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Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)

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21 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Somebody up there liked Paul Newman, 14 enero 2006

Author: blanche-2 de United States

Paul Newman stars as Rocky Graziano in the middleweight champion's life story, "Somebody Up There Likes Me," directed with spirit by Robert Wise. The film covers Rocky Barbella's young life on the mean streets of New York, made all the meaner by his juvenile delinquent presence and that of his friends. Totally out of control, Barbella steals, runs, and punches his way through his home life, reform school, and prison, including his army stint where he knocks out a corporal and goes AWOL, then assuming the name Graziano. It's not long before his talent is put to good use in the ring. The respectability and success he gains is short-lived, however, when he refuses to take a dive but then fails to report it to the boxing commission or identify the criminals.

The film covers Graziano's marriage to his wife of 47 years, Norma, and his historic fight with Tony Zale. Pier Angeli plays the petite but tough Norma, who knows just how to handle her husband; Eileen Heckert is marvelous as Rocky's mother. Harold Stone, as Rocky's disillusioned father, is very good in the difficult role of an unlikeable man with an uneasy relationship with his son. Sal Mineo is effective as Romolo, Rocky's friend from the neighborhood.

James Dean was to play Graziano but after his death, the role went to Paul Newman. Words are not really adequate to describe the young Newman's work in this film. He totally inhabits the character of Graziano and loses what one thinks of as "Paul Newman" in the bargain. One of the hardest accents to do without making it sound phony is a New York one, yet Newman pulls it off with no problem. Though Dean would have been excellent, Newman's portrayal is a treasure. He's angry, sympathetic, scrappy, vulnerable and caring - in short, a flawed human being. It's one of the finest performances on film.

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19 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
James and Paul, 4 enero 2003
Author: harry-76 de Cleveland, Ohio

It's interesting to note the career relationship of James Dean and Paul Newman.

Both were leading contenders for the starring role in "East of Eden." Dean's moving screen test landed him the part over Newman.

Then, upon Dean's sudden demise, Newman was awarded the role Dean was to play in "Somebody Up There Likes Me." Fortunately, Newman was up to the task.

His Rocky was most effectively limned, with Newman in top physical form as well as in the acting department. He assumed a "New York hood" accent, which enhanced his portrayal, and executed the challenging fight scenes with conviction.

Perhaps young Newman's burning ambition at the time to greatly succeed in his craft provided extra stamina to smash through this meaty part for a "knockout punch." Fresh from Actors Studio training, Mr. Newman was fortunate to be surrounded by a quartet of fine "method" artists.

Eileen Heckart was particularly fine as Mrs. Barbella, Everett Sloane as a concerned Manager, Sal Mineo as dependable pal Romolo, and Pier Angeli as sensitive Norma Graziano.

Rocky's hard-hitting life was given a realistic black and white production, doing justice to the middle weight champ's biography. Robert Wise directed with his usual skill and confidence.

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13 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
One Of The Great Movies Of The 1950s, 8 septiembre 2006

Author: ccthemovieman-1 de Lockport, NY, United States

This was excellent! I think it is one of the most underrated and under-discussed movies of the 1950s. It was interesting from start-to-finish and had drama, humor, suspense, action, romance.....and it's all true. The story was approved by the man it was about: boxer Rocky Graziano. Thus, you know it's not "based on a true story" in which 90 percent of it turns out to be fiction, just for dramatic purposes. No, this was Graziano's story and Paul Newman - despite not looking Italian - did a superb job playing him. This movie put Newman "on the map" as an actor. He was fascinating in here and dominated most of the scenes.

The film's direction by Robert Wise and the cinematography also took center stage. Apparently, the "powers that be" agreed as this film won an Oscar for its photography.

Newfane's portrayal of the juvenile delinquent-turned-championship boxer may have dominated the story but all the characters left strong impressions, beginning with this parents played by the great character actors Harold Stone and Eileen Heckart . Pier Angeli is well- cast as Graziano's sweetheart-turned wife. Her Italian accent fits in perfectly as does her character as the soft and frail--but tough female complement to Rocky. Too bad we didn't see much of this actress in the USA.

