When writing “The Harder They Fall,” Budd Schulberg took inspiration for his novel from various characters mixed up in the world of 20th-century professional boxing. According to the Irish Times, Humphrey Bogart’s character, the broke and burnt-out sportswriter Eddie Willis, was modeled on boxing promoter Harold Conrad. A Brooklyn native, Conrad was a colorful and somewhat unscrupulous publicity man, as likely to rub elbows with notorious mobsters as the sports stars he managed — Muhammad Ali among them.
Bogart was Conrad’s favorite actor. In his memoir, “Dear Muffo: 35 Years in the Fast Lane,” he recalled how delighted he was to learn that Bogart was cast as a character based on him, how he fantasized about meeting his idol, and passing on a few pointers. The chance came at a restaurant one evening when Conrad happened upon the star. He introduced himself and said how proud he was to have Bogart playing him in a movie. Well into his cups, Bogart replied, “Why don’t you go and f*** yourself.” Conrad was devastated — until another encounter at another restaurant a few days later. A mutual friend heard about Conrad’s story and summoned Bogart from another table to hear it. Now sober, Bogart laughed when told what he’d said. “I’m sorry, pal,” he told Conrad. “You caught me on an off-night.”
“If I hadn’t got that squared away with Bogart,” Conrad wrote, “I don’t think I would ever have been the same.”
