I'm truly saddened that there are too many musical events this weekend for me to make it out to the New Bev for this double. Ace in the Hole is a Billy Wilder flick that has evaded me for some time now. It's noted as one of his most cynical films (that's saying a lot!!) and Jan Sterling's performance is noted to be spectacularly wicked. The Harder They Fall is a classic boxing noir based on a story by Budd Shulberg, he of What Makes Sammy Run?, A Face In The Crowd & On the Waterfront fame. Although I could care less about sports, boxing themed noirs always seem to deliver heavy doses of blackhearted personal reality that stick with me much more deeply than the average cops and robbers story. The Harder They Fall also happens to be Humphrey Bogart's final role. It's among my favorite Bogey pieces; his physical deterioration is apparent and adds to his broken and desperate character. Rod Steiger is at his ruthless best and Max Baer spars with some of his real life demons as the brutal champion Buddy Brannen. Truly a dark double feature and well worth your $7. Damn it, after writing this post I now think I have to squeeze this double into a very busy weekend...