Somebody Up There Likes Me

A film about the life of the boxer Rocky Graziano. The narrative begins on the East Side of New York. Childhood passes in the street; his father is a former boxer who drinks and belittles his son. Rocky starts stealing young and goes to reform school. He is drafted, hits an officer and goes to military prison. When he comes out he has one thing: his fists. He starts boxing. There is no technique in the ring and no patience; only taking punishment and hitting. That style takes him up. The second line is the past refusing to let go. The army record, the criminal file and an investigation into betting come out in turn and bring his career to a stop. The subject at the centre is anger: the man realises late that what works in the ring is ruining his life outside it. Paul Newman plays Rocky. The part had gone to another actor first; after his death Newman took it over and the film was his breakthrough. Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane and, in a small part, Steve McQueen are in the cast. Robert Wise directed. The photography is black and white and the street scenes were shot on location. The film won the Academy Award for cinematography. A solid production for anyone who likes boxing films and classic Hollywood biography. For a viewer expecting strict fidelity to the record, the film softens some events.