The film premiered at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival . '' The New York Times '' film critic , Bosley Crowther , liked the film , writing , " It 's a brutal and disagreeable story , probably a little far-fetched , and without Mr. Schulberg 's warmest character — the wistful widow who bestowed her favors on busted pugs . But with all the arcana of the fight game that Mr. Yordan and Mr. Robson have put into it — along with their bruising , brutish fight scenes — it makes for a lively , stinging film . " Dennis Schwartz wrote , " The unwell Bogie 's last film is not a knockout , but his hard-hitting performance is terrific as a has-been sports journalist out of desperation taking a job as a publicist for a fight fixer in order to get a bank account ... The social conscience film is realistic , but fails to be shocking or for that matter convincing . " Primo Carnera sued Columbia for $ 1.5 million in damages , alleging that the film was based on him and invaded his privacy . The lawsuit was not successful
1956 Cannes Film Festival
1956 Cannes Film Festival
The Harder They Fall