I watch Hard Times (1975, rated PG, 93 minutes) every year, because it’s a heroic story, because it’s complete unto itself, because it generously invites the viewer to imagine more details, and because it’s all about true grit (I like that movie, too). 
Be forewarned: there’s a lot of bare knuckle fighting in the street-smart New Orleans of the 1930s.
Think you’ve got what it takes? If you’re like me, you’ve never really had any “hard times.” Chaney (Charles Bronson) shows what it’s like to be down to your last six bucks with nothing else to lose, and still manage to be courageous, honest, affectionate, high principled, strong minded, and in charge of your life.
In the final scene Speed (James Coburn) looks at Chaney walking away in the darkness and says “he sure was somethin’.”
He sure was. They don’t make movies exactly like Hard Times anymore. Really.
Request the DVD of Hard Times through Minuteman Library Network.