The rest of the supporting cast is top-notch, from Everett Sloane as the fight manager to '50s star/teen idol Sal Mineo as a neighborhood pal to Graziano. Also good was Robert Loggia as the bad- influence hood. This was Loggia's first role on screen. Speaking of first roles, did anyone catch Steve McQueen in here?? I did a double-take when they had a quick gang-fight rumble on top of a roof and there's McQueen! The camera put a closeup shot on him and there was no doubt it was him! He had no lines, unfortunately, but that apparently was his film debut.

This movie is finally going to be released on DVD sometime in November of 2006. I hope more people get the opportunity to discover this fantastic movie which, by the way, reminded me quite a bit of another fantastic film in this era: On The Waterfront.

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13 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
Fast-Paced, Excellent Wise/Newman Biopic..., 21 marzo 2004
Author: Ben Burgraff (cariart) de Las Vegas, Nevada

After the critical and commercial fiasco of THE SILVER CHALICE, Paul Newman decided that the move to Hollywood had been a mistake, and returned to Broadway, to star in "The Desperate Hours" (later filmed with Humphrey Bogart in Newman's role). Warner Brothers, not amused by Newman's departure, tacked an additional two years onto his film contract, and brought the young actor back for a so-so war drama on loan to MGM, THE RACK. Then lightning struck!

Boxer/Entrepreneur Rocky Graziano's entertaining autobiography, SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME (ghosted by Rowland Barber) had been planned with James Dean in the lead, but the 24-year old star's untimely death, after completing GIANT, left the WB without a loan-out actor for the MGM production. The studio decided to use Newman, and at last the young actor had a role he could really "sink his teeth into".

Masterfully directed by the legendary Robert Wise, the fast-paced, gritty comedy/drama follows young Rocco Barbella (Newman), from his early gang days (with Sal Mineo in a small role, and young Steve McQueen and Robert Loggia, unbilled, as other gang members), resulting in a prison stint, finally released just in time to be inducted into the service! His quick temper and natural boxing skills catch the attention of an Army boxing coach, but the undisciplined Barbella decides to go AWOL, using boxing (under the name Rocky Graziano) to pick up quick cash. Eventually, Graziano/Barbella gets his life straightened out, aided by the love of a good woman (Pier Angeli, James Dean's real-life girlfriend, and Newman's costar in THE SILVER CHALICE), and a sympathetic manager (Everett Sloane, in another of his many masterful performances), and Rocky begins a long, hard drive to become a champion.

The role of Graziano would be a showcase for any actor, and the Method-trained Newman plays it with an explosive physicality and intensity that is occasionally too theatrical, but is still mesmerizing. His performance foreshadows, to some extent, Robert De Niro's Jake La Motta, in RAGING BULL, without the abusiveness and ultimately self-destructive qualities. Just as La Motta, even in defeat to Sugar Ray Robinson, would proclaim "I never went down!", Graziano would not allow himself to accept defeat gracefully, resulting in a constant physical pummeling that would leave his face so battered that he'd even frighten his child!

SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME would influence a generation of young actors and film makers (including Sylvester Stallone, who would 'lift' characters and some story elements in his script for ROCKY). For Paul Newman, it opened doors, and although his next two projects would be a standard Warner Brothers musical biopic (THE HELEN MORGAN STORY) and soap opera (UNTIL THEY SAIL), MUCH better films would soon be on their way.

A new star had been born!

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16 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :-
Incomplete biography of Graziano, 27 enero 2005

Author: esteban hernandez de Italy

Probably the director Robert Wise wanted to emphasize more on the behavior of young Graziano, his problems with his father, the time he spent in jail and his misdoing in the army, but some aspects of his final life as a boxer were not shown at all in the film, which ends with the rematch between Graziano and Tony Zale in Chicago in 1947, where Graziano did his best to knock out Zale. With this victory Graziano became world champion, something that did not last for long. Zale and Graziano met once again in 1948, and this time Zale finished his adversary with a knock out in the third round. Graziano wanted to come back in 1952 fighting against the famous Ray "Sugar" Robinson. In that fight, Graziano knocked down Robinson in the third round, but he recovered and finished with Graziano in the same third round. In any case, Graziano was a good boxer, and this bloody -violent sport put his life on the right track. Interesting to note that this was the first film (uncredited) in the career of the actor Steve McQueen. Sal Mineo again acted as a wrong young boy in New York. The actress Pier Angeli did a good work as Graziano's wife.

