Starring: Charles Bronson
James Coburn
Strother Martin
Directed by: Walter Hill
Music by Barry DeVorzon
PG: for boxing violence
Length: 95 minutes

Bronson plays Chaney, a middle-aged street fighter and a bit of a mystery man, who drifts into town to make a few bucks.

He contacts Speed (Coburn) to set up bare-knuckled fights around the city. After a series of illegal fights, Chaney becomes the Best Street Fighter, which leaves a certain, wealthy businessman with second best. This is unacceptable.

Meanwhile Speed gambles away all of the fortune he made on Chaney. Since Speed can't pay his debt, the businessman forces Chaney to fight again, only this time for Speed's life.

This is one of those rare films where the script, the acting, and music are on a superior, even keel.

Walter Hill offered the producer the script for nothing if he'd allow Hill to direct. The producer couldn't lose with a deal like that. Hill set the story in Cajun country during the Depression. The southern flavor he captures is so real you can chew and swallow it.

The theme song is so relaxing and catchy that you'll rewind just to hear it again and/or search the Internet forever just to find that soundtrack. (If you do, let me know where I can buy it.)

The veteran actors gathered for this one, work like magnetic poles with Coburn as the fast-talker and Bronson as the no-talker. And you won't wince when the latter takes off his shirt to flex his pecs.

The ending emphasizes the mystery in Chaney, but the trio (Bronson, Coburn, and Martin) leave you with a hefty dose of nostalgia. And who doesn't like to sit back with a smile and recall a special memory!