The fate of David Clarke is to be swiftly driven by ambulance to the hospital. Ryan has little time to shake off the grim reality of what has happened before going into battle himself, but sees his spirits lift after Edwards wins and wishes him luck.
As heavyweight boxer Ryan steps into the ring, he is unaware of a transaction made by his manager, George Tobias, and the manager of his opponent, a local mob gambler known as Little Boy.
Despite the fact that the promising local fighter that Little Boy, played by Alan Baxter, hopes to steer to the top is a heavy favorite over the presumably overmatched Ryan, as a gambler he seeks to hedge his bet.
Tobias is so convinced that Ryan has no chance that he does not mention the agreement at first. During the first two rounds Ryan takes a frightful beating. When the veteran survives, however, and remains determined to win, Tobias realizes he has a problem.
Hal Baylor, as Tiger Nelson, begins the bout oozing confidence. As it moves into Round 4, however, and Ryan, despite severe punishment and having his face battered to a bloody pulp, appears more determined than ever, Baylor begins reflecting the same concern as his manager.
Enough is enough as far as George Tobias is concerned. After earlier advising Ryan to be satisfied going "the distance,"- he tells him finally about the agreement. Tobias is blunt about what the gangster will do if he fails to receive the benefit of his intended bargain.
A prideful and determined Ryan presses on, sensing a final moment of glory in a career that has been rushing steadily downhill.
After Ryan scores a knockout Baxter tells Tobias that he is unworried about the loss and that four victories later nobody will even remember it. He states bluntly that his displeasure is from failure to "get what he paid for."- Baxter tells Ryan that they will "talk it over"- outside.
Ryan is unable to run away. Baxter supervises the beating meted out by his henchmen, including the fighter the veteran had just battled in what is assured to be his last fight. Baxter commands that Ryan's right hand be broken. As Ryan is held, his career is finished when this result is achieved.
The staggering, badly bloodied Ryan makes it to the sidewalk outside the hotel where he has been staying with Totter. His wife beseeches onlookers to summon an ambulance.
Despite feeling saddened by the beating, the camera closes in on a wife showing relief for the first time, knowing that her husband, someone she feared would be killed in the ring, will never put on another pair of boxing gloves.
"The Set-Up"- is strong and convincing drama from beginning to end. The close-ups reveal as the hard edges of a tough profession examined with scalpel precision.
The arena used for the film was the famous Hollywood Legion Stadium on El Centro near Hollywood and Gower. Not only did a constellation of great fighters appear there in its fabled history until it ceased operating and became a bowling alley in 1959; the regular Friday night bouts there drew a large contingent of movie faithful.
Al Jolson, a fight enthusiast who was once manager of Henry Armstrong, the only simultaneous three time champion in boxing history, was a regular, as were Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, George Burns, and many others.
The most colorful and memorable fight colony regular, however, was Lupe Velez, star of the "Mexican Spitfire"- series. Velez, who had a well publicized romance with handsome Legion headliner Bert Colima, lived up to her Spitfire image by removing a shoe and slamming it on the canvas to urge more action.
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