“The Set-Up” is a 1949 American film noir boxing drama directed by Robert Wise. It stars Robert Ryan as Bill “Stoker” Thompson, an aging boxer who defies gangsters by refusing to throw his last fight. The film is based on a 1928 narrative poem by Joseph Moncure March.

The story unfolds in real-time, capturing the tension and drama of Stoker’s fight against a younger, mob-controlled opponent. Despite the odds, Stoker wins the match but faces brutal consequences for his decision. The film is celebrated for its gritty realism and compelling performances.

Bill “Stoker” Thompson, a 35-year-old veteran boxer, is about to take on a 23-year-old Tiger Nelson at the local arena. His wife, Julie, fears this fight may be his last and wants him to quit boxing for good. Although Stoker gives her a ringside seat, she declines. Stoker’s manager, sure that he will continue to lose fights, takes money for a loss from a mobster. He is so sure of Stoker’s failure that he does not inform the boxer of the setup.

But Stoker still has a dream left in him. He still feels one punch away from a shot at the title, and we learn that the other fighters in the dressing room also have dreams. Stoker and Julie passionately debate whether he should participate in the fight. Julie tells him that she has a headache and won’t attend.

The fighters enter the dressing room after their bouts as the night rolls on. Some win, some lose, but all have dreams.

At the beginning of the fourth round of what is a vicious match with the much younger and heavily favored Tiger Nelson, Stoker learns about the fix. Even though he is told that Little Boy, a feared gangster, is behind the set-up, he refuses to give up the fight.

Stoker wins the vocal support of blood-thirsty fans who had at first rooted for Tiger Nelson. He eventually defeats Nelson. Stoker pays for his decision with a beating in an alley outside the arena. The group, including Nelson, irreparably damages Stoker’s hand by smashing it with a brick.

Julie notices her husband from the hotel room. Stoker staggers out of the alley and collapses into Julie’s arms. “I won tonight,” he tells her, both realizing he can never fight again. “Yes,” she answers. “You won tonight. We both won tonight.”

Special Thanks to Wally Matthews for hosting the Film at the Cinema Center in Huntington, New York. Next Date is May 22nd at 730 pm “Fat City” starring Stacy Keach and the original Golden Boy, Art Aragon.