ll experience a raw, atmospheric portrait of the 1930s underworld: rain‑slick streets, cramped fight venues, tense dice games and brutal, intimate fights that emphasize stamina and grit over spectacle. The pace is steady and character‑driven, focused on Chaney’s quiet strength, Speed’s reckless charm, and the moral costs of their choices. Expect a tough, somber mood, moments of stark violence, and an emotional core about friendship, desperation and what a man will risk to survive.

Actors: Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jill Ireland

Director: Walter Hill

Runtime: 93 min

Genres: Crime, Drama, Sport

6.4 /10 69 /100 7.2 /10 6.8 /10