MovieChat Forums > The Harder They Fall (1956) Discussion > Was Toro based on Primo Carnera ?

Was Toro based on Primo Carnera ?

posted 15 years ago by Anthonytaylov
4 replies | jump to latest

Primo Carnera was an Italian fighter who became Heavyweight Champion of the World in 1933 when he surprisingly beat the then Champ Jack Sharkey.

According to his biography Carnera was an extremely well-built man who possessed great strength and was quite mobile for such a large man; However, his chin was vulnerable to the type of power punch that the top heavyweight fighters were able to deliver

His punching was hindered somewhat by his heavy muscles but nevertheless he scored many knockouts due to his considerable strength and power; Primo began fighting in Europe and then migrated to the United States; Many observers felt that many of his wins were "fixed" due to some connections held by those managing him; This shadow of doubt has caused boxing people to question his true ability as a fighter

Remind anyone of Toro?

Primo obviously thought Toro was based on him - AP reported that "Former heavyweight boxing champion, Primo Carnera, today sued Columbia Pictures for $1.5 million, charging invasion of privacy in the film The Harder They Fall; The big athlete contends the picture has caused him to be subjected to scorn and ridicule and that as a result of it he has lost the respect and admiration of many friends" (Primo lost the lawsuit).

The irony is that Carnera lost his title to Max Baer on 14 June 1934, yes the same Max Baer who played Toro's nemesis in the movie !!!

[–] pocomarc 14 years ago

Budd Schulberg, who was born into a rich Hollywood family, knew nothing about boxing.

He spent a lifetime attacking and smearing Primo Carnera.

[–] Rogozhin 12 years ago

Schulberg was actually a longtime fight aficionado and Carnera himself admitted that most of the things written in THTF is true.

http://www.mmbolding.com/Heavyweights/Boxer_vs._Wrestler_Primo_Carnera.htm

[–] rixrex 11 years ago

From what you yourself write here, it's a real stretch to think that Toro and Carnera are one and the same. And that's also why he lost the lawsuit I'd suspect.

About the only similarity would be the glass jaw and the size. Not really enough to make such a case.

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The Eyes of the City are Mine! Mother Pressman / Anguish (1987)

[–] PussyCrusher_Principal 10 years ago

Let's not forget the guy Carnera "killed" in the ring, like Toro killed a man. that man, Ernie Schaaf, actually, fought Max Baer twice, and supposedly, Baer inflicted such heavy damage on Schaaf that he was "softened up" for Primo, like Gus Dundee was for Toro. and the man who played the fighter (Buddy Brannen) who inflicted the beating on Dundee was .played, incidentally, by the very same Max Baer. And Carnera ended up fighting Baer himself, just like Toro fought Brannen/Baer. And they took similar beatings.

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