Somebody Up There Likes Me is a 1956 American drama film directed by Robert Wise and starring Paul Newman and Pier Angeli, based on the life of middleweight boxing legend Rocky Graziano.[3][4] The supporting cast features Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart, Harold J. Stone, and Sal Mineo.
| Somebody Up There Likes Me | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Wise |
| Screenplay by | Ernest Lehman |
| Based on | Somebody Up There Likes Me 1955 autobiography by Rocky Graziano with Rowland Barber |
| Produced by | Charles Schnee |
| Starring | Paul Newman Pier Angeli Everett Sloane |
| Cinematography | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| Edited by | Albert Akst |
| Music by | Bronislau Kaper |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
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Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,920,000[1] |
| Box office | $3,360,000[1][2] |
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, and won two: Best Cinematography (Black and White) (Joseph Ruttenberg) and Best Art Direction (Black and White) (Cedric Gibbons, Malcolm Brown, Edwin B. Willis, F. Keogh Gleason).[5] It lost its nomination for Best Film Editing to Around the World in 80 Days.
Plot
editRocky 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 over his dishonorable discharge. 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.
Cast
edit- Paul Newman as Rocky Graziano
- Pier Angeli as Norma Graziano
- Everett Sloane as Irving Cohen
- Eileen Heckart as Ma Barbella
- Sal Mineo as Romolo
- Harold J. Stone as Nick Barbella
- Joseph Buloff as Benny
- Sammy White as Whitey Bimstein
- Arch Johnson as Heldon
- Robert Lieb as Questioner
- Theodore Newton as Commissioner Edward Eagan
Production
editThe 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.[6] Australian actor Rod Taylor was also considered for the part; although unsuccessful, his screen test impressed MGM enough for them to offer him a long term contract.[7]
The film was also notable for being one of Paul Newman's first starring roles.
Soundtrack
editPerry Como's version of the title song is played over the opening and closing credits.[8]
Box office
editAccording to MGM records, the film earned $1,915,000 in the US and Canada and $1,445,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $609,000.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- ^ Domestic take - see 'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1956', Variety Weekly, January 2, 1957
- ^ Variety film review; July 4, 1956, page 6.
- ^ Harrison's Reports film review; July 7, 1956, page 106.
- ^ "NY Times: Somebody Up There Likes Me". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ Wise, Robert, (2006). - Somebody Up There Likes Me Commentary. - Turner Entertainment.
- ^ Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media, 2010 p 51
- ^ "Somebody up There Likes Me (1956) - IMDb". IMDb.