Charles Bronson in “Hard Times”, bare knuckle fighter movie (2025)

Here’s Charles Bronson as a depression era bare knuckle fighter with James Coburn as his manager. The great Strother Martin co stars as does Jill Ireland. Maybe my favorite Bronson movie. If you haven’t seen it and you’re like me and can’t get every movie on earth on Netficks or wherever, you might like it, too. First link is the first fight scene, then below that the full movie.

Charles Bronson - The First Fight... Hard Times 1975 - YouTube

Hard Times - YouTube

I, too, like Hard Times. I also like Chato's Land which had a great cast.

He was also good as "Harmonica".

pantannojack said:

I just saw this yesterday on YouTube free. Best fight scenes ever. Not much blood tho.

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even as a teenager seeing this when it came out I rolled my eyes at the lack of blood, especially with the constant three punch combinations Bronson always pummeled guys with.

ZGrand said:

Love Hard Times, however my favorite Bronson movie is Once Upon a Time in the West.

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"You brought two too many."

Onomea said:

Death Hunt! Kinda a sleeper. Lee Marvin pursing Bronson through the
Alaskan wilderness. Early 20th century scenario, I think. Based on a true story, if I recollect aright. Coupla tough guys. Good show.

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I think Death Hunt is one of the all time great guy/gun movies. It’s one of my favorites. But it was only about 2% accurate to the real story. Check out the book “The Mad Trapper Of Rat River”. The real “Albert Johnson” who Bronson played actually killed the Lee Marvin character in the first gunfight while on the run. The real story is much more compelling than the movie, and the airplane pilot was a true hero, not a glory hound who crashes.

ZGrand said:

Love Hard Times, however my favorite Bronson movie is Once Upon a Time in the West.

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I liked the directors interview on when he describes the timing of the windmill squeeks, and how they smeared honey on Jack Elam's face to keep the fly bussing around.

Charles Bronson = Great Lithuanian actor.....

Assassination
The Evil That Men Do
Showdown at Boot Hill
Breakout
Borderline

I had a uncle that was a bare knuckle brawler. He was also multi talented as he worked sometimes as a strike breaker. That was in the era that they used iron pipes and ax handles to break up strikes. He died right after the movie came out but said it was a decent movie.

He was always the bad boy of the family, normally one step ahead of the law. He did straighten out his life in later years by becoming a business man and ran and won a couple local political offices. Of course I'm not sure what was the most honorable, his tough guy jobs or doing politics, the jury is out on that one!