DJJOEINC Review of Requiem for a Heavyweight

Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)

Dated movie with good performances

[6/10 · 20 January 2009]

Requiem For A Heavyweight - This 1962 adaptation of the Rod Serling(Twilight Zone) TV classic movie about a punch drunk boxer that turns to wrestling to make a living.This version stars Anthony Quinn as aging palooka managed by Jackie Gleason and Mickey Rooney.Quinn is Moose Riveria who is befriended by a lovely social worker who promises a way out with dignity- but in the end he sticks by his sleazy promoter and plays an Indian in a carnival like wrestling show.This movie is very melodramatic and is more speeches than action.You do get an excellent first person perspective start to the movie,a decent score and appearances by Cassius Clay,Jack Dempsey and Mike Conrad(From Hill Street Blues).The DVD has the trailer to The Greatest.This dated movie is rather slow at times-although it features a sympathetic performance by Quinn and a solid performance by Gleason.This black and white movie has not aged well and is not something I would suggest . C- JOBBER JOE-Roundtable Wrestling Radio