The Set-Up

The Set-Up

Year: 1949

Runtime: 73 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Wise

DramaCrimeCrime drugs and gangstersUnderdog fighting and boxing storiesGritty crime and ruthless gangsters

I want a man … not a human punching bag! Expecting the usual loss, a boxing manager takes bribes from a betting gangster without telling his fighter.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Set-Up yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Set-Up (1949)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Set-Up (1949). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold over a single tense night in a grim urban landscape, where the boxing world is entangled with crime. The fourth-round pressure and deadline of the bout heighten the drama, making every moment feel like a final crossroads for the characters.

Location

Paradise City Arena, Surrounding streets around the arena

The action centers on Paradise City Arena, a gritty boxing venue where backroom deals and mob influence color the crowd and the bout. The surrounding streets frame the arena’s brutal ecosystem, showing how bets and loyalties spill into everyday life. The venue’s bright lights and taunting crowds create a noir atmosphere that underscapes the fight’s stakes.

🎪 Arena 🏙️ Urban setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:15

Main Characters – The Set-Up (1949)

Meet the key characters of The Set-Up (1949), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Stoker Thompson (Robert Ryan)

A weathered 35-year-old boxer whose pride and stubborn sense of honor push him to fight on even when the odds are stacked against him. He endures the fear of a fixed fight while clinging to the dream of one more win that might redeem his career.

🥊 Boxing 💪 Determination ⚖️ Integrity

Julie (Audrey Totter)

Stoker's wife, torn between safety and support. She fears for his life yet hopes for a future where he can retire, which makes her conflicted and resilient as she navigates the night around the arena.

❤️ Love 🕊️ Courage 🌆 Urban life

Tiger Nelson (Hal Baylor)

A younger, heavily favored opponent under mob influence, feared for his brutality and the fix that may determine the outcome. He embodies the efficiency of a system built to profit from a fight's result.

💥 Rivalry 💰 Underworld 🔪 Violence

Tiny (George Tobias)

Stoker's manager who is willing to take bribes and arrange a dive, illustrating the compromised ethics that edge fighters into danger. He embodies the cynical business side of boxing.

💰 Corruption 🧭 Ambition 🎭 Deceit

Luther Hawkins (James Edwards)

A loyal ally with inside knowledge of the boxing underworld, caught between helping Stoker and the consequences of the mob's plans. He represents the tension between friendship and self-preservation in a corrupt system.

🤝 Loyalty 🧭 Strategy 🎭 Drama

Gus (Wallace Ford)

A mob-connected promoter who helps orchestrate the fight's outcome, exposing the systemic manipulation behind the sport's glamour. He stands as a symbol of external pressure on the boxer's career.

💼 Promoter 💣 Crime

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:15

Major Themes – The Set-Up (1949)

Explore the central themes of The Set-Up (1949), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Corruption

Mob control over the fight game threads through the plot, shaping outcomes and forcing characters to choose between money and integrity. Tiny’s willingness to take a dive showcases how profit corrupts sport. Stoker’s fight becomes a collision between personal honor and criminal profit.

🥊 Boxing & Fate

The ring serves as a testing ground where skill, endurance, and luck collide under the crowd’s bloodthirsty gaze. The audience and promoters frame the match as a ritual more than a sport. Stoker’s stubborn decision to keep fighting, despite knowing the setup, defines his character arc and resilience.

💕 Love & Sacrifice

Julie’s fear and devotion push her to navigate danger while hoping for a safer future. Her choice to stay away from the arena ticket underscores the personal costs of Stoker’s vocation. Their relationship becomes a quiet counterweight to the brutal spectacle, showing how love endures through risk.

⚖️ Moral Dilemma

Stoker’s continuation in the face of a known fix pits personal pride against communal harm. The story questions whether honoring a fighter’s code justifies enabling a criminal scheme. Integrity, loyalty, and the consequences of choice are tested in the aftermath outside the arena.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:15

Unlock the Full Story of The Set-Up

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Set-Up in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Set-Up is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Set-Up Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Set-Up, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Set-Up Summary

The Set-Up Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Set-Up with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Set-Up Timeline

More About The Set-Up

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Set-Up: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Set-Up

Explore More About Movie The Set-Up

The Set-Up (1949) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Set-Up (1949) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Set-Up (1949) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow