Schmutziger Lorbeer (1956)

Schmutziger Lorbeer: Directed by Mark Robson. With Humphrey Bogart, Rod Steiger, Jan Sterling, Mike Lane. An ex-sportswriter is hired by a shady fight promoter to promote his latest find, an unknown but easily exploitable rising star from Argentina.

“Eddie Willis(Humphrey Bogart) is a down on his luck boxing critic who has just lost job when his newspaper goes bust. Nick Benko(Rod Steiger) a crooked boxing promoter hears of this and invites Eddie over to discuss some business,Benko wants him to use his press connections to promote his new boxer the Argentinian Toro Moreno,a brute of a man but with little or no talent for boxing.Eddie laughs off Morenou0026#39;s chances in a ring with anyone, but as Benko later explains the fights are going to be fixed and Edie can have a percentage of the takings. A more hard hitting and gritty boxing drama you might find hard to find, the film really exposes the seedy under belly of the sport with all its corruption and vices. Its often been mooted that Bogartu0026#39;s last screen role was possibly his best and I can see why, there is a depth in his character that was not always there in some of his roles, Steiger too is phenomenal as in fact are the whole cast. Robsonu0026#39;s direction is always assured and the pacing is nigh on perfect. A word too for Burnett Guffeyu0026#39;s cinematography which captures the wonderful locations and fight scenes beautifully.A Swan song that delivers a fitting end for a legend.”