Teufel im Nacken

Gritty account of boxing champ Barney Ross's battle with morphine addiction following WWII war wounds. Those battle scenes on Guadalcanal have to be the ugliest on record. There's enough mud and rain to sink the Titanic. The firefight may not be very realistic since no shot seems to miss an enemy-- plus, reality speaking, rifles don't work too well in heavy rain. Nonetheless, Hollywood sets don't come any uglier, making the battle scene about as onerous as possible.

Fortunately, Mitchell delivers as boxer, soldier, family man, and addict. As I recall, the actor moved up the Hollywood ladder as a result. As I also recall, dealing with drug addiction was still a touchy movie topic in 1957. But thanks to Man With A Golden Arm (1955), the topic was no longer taboo for popular commercial releases. In that regard, I expect the film had a desired effect on dangers of drugs. Heck--after suffering along with Ross, I'm even worried about taking my aspirin!

Anyway, the movie's pretty realistic where it counts, even though the car-less, people-less, city street at night fairly shouts studio backlot. The deserted street may be atmospheric and symbolic of Ross's mental state, but a contrivance like this can remind viewers that this is a movie, after all.

Overall, the topic of pain-relieving drug addiction may no longer be cutting edge, still the message remains worthwhile for all ages, especially now with the growing problem of opioid addiction as a quick pain reliever. So I guess the sneaky monkey can come in many forms.

WW II Vet and professional boxer Barney Ross became addicted to morphine. This stark but well-told tale takes us into his inner psyche and allows us to share his inner torments as he struggles to overcome his addictions and rebuild his self-image. The low-budget supporting cast is nonetheless well selected and conveys the overall tone and mood perfectly. Watch this before renting Raging Bull again and contrast an underrated and natural rendering of the true heart and soul of troubled blue color boxer with Scorsese's highly stylized filming of DeNiro's technically brilliant but utterly soulless portrayal of Jake LaMotta.

This could have been a powerful movie. As it is, it's a precursor to heartwarming TV movies of the week. It's about a boxer and it has no punch.

The protagonist was a real person and this is his story. Maybe it had to be toned down. But, though Cameron Mitchell seems to be doing his best in the lead role, it is never convincing.

Diane Foster is wooden and very much of her time. She's like a sitcom mom, not the wife of an ex-boxer, returned war hero turned junkie.

Very little rings true. The seamy streets where Mitchell goes to get his fixes have a very obvious backlot look. The prosties he passes are kind of fun: They are straight from Police Gazette covers.

The other lowlifes, though, are like comic book exaggerations. It's interesting to note the low billing given the actor who plays his drug dealer. The good guys get the high billing. But this character, though not one of the plum roles if one were an actor reading the script, is pivotal.

After waiting years to see Hatful of Rain as they didn't show it on TCM until the 90's or so, I fell in love with the film.

Then I heard about the lesser shown "Monkey on My Back". Finally got to see it - wasn't disappointed. Similar story line. Men go into the service come back addicted to drugs.

Cameron Mitchell's portrayal of an addict is believable. A man that is afraid of nothing, lives life each day for the moment and doesn't worry about the future. Spends and lives lavishly but falls in love whole heartedly.

Unfortunately his love/need for drugs exceeds his love for his girlfriend/wife. You feel for him and his family but know the end result.

I saw this movie when I was a little Boy I'm now a pensioner and this movie has stayed with me my whole life As I was so young it set me on course with my life.

I promised myself that I would never go near drugs as it kind of scared the hell out of me being so young it left a big impression on me. I came across your site and just for fun typed Monkey On My Back And there it was wow memories ........How great but so sad they are.

It was a long time ago. Only one other movie made such a impression On me called Home Of the Brave it taught me to see a person for who he is And not the color of their skin I lived by this and it was because I was so young that these two movies made me the way I am I will take them to my final resting place