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9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Pier Angeli and Paul Newman were terrific in this film!, 15 marzo 2006

Author: sandibiaso de United States

I really enjoyed this movie and every performance was amazing. Pier Angeli really showed range in this motion picture. Her performance was moving. I realized after seeing this film that Paul Newman was a gifted actor. I had a hard time taking my eyes of him in each scene he was in but was able to do so when Pier Angeli appeared. I didn't like his lack of effort in the Warner Brothers' motion picture The Silver Chalice but this helped change my mind about him as an actor.

Both Pier Angeli and Paul Newman should have been nominated for Academy Awards for their tremendous performances.

I know that James Dean was first chosen to portray Rocky Graziano but tragically he was killed in a devastating car accident. I know this from reading several of his biographies as well as the only biography that was written about Pier Angeli. I am sure Pier Angeli was thinking about James Dean in the role as she and Paul Newman were filming.

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9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Paul Newman Wins It, 26 enero 2006

Author: jimmylee-1 de Silicon Valley

Up until now I've only seen Paul Newman in 1990's and later movies - but he's never been the actor that called me into a movie theater or made me change the channel. He always seemed to play the same type of part: easy going, calm, aware, well contained. Or maybe that's the way he made each part seem.

After seeing this movie, now I know why he's considered such a great actor. I only watched boxing when it was part of the Olympics - just don't enjoy the sport itself that much - and only know about Rocky Graziano from the newspapers. But Paul Newman was riveting. He made this character of a complete underdog, who apparently had no hope, no charm, and nothing to live for, into someone I cared about enough to stick with the movie for two hours.

I don't know how true-to-life the story was; Hollywood generally creates composite characters, cleans up reality and changes or outright ignores major events. Certainly the many fights Graziano had were a bit of a blur in the film and I'm sure several critical steps in his advancement towards middleweight championship were neglected. The reason for the violent relationship between Rocky and his father was unexplained. And his mother's mental state (the film alludes to her time in the hospital) is not fully developed.

These gaps do not overshadow in any way Paul Newman's performance. I always thought it was longevity, charitable works, and a long-lasting marriage to another actor (not to mention darn good spaghetti sauce) that gave him the aura he has - now I understand.

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10 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
Rebel without a clue, 15 septiembre 2005

Author: Christian-Doig

Starring Paul Newman in one of his most interesting performances, Robert Wise's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" is a haunting piece of cinema.

Newman wasn't the first choice for the career-making part of the rash and real-life champion Rocky Graziano. It's just impossible to think of James Dean as a more suitable actor, though. Come to think of it, perhaps not even Brando himself had pulled it off better than Newman, who made "Somebody Up There Likes Me" in Brando's shadow.

The picture also showcases the gift of director Wise for social commentary and, ultimately, human comedy. Good boxing movies are always gritty and noirish, but not nearly often as sensitive as this one. Featuring a rare mixture of well-balanced tragic, realistic and lyrical undertones, the work of both Newman and Wise focuses on the study of its anti heroic main character, only to transcend the boxing set-up and to reach the vast realm of human condition. So Wise improved upon his then already classic work in the genre and managed to give us an almost forgotten masterpiece.

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent sports movie, 8 noviembre 2003
Author: stevenmaven

Picture is more about the people than the sport.At first you don't like the main character and this is not a good thing.That begins to change in the latter part of the film and by the end you are happy to see things finally work out for him.I wouldn't be surprised if Stallone used this as an inspiration for his"Rocky" movie.Non-stop plot changes culminate in Graziano's (Newman's) change of character.Angeli provides a great presence;reminds me of an Italian Audrey Hepburn.

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8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the best movies about boxing, 25 enero 2006

Author: ragrelo de Uruguay

I am a Paul Newman's fan I think he is one of the best actors of the last four decades This movie reflects the life of a great boxer as no other. The fact that the movie has been filmed in black and white captures the essence of a decade where the values were more than money for the American society. All the performances are excellent, and the Perry Como's song Somebody up there likes me is a plus. I want to mention Everett Sloane and Sal Mineo performances because they really help to show the boxer's life. Although there are many good Paul Newman's movies this is a masterpiece to me.To summarize,this is one of the best movies about boxing that you can find and is also a biography

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