Dec 12, 2008
The Set-Up
“You’re a fighter, you gotta fight.”
Hammers wait. The boxers step to the fore and we see none of the blows but all of the consequence. Moments, perhaps rounds, pass with a nice transitional crossfade and the sluggish weaken.
Viewer as spectator. Based on Joseph Moncure March’s narrative poem, directed by Robert Wise and shot by Milton Krasner, A.S.C., the cold opening title sequence to “The Set-Up” focuses solely on the legs of the combatants with Wise’s credit framed by a fall. The unintelligible holler of the crowd serves as the only score.
Martin Scorsese on the commentary track, referring to Wise, “You know you are in the hands of a master.”
USA | 1949 | Black and White | 1.37:1 | English
Direct Link: 480p (QuickTime, 640×480, 13 MB, 00:57)
Simplicity, but lovely vintage. The text pulls my eyes away from the boxers and sometimes my focuss changes to the boxers. So in my opinion they should have made up their minds and let one of the two take charge.