The Set-Up Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

The Set-Up Blu-ray Movie Review

Still a contender.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 18, 2019

Robert Wise's The Set-Up is a brilliantly crafted film noir that makes use of excellent visual storytelling. This intimate but suspenseful story unfolds in real-time and mostly follows aging boxer Bill "Stoker" Thompson (Robert Ryan) as he awaits a tough bout with up-and-coming middleweight "Tiger" Nelson (Hal Fieberling). Poor Stoker has been on quite a losing streak; in fact, his manager Tiny (George Tobias) is so sure he'll get knocked out, he takes dive money from local gangster Little Boy (Alan Baxter) without telling Stoker to actually throw the fight. Win or lose, Stoker gets ready in the locker room while projecting a quiet, calm authority over his fellow boxers. Notably absent is wife Julie (Audrey Totter), who can't bear to watch Stoker endure another beating in his repeatedly failed comeback attempts.

If you're the type that enjoys simple stories told with precision, The Set-Up just might be up your alley...especially if you've never watched a full boxing match on purpose. For the most part, it casts the sport in a negative light: one that chews up and spits out young athletes while igniting bloodthirsty crowds who crave action, excitement, and hot dogs. In turn, Stoker wants a victory so bad that when he's told about "the set-up" mid-fight, he still swings for the fences. We see the growing differences between man and wife during Julie's less eventful but equally important path during the film: Stoker's well-being is more important than prize money, and her empty seat at the area speaks volumes.

Robert Ryan turns in another great performance as the washed up 35-year-old Stoker, whose calm and charismatic demeanor is enough to deflect almost every old man joke hurled his way. Audrey Totter isn't far behind despite her much more thankless role, while smaller supporting roles are also filled out nicely. (Only Alan Baxter feels out of place as gangster Little Boy -- he can't quite project the right amount of authority and never seems like a credible threat.) The cut-away shots to crowd members are priceless, allowing viewers a series of little checkpoints that complement the fight footage perfectly. But it's the film's cinematography that really stands out: the Grade-A visuals provide a rich and moody atmosphere that fits the story like a glove, from Stoker's pre- fight nap to a shadowy, brutal post-fight encounter in a back alley. The Set- Up was shot by prolific DP Milton Krasner, who switched to Cinemascope in the next decade with epic productions like Demetrius and the Gladiators, Désirée, and Three Coins in the Fountain.

Appropriately, The Set-Up's rich and memorable visuals are also the best part of Warner Archive Collection's terrific new Blu-ray, which sports an outstanding 1080p transfer along with lossless audio and a valuable vintage audio commentary featuring late director Robert Wise and filmmaker Martin Scorsese (recorded separately). It's a great excuse for die-hard fans to reconnect with this forgotten gem, as well as a fine jumping-on point for curious newcomers.

The Set-Up Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Pun intended: The Set-Up is another knockout for Warner Archive, as the crisp and clean 1080p transfer looks every bit as stunning as their past efforts on Blu-ray. Not a surprise, considering it's been sourced from a recent 2K scan of the master positive with extensive digital cleanup; this results in a purely film-like image full of natural grain, free from the processed look of transfers treated with less care. Almost no dirt or damage remains, even in the darkest shadows and most crowded locations, while the overall image boasts a striking level of texture and fine detail. Gradients and high-contrast shots do not suffer from any noticeable banding, while this Blu-ray's healthy bitrate ensures that compression artifacts aren't a problem either. Overall, this is top-tier work that fans should really appreciate.

The Set-Up Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix does a fine job of preserving The Set-Up's one-channel roots from start to finish. Due to the lack of an original score (only diegetic music is heard), its sonic effectiveness depends solely on the strength of dialogue and sound effects. Luckily, both sound great: speech is clean and crisp with no sync issues or other defects, while background noise is balanced well and only overpowers when the situation demands it. Both elements contribute to a robust listening experience that sounds about as good as its source material will allow.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only. Unlike most recent Warner Archive Blu-rays, these are formatted properly instead of in all caps -- a welcome change that just might stick around, since the menu font seems to have been recently refined as well. They're still ugly yellow, but this is a great improvement.

The Set-Up Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Warner Archive's Blu-ray arrives in a standard keepcase with poster-themed artwork and no inserts. Although a trailer is not included (and can't be found online either, only clips), we at least get a fantastic DVD-era supplement.

• Audio Commentary - This feature-length track combines separate interviews with late director Robert Wise and filmmaker Martin Scorsese; not surprisingly, it's a great listen with plenty valuable insight. While this track isn't always scene-specific and there are quite a few gaps along the way, the pairing of Wise's first-hand insight with Scorsese's sharp observations -- many of which obviously focus on Raging Bull -- make it a keeper.

The Set-Up Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Robert Wise's wonderfully entertaining The Set-Up is a classic boxing movie that still holds up today. Its influence has lasted for decades and clearly set the stage for future classics like Raging Bull and Rocky (and by extension, Creed), featuring terrific fight choreography and effective human drama that provides the framework. The Set-Up has also aged well for a 70-year-old sports film, mainly thanks to its excellent visual storytelling and a brisk, real-time pace that locks in momentum from start to finish. Warner Archive Collection's excellent new Blu-ray offers plenty of support with a top-tier A/V presentation and a classic audio commentary. Highly recommended to fans and first-timers alike.