Don't you see Bill? You are always just one punch away. The Set-Up, directed by Robert Wise, features Robert Ryan and Audrey Totter in leading roles. The screenplay was adapted by Art Cohn from a poem written by Joseph Moncure March in 1928. The story unfolds in real time, portraying Ryan as Stoker Thompson, a nearly washed-up boxer around 35 years old who still believes he can become a champion. Despite his wife Julie’s (Totter) worries, Stoker agrees to fight Tiger Nelson (Hal Baylor), a man twelve years younger. Unbeknownst to him, though, his manager Tiny (George Tobias) has made an arrangement with underworld gangster Little Boy (Alan Baxter, delivering a performance that is both sweaty and chilling) for Stoker to throw the match and let Nelson win. What initially struck me most while watching this was how unpleasant everyone except the boxers seemed to be. The fighters are actually the only ones who possess honesty and integrity; self-respect appears to be a key concern for them, and they are fighting not just for glory but also for something fundamental to human nature. The first part of the film takes place in the boxers’ changing room as they wait their turn to enter the ring. Here we see these noble fighters stripped bare, revealing either their fears or their unwavering beliefs – all while waiting to discover who will emerge victorious or defeated. As they talk among themselves, the atmosphere is thick with tension, and Wise skillfully uses cuts to show the excited and bloodthirsty crowd. The effect is reminiscent of a gladiatorial arena, presenting the sport as both disreputable and captivating at the same time. Then comes Stoker’s fight, where Ryan delivers an excellent performance (he actually boxed for College for four years). Thompson is a character who is simultaneously admirable and driven by foolish pride, which puts Stallone's Rocky Balboa in perspective; his mantra of being "just one punch away" is genuinely touching and leads to an ending that’s frustratingly brilliant because of its bittersweet nature. The entire fight with Nelson has a beautiful flow (former pro boxer John Indrisano choreographed it), complemented by Milton R. Krasner's photography, which keeps the tone dark and humanistic—both inside the ring and on the dimly lit Los Angeles streets where Totter’s conflicted wife contemplates what might happen to her resolute husband. Bolstered by Ryan’s outstanding performance and imbued with a film noir sense of despair, The Set-Up is a straightforward but impactful boxing movie. It delves into the lives of the fighters and the shady individuals who surround them. 9/10

Source on TMDB