The Harder They Fall: The Main Characters, Ranked By Bravery

There are few genres as quintessentially American as the western. More than any other kind of movie, the western asks the fundamental questions revolving around the identity of America itself. That’s precisely what makes the new movie The Harder They Fall so fascinating, since it places Black people, so long excluded or marginalized from the western, at the center of its story.

Its characters, both the heroes and the villains, display varying amounts of bravery as they contend with the brutality, beauty, and ugliness that is the American West in the declining days of the frontier.

10 Wiley Escoe

Every western needs its sheriff character, and in this movie, that role is filled by Wiley Escoe. He is one of the former associates of Idris Elba’s Rufus Black and, in the latter’s absence, he has become a corrupt and pampered sheriff.

As a result, he is totally unprepared for Black’s return and, when he confronts his old associate, he seems to be quite cowardly and is easily defeated. Even when he does try to fight back, he ultimately ends up losing his life for his pains.

9 Cherokee Bill

Cherokee Bill is sure to be regarded as one of Lakeith Stanfield’s best roles, and as a member of Rufus Black’s gang, he is a ruthless fighter who consistently shows that he is willing to kill anyone in cold blood that gets in his way.

At the same time, he shows that, at heart, he is also something of a wimp, as he shoots someone in the middle of a countdown. Though he seems to think that this makes him an intelligent person, in truth it shows that he lacks any kind of honor.

8 Jim Beckwourth

Jim Beckwourth is one of the followers of the hero, Nat Love, and he shows that he is also one of the most talented gunmen in the movie, with the ability to draw and shoot a gun faster than almost anyone else. He also demonstrates that he is one of the movie’s most audacious characters, as he not only follows Nat but also is bold enough to challenge Cherokee Bill, even though he knows how dangerous the other man is.

Unfortunately, his daring attitude is what ultimately costs him his life during the duel.

7 Bass Reeves

Wiley Escoe isn’t the only lawman in this movie, and Bass Reeves is the US Marshal that arrests Nat Love during an unpleasant encounter in a saloon.

However, while he is a representative of the law and of order, he shows that he is also gutsy enough to go against those restrictions when he’s confronted with the fact that Nat might be the only one that can bring down Rufus Black. In fact, he’s one of those who is brave enough to follow Love, even though they could lose their lives trying to defeat their enemy.

6 Trudy Smith

Regina King is rightly regarded as one of the best actresses of her generation, with many great roles under her belt. Trudy Smith is one of her best, and she exhibits a steely determination, willing to do whatever she thinks is necessary to help Rufus Black.

She is, indeed, one of his most undaunted lieutenants, and she isn’t afraid of anyone, even when showing a little bit of fear or hesitation might actually help her survive. Fortunately for her, her courage is what allows her to be one of the few members of Rufus Black’s crew to survive until the end.

5 Bill Pickett

Bill Pickett is an important character, as he is one that accompanies Nat Love into the town of Redwood to bring down Rufus Black. That in itself testifies to his intrepidness as a character, especially since he realizes that doing this could very well end up seeing him lose his life.

Just as importantly, however, he stays with Nat through the entire shootout that follows, and the fact that he manages to stay alive when so many others die shows just how strong he remains.

4 Mary Fields

One of the more extraordinary aspects of The Harder They Fall is its inclusion of women of color into its storylines, and they all show tremendous bravery in this violent and often brutal world. Mary Fields is one of the movie’s fiercest characters for a number of reasons. She is willing to try to infiltrate the city of Redwood, even though she knows doing so is incredibly dangerous.

Furthermore, not only does she endure the fearsome presence of Trudy Smith, but she also engages her in hand-to-hand combat, arguably one of the most daring actions of anyone in the movie.

3 Cuffee

Mary Fields isn’t the only brave woman to appear in the movie, and she is frequently joined by Cuffee, arguably the most fascinating character in The Harder They Fall. She is spirited enough to live her life on her own terms, and that includes dressing as a man.

Furthermore, she continues to show her bravery once the shootout in Redwood begins, and she’s the type of person that will never let someone else decide what she’s going to do or how she’s going to fight.

2 Rufus Black

Rufus Black joins the ranks of the many other great roles that Idris Elba has played, and he manages to make this character into more than just a villain. However, there’s no question that Rufus is a brutal and ruthless person, willing to get vengeance on anyone who wrongs him and to kill anyone who defies him.

However, he also shows just how fearless he is, because he has endured the kind of trauma that would have destroyed many another person, eventually becoming the agent of his own destiny.

1 Nat Love

Nat Love is arguably the hero of this story, and though he too is capable of acts of great brutality, he does have a sense of honor and justice that transcends simple violence for violence’s sake.

What’s more, he shows that he is the movie’s most courageous character by being willing and able to go up against Rufus Black, even knowing that the other man will have no mercy if the battle doesn’t go his way. And, what’s more, he also survives Rufus’ shattering revelation and goes on to live his own life on his own terms, proving that he is also one of The Harder They Fall‘s smartest characters.

About The Author