The Set-Up
Seen it?1949 | 73 min | Drama, Crime
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Angels with Dirty Faces, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 13 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1949: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$500K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 30K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Robert Wise
- Robert RyanStoker
- Audrey TotterJulie
- George TobiasTiny
- Alan BaxterLittle Boy
- Wallace FordGus
- Percy HeltonRed
- Hal BaylorTiger Nelson
- Darryl HickmanShanley
- Kevin O'MorrisonMoore
- James EdwardsLuther Hawkins