- Actors: Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jill Ireland, Strother Martin, Margaret Blye
- Directors: Walter Hill
- Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English, Portuguese
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Sony Pictures
- DVD Release Date: 6 April 1999
- Run Time: 94 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- ASIN: 0767824555
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 122,504 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.com
Walter Hill's colourful directorial debut has quite a cult following for its toughness and violence, and it may well be his best film. Charles Bronson plays a silent street fighter in 1930s New Orleans, managed by the cool James Coburn. Jill Ireland, Strother Martin, and Michael McGuire co-star in this spare existential Depression dirge. It owes a lot to its noir origins that Hill adores so much, yet there's something very fresh and vital about its subject and approach. That's really what made so many of these films from the '70s so endearing. A bonus is the love and affection displayed by the real-life husband and wife team of Bronson and Ireland. --Bill Desowitz
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a tough, realistic action thriller this turned out to be. I first saw this movie on channel 5 and with the widescreen DVD out I just had to get this. Bronson is perfect in this role as the unknown old timer with amazing lightning speed and devastating knock-out power. Combined with Coburn's cool hustler character Speed, no one could touch them, until they decided to call in the most feared fighter from Chicago to settle the score....the end fight is unforgetable, as is the relationship between Bronson and Coburn who start out as strictly business partners but then realise the value of true friendship. A forgotten classic.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having seen many Charles Bronson movies i can say that 'Hard Times' is definately one of if not the best pictures he has ever done. After several other good films the year before in 1974 including 'Death Wish', he then went on to star in this film, originally called 'The Streetfighter' in the UK, about life on the streets as a bare knuckle fighter during the great depression in America in the 1930's.
When street fighter Chaney arrives in New Orleans he teams up with gambler, Speed in hope of making some big money. The more Chaney fights, the more Speed realises that he has finally got a winner, and a chance at some real money. Eventually after the pair have gathered enough money to gamble with to fight the best in town, owned by "one of the big 'money-belts' in town", Chick. The outcomes leaves an angry Chick no longer with the best street fighter in town. He gets in the best man he can find, a tough man from Calafornia and to ensure that Chaney fights he kidnaps Speed and threatens to beat him up if Chaney doesn't show up.
Bronson really is just absolutely perfect for the role of Chaney with the muscles and the right look for a man who has not had it easy or born with a silver spoon in his mouth like his character Chaney. James Coburn is also perfect for his role as the wheeling-dealing Speed and Strother Martin as the Opium addicted cutman Poe. Jill Ireland who was Bronson's wife at the time of the film plays his 'sort of' girlfriend in the film. Chick is played by Michael McGuire and Street is played by Nick Dimitri, both of which are also great in their roles, bringing the characters to life.
Overall, 'Hard Times' really is a great film, not only for the exciting fight scenes throughout, but in detailing what life was like during the depression as very few people could get jobs and so for those that could fight, this was the easiest way to make some money. Unfortunately the only extras on the DVD are a trailer and selected filmographies, but it worth buying just for the film. If you are a fan of Charles Bronson, fighting films in general, or simply want some good quality entertainment then i would highly recommend this film and i'm sure that it will become a valuble piece to your collection.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I just love this film. The direction by Walter Hill is superb, the set pieces, the fight sequences, the screenplay is excellent.
Charles Bronson and James Coburn are simply fabulous. There will never be the likes of them again.
Rest in peace my Heroes !! You guys will live forever in our memories.
Trust me, this is one terrific movie that is destined to be a classic if not already.
See it and enjoy!!
Charles Bronson and James Coburn are simply fabulous. There will never be the likes of them again.
Rest in peace my Heroes !! You guys will live forever in our memories.
Trust me, this is one terrific movie that is destined to be a classic if not already.
See it and enjoy!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bronson's Fists speak louder than words!
In Hard Times Charles Bronson plays a quietly spoken man, new to the city. He's a mystery man who remains so throughout the movie. Read more
Published 5 months ago by j.r
You`re not going to do it for free.
Hard Times sees Charles Bronson play Chaney, a drifter who travels to Louisiana during the Great Depression and begins competing in illegal bare-knuckled boxing matches set up by... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Spike Owen
Bronson at his best
Hard to find.
This is the film 'Street Fighter' renamed on DVD as 'Hard Times'.
In my view Bronson's best ever film.
This is the film 'Street Fighter' renamed on DVD as 'Hard Times'.
In my view Bronson's best ever film.
Published 16 months ago by apy
Excellent Film
I think this is Bronson's best film
The character suits him to a tee and he plays it really well
It shows Bronson as a good actor and not just a tough guy
The character suits him to a tee and he plays it really well
It shows Bronson as a good actor and not just a tough guy
Published 18 months ago by PEDRootes
One of Bronson and Walter Hill's best
Filmed as The Streetfighter but changed to Hard Times in the US to avoid confusion with Sonny Chiba's movie (but still called The Streetfighter in the UK to avoid any raised... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Trevor Willsmer
Hard reality
I bought this film as I'm a Bronson fan but I also like Boxing so I was curious to see how Bronson would perform in this type of role. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Rosendo
Decent Bronson Outing
Tough guy classic starring a classic tough guy. Beautifully shot and directed by Walter Hill of "The Warriors" fame. Not the best Bronson but one of them. A good movie.
Published 23 months ago by W. J. Wallace
Taking care of the in-betweens!
Got the DVD very soon after ordering and all was in order. Good price for under a fiver. The DVD itself has only the main feature and a trailer, and although I wasn't expecting... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by Derek Dominoe
Simple brilliant
This film captures the era brilliantly and Bronson and coburn were simple made for this watch and enjoy.
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by S. Pike
Hard Times
Iam not a Charles Bronson fan but this film was made for him. The best film of its kind i have ever seen. The fight scenes are superb. Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2009 by Mr. W. Harding
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