Jobless sportswriter Eddie Willis is hired by corrupt fight promoter Nick Benko to promote his current protégé, an unknown Argentinian boxer named Toro Moreno. Although Moreno is a hulking giant, his chances for success are hampered by a powder-puff punch and a glass jaw. Exploiting Willis' reputation for integrity and standing in the boxing community, Benko arranges a series of fixed fights that propel the unsophisticated Moreno to #1 contender for the championship. The reigning champ, the sadistic Buddy Brannen, harbors resentment at the publicity Toro has been receiving and vows to viciously punish him in the ring. Eddie must now decide whether or not to tell the naive Toro the truth.
Directed by Mark Robson
boxer
pride
tall man
fixed fight
corrupt system
press agent
broken jaw
boxing
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.8 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Humphrey Bogart
Eddie Willis
Rod Steiger
Nick Benko
Jan Sterling
Beth Willis
Mike Lane
Toro Moreno
Max Baer
Buddy Brannen
Jersey Joe Walcott
George
Edward Andrews
Jim Weyerhause
Harold J. Stone
Art Leavitt, TV sportscaster
Carlos Montalbán
Luís Agrandi
Nehemiah Persoff
Leo
Felice Orlandi
Vince Fawcett
Herbie Faye
Max
Crew
Mark Robson
Director
Philip Yordan
Screenplay
Hugo Friedhofer
Original Music Composer
Philip Yordan
Producer
Jerry Wald
Executive Producer
Budd Schulberg
Novel
Popular Reviews
9 reviews
Corey
8.0★ · 07/19/25
A grimy game for a bloodthirsty audience has an even darker underbelly than you could even imagine.
A grimy game for a bloodthirsty audience has an even darker underbelly than you could even imagine.