Marqué par la haine

This was excellent! I think it is one of the most underrated and under-discussed movies of the 1950s. It was interesting from start-to-finish and had drama, humor, suspense, action, romance.....and it's all true. The story was approved by the man it was about: boxer Rocky Graziano. Thus, you know it's not "based on a true story" in which 90 percent of it turns out to be fiction, just for dramatic purposes. No, this was Graziano's story and Paul Newman - despite not looking Italian - did a superb job playing him. This movie put Newman "on the map" as an actor. He was fascinating in here and dominated most of the scenes.

The film's direction by Robert Wise and the cinematography also took center stage. Apparently, the "powers that be" agreed as this film won an Oscar for its photography.

Newfane's portrayal of the juvenile delinquent-turned-championship boxer may have dominated the story but all the characters left strong impressions, beginning with this parents played by the great character actors Harold Stone and Eileen Heckart . Pier Angeli is well- cast as Graziano's sweetheart-turned wife. Her Italian accent fits in perfectly as does her character as the soft and frail--but tough female complement to Rocky. Too bad we didn't see much of this actress in the USA.

The rest of the supporting cast is top-notch, from Everett Sloane as the fight manager to '50s star/teen idol Sal Mineo as a neighborhood pal to Graziano. Also good was Robert Loggia as the bad- influence hood. This was Loggia's first role on screen. Speaking of first roles, did anyone catch Steve McQueen in here?? I did a double-take when they had a quick gang-fight rumble on top of a roof and there's McQueen! The camera put a closeup shot on him and there was no doubt it was him! He had no lines, unfortunately, but that apparently was his film debut.

This movie is finally going to be released on DVD sometime in November of 2006. I