Main Cast: Paul Newman, Anna Maria Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart, Sal Mineo
Release Year: 1956
Country: US
Run Time: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Once you get past the fact that handsome Paul Newman could never pass for plug-ugly boxer Rocky Graziano in real life, you will be able to accept Somebody Up Their Likes Me as one of the more accomplished movie biopics of the 1950s. Based on Graziano's autobiography (co-written with Rowland Barber), the film accurately depicts the teen-aged Rocky as an unregenerate punk, evidently doomed by his slum environment, and his own lousy attitude, to a life of petty crime. Determining that the only way he'll make a living is with his fists, Rocky becomes a boxer, at first willing to participate in a series of fixed fights. Eventually, Rocky develops a conscience and sense of self-respect, no small thanks to his sweetheart (and later wife) Norma (Pier Angeli). The film ends on an optimistic note after Rocky wins a "clean" bout with Tony Zale (playing himself). Training extensively with Graziano prior to and during production, Newman is quite impressive in his first worthwhile film role (this was only his third film, following the execrable The Silver Chalice and the forgettable outing The Rack). The title song in Somebody Up There Likes Me was written by Bronislau Kaper and Sammy Cahn, and performed by Perry Como. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
After appearing in the poorly-received films The Silver Chalice (1954) and The Rack (1956), Paul Newman launched his career with Somebody Up There Likes Me, a glossy but effective biopic of champion boxer Rocky Graziano. More optimistic than the typical ringside melodrama, the film was directed by Hollywood stalwart Robert Wise, best-known for Johnny Belinda (1948), The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), and his work as editor of Citizen Kane (1941). As usual, Wise elicits a quality, star-making performance from his lead, and Pier Angeli, Joseph Buloff and Eileen Heckart memorably support Newman's splendid work. Robert Loggia and Steve McQueen can be spotted in small debut roles. Somebody received Academy Awards for its art direction and handsome, black-and-white cinematography. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
Malcolm Brown - Art Director, Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, James Newcom - Associate Producer, Robert Saunders - First Assistant Director, Robert Wise - Director, Albert Akst - Editor, Bronislau Kaper - Composer (Music Score), Sammy Cahn - Songwriter, Bronislau Kaper - Songwriter, Edwin B. Willis - Production Designer, F. Keogh Gleason - Production Designer, Joseph Ruttenberg - Cinematographer, Charles Schnee - Producer, Ernest Lehman - Screenwriter, Rocky Graziano - Book Author, Rowland Barber - Book Author
The role of Rocky Graziano was originally to be played by James Dean, but he died before filming began, and Paul Newman was asked to take the part.[2]
The film was also notable for being one of Paul Newman's first starring roles and for being one of the first films in which Steve McQueen appeared. It also marked the film debuts of Frank Campanella, Robert Loggia and Dean Jones, all in bit parts and uncredited.
Story
Rocky Graziano has a difficult childhood and is beaten by his father. He joins a street gang, and undergoes a long history of criminal activities. He is sent to prison, where he is rebellious to all authority figures. After his release, he is drafted by the U.S. Army, but runs away. Needing money, he becomes a boxer, and finds that he has natural talent and wins six fights in a row before the Army finds him and dishonorably discharges him. He serves a year in a United States Disciplinary Barracks, and resumes his career as a boxer as a result. While working his way to the title, he is introduced to his sister's friend Norma, whom he falls in love with and later marries. Starting a new, clean life, he rises to the top, but loses a title fight with Tony Zale. A person he knew in prison finds him and blackmails him into throwing a fight. Rocky fakes an injury and avoids the fight altogether. When he is interrogated by the district attorney, he refuses to name the blackmailer and has his license suspended. His manager gets him a fight in Chicago to fight Zale the middleweight champion, once more. Rocky wins the fight.
