This is Paul Newman at his best. It's also Sal Mineo at his best (although pitifully under-used) and the rest of the supporting cast are on top form too. It's a beautifully shot movie, intense and moody but with sudden bursts of humour that catch you off guard. Although there is no doubt a certain schmaltz factor in the Hollywood re-telling of Graziano's true story, there's no attempt to put a gloss on the proceedings or over-play the undeniable bleakness of the New York slums in which the young Rocco Barbella was raised.
Those who are familiar with the ins and outs of boxing will appreciate this picture on so many levels but if, like me, you've always been a bit warey of the "noble" art of pugilism, please don't be put off by the violent subject matter. This is a story about a man who grew up with nothing and, like so many others before and since, had no other way of succeeding other than through the speed and ferocity he could put behind a right hook. It's about human emotions, a man's basic fragility but unbreakable spirit (and goodness knows, those in authority did everything possible to break Rocky's). It's also about the people who love him, his mother, wife, manager, even his brutal father, and the tough but waif-like street urchin Romolo.
A word or two on Romolo (and a possible minor spoiler). He's a kid who's never had the opportunity to be anything but be bad but in Sal Mineo's beautiful and sensitive portrayal you can't help but grow fond of him and care about what happens to him. He doesn't feature at all in a large chunk of the film and I found myself fretting about what had happened to him. It's a credit to Mineo's performance that I found myself smiling with relief when I spotted him in the closing scene.
If you're not familiar with Graziano's story then the brilliantly choreographed climactic fight scene will prove all the more exciting. If it was pure fiction you could be certain that Rocky would win against all the odds but as it's based on fact you can never be sure. I found myself willing him on, sitting on the edge of my seat, the fact that I was watching actors go through the motions of a fight completely lost on me.
This is a movie that everyone involved with can be thoroughly proud of, especially Paul Newman. Why he or the film were never even nominated for Oscars is beyond me. But at least Joseph Ruttenberg's Academy award for best cinematography is some consolation.
I haven't got "Somebody Up There Likes Me" on video yet but I'm hoping that, to quote Romolo, that's just a "temporary situation".
Those who are familiar with the ins and outs of boxing will appreciate this picture on so many levels but if, like me, you've always been a bit warey of the "noble" art of pugilism, please don't be put off by the violent subject matter. This is a story about a man who grew up with nothing and, like so many others before and since, had no other way of succeeding other than through the speed and ferocity he could put behind a right hook. It's about human emotions, a man's basic fragility but unbreakable spirit (and goodness knows, those in authority did everything possible to break Rocky's). It's also about the people who love him, his mother, wife, manager, even his brutal father, and the tough but waif-like street urchin Romolo.
A word or two on Romolo (and a possible minor spoiler). He's a kid who's never had the opportunity to be anything but be bad but in Sal Mineo's beautiful and sensitive portrayal you can't help but grow fond of him and care about what happens to him. He doesn't feature at all in a large chunk of the film and I found myself fretting about what had happened to him. It's a credit to Mineo's performance that I found myself smiling with relief when I spotted him in the closing scene.
If you're not familiar with Graziano's story then the brilliantly choreographed climactic fight scene will prove all the more exciting. If it was pure fiction you could be certain that Rocky would win against all the odds but as it's based on fact you can never be sure. I found myself willing him on, sitting on the edge of my seat, the fact that I was watching actors go through the motions of a fight completely lost on me.
This is a movie that everyone involved with can be thoroughly proud of, especially Paul Newman. Why he or the film were never even nominated for Oscars is beyond me. But at least Joseph Ruttenberg's Academy award for best cinematography is some consolation.
I haven't got "Somebody Up There Likes Me" on video yet but I'm hoping that, to quote Romolo, that's just a "temporary situation".