Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

With a title like "Requiem for a Heavyweight" you certainly aren't expecting an upbeat movie! But, here, there ends up being little point to watching the film. The film starts with the heavyweight of the title, Anthony Quinn, badly losing a fight. The fight doctor declares him unable to fight anymore, since he could lose sight in his left eye if he goes back in the ring.What follows is the expected downward spiral, instigated by the thoroughly unscrupulous manager played by Jackie Gleason. He's deep in debt to bookies and has no issue in using Quinn's fighter in any way he can to make a buck. He certainly plays a reprehensible character very well.I love black-and-white cinematography, and it is beautifully done here, on location in New York. Unfortunately, we get to see little of the city during the course of the movie, since the drama takes place almost entirely in interiors.The script is by Rod Serling, who always showed skill with various genres. The movie is staged well by Ralph Nelson, a veteran TV director, who helmed the original TV version of the story in 1956.The performances are excellent all around. It is amazing to see how beaten up Mickey Rooney looks at 42! His appearance definitely sells him as the worn-down "cut man" of the team. The make up is by Dick Smith, to me the greatest make up artist ever in film. He is most famous for creating Brando's "The Godfather," as well as doing make up effects, like in "The Exorcist." Here, he's billed as Richard Smith.Overall, an interesting movie for what it is. But, you can see all the beats coming before they happen.****** (6 Out of 10 Stars)

A searing masterpiece. Outstanding in its portrayal of a boxer who is forced to retire, and discovers that all he knows how to do is box. Also, that's all certain people want him to do...Great cinematography and direction. Shot in black & white, the use of shadows and light is superb.Brilliant character development and depth. It is painful to watch Mountain Rivera go through all his torment, stumbling along with no direction, easily manipulated. What makes it so much much more compelling is Anthony Quinn's performance in the lead role. Surely one of the great performances in cinema history (yet strangely overlooked, as was anything to do with this movie, at Oscar nomination time). Quinn acts out of his skin here, engaging you fully, and making you feel his pain and desperation.Good support from Mickey Rooney, Jackie Gleason and Julie Harris. Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali) and Jack Dempsey appear as themselves.Only negative comes right at the end. Conclusion feels rushed, and slightly misses its mark.One of the greatest sporting movies ever made. Among boxing movies its only equals or betters are Raging Bull and Million Dollar Baby.

This film grew out of a great television drama script being converted to a Hollywood film. With Rod Serling in charge, the results had to be good and they are. It is the same story as the live broadcast on television except it has additional characters, more story and a different ending.Anthony Quinn plays "Mountain" a washed up boxer who on television was played by Jack Palance (US) and Sean Connery (UK). While I have never seen the UK version, both of these actors are tough acts to follow. Quinn does it by making the character pretty much like some real life boxers of the era. Jackie Gleason puts in an excellent performance as Mountains manager, and Mickey Rooney excels in the role as the trainer of Mountain and the guy who is between Mountain & Gleason. Julie Harris is excellent in her role as an employment office worker who takes on the challenge of trying too find the washed up boxer another job.While it is the story of a washed up boxer and his manager, there isn't really much boxing. That is because drama is the way the script is written. It works very well and the new ending is every bit as dramatic as the ending in the Palance version. When you look at them together, both have great casts, and the film has the advantage of not being live so it can work in more story and characters than the former.Still, both have such good scripts, they are both great entertainment. I'd watch both versions if you have the chance because they are both well done.

Like so many others have already said, this is a great film, and one that I've watched many, many times since the late-1960's. Somewhere along the line, though, it was unceremoniously edited by someone who should've left it alone. The cut to which I refer involves an exchange between Maish Reynolds and Ma Greeney at the end of the film. Reynold's has narrowly escaped death at the hands of Greeney's goons, and in that moment, Reynold's vindictively intones to Greeney, "I wish you were a man." Greeney laughs out loud and replies, "Maishey darling, that's the nicest thing anyone ever said to me!" Maybe some of you remember it, but it has been many years since any version I've seen still has it.