Hard Times Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Hard Times Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 22, 2023

Walter Hill's "Hard Times" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films There are no supplemental features on the release. In English, with optional English or German subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Walter Hill’s directorial debut, Hard Times, has the attitude of a classic western and the raw elegance of an early noir film. Had it been shot in black-and-white and released during the late '40s or early '50s, right now it would be ranking pretty high on several prestigious lists that group great noir films.

The film is set during the Depression Era and follows closely a drifter named Chaney (Charlie Bronson) who makes ends meet as a street fighter. In the city of New Orleans, he strikes a simple deal with local gambler and ‘manager’ Speed (James Coburn) -- he would set up fights with local talent for him, Chaney would win them, and the two will split the profits. A small portion of the dough would also go to Poe (Strother Martin), a disgraced ‘physician’ with an addiction problem who would keep an eye on Chaney’s wounds. Speed does not disappoint and arranges several good-paying fights, including one in which Chaney trashes the notorious local bully Skinhead (Robert Tessier), who has been filling the pockets of another gambler named Chick Gandil (Michael McGuire). But Speed also slips back into his old habits and quickly loses everything he has made in an underground gambling joint, and then while trying to avoid a couple of old and very persistent debt collectors confronts Chaney and accuses him of not being fair to him when splitting their profits. Before moving on to the next town, Chaney decides to give Speed one more chance to get out of the black hole he has fallen into and agrees to fight a tough import (Robert Tessier) from Chicago who has been hired to recover Gandil’s losses.

The script has some pretty rough spots -- with the biggest one involving a penniless prostitute (Jill Ireland) who can’t decide if she should start a relationship with Chaney as he keeps going back to her for no apparent reason -- but the fights are decent and the atmosphere is great. In fact, it could be that the film still holds well after all these years precisely because it does not try too hard to get everything right. (In a long and very interesting interview on this release, Hill credits the great director Raoul Walsh as a major inspiration and this is hardly surprising because Hard Times has exactly the type of rough edge many of his classic westerns have).

During the pre-production process apparently there were concerns that Bronson might have been too old to play the drifter, but it is precisely his jaded appearance that makes him fascinating to behold. Indeed, the more time one spends watching him destroy his opponents and then quietly remove himself from the noise and drama that surround his partner, the more one begins to understand that he isn’t an ordinary street fighter who is risking his life without realizing the consequences of his actions.

The film ends as abruptly as it begins and without connecting all of the dots, but it feels right. Why? Because it is set in that kind of murky, chaotic, full of ugly contrasts era. There are too many disillusioned people, tragic stories that no one seems willing to hear, and big thick shadows hiding the full extent of the misery that has brought the country to its knees.

Hill and cinematographer Philip Lathrop gave the film a very interesting period look. It is characterized by warm and slightly faded primary colors and a very light yellowish font that aged paper typically has.

Hard Times Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Hard Times arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

We have reviewed several different releases of this film. Currently, I have in my library this release from Eureka Entertainment and this. Imprint Films' release is sourced from the same that that was used to prepare the previous release, which comes from Sony Pictures.

The master is good. However, I think that it produces a bit of black crush in various darker areas that could have been avoided. On the other hand, the period stylization alters quite a bit in these areas as well, so it is not very easy to tell exactly how much crushing is present and could be eliminated. The rest looks either very good or great. Delineation, clarity, and depth are very pleasing. Image stability is excellent as well. However, this release could have used some specific encoding optimizations to ensure that the visuals are as impressive as they could be. (NoteThis is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Hard Times Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.

I revisited the film with the LPCM 2.0 track. Unsurprisingly, it sounds great. (It sounded great on the other releases we have reviewed as well). All exchanges are very clear, sharp, and easy to follow. There are no stability issues. You can experiment with the 5.1 track if you wish, but I think that the LPCM 2.0 track is the better option.

Hard Times Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no bonus features on this release.

Hard Times Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I tend to side with folks who have argued that Charlie Bronson's best performance is in this film and that without him Walter Hill's career probably would have been quite different. Hard Times is included in Directed by Walter Hill, a lavish six-disc box set produced by Australian label Imprint Films. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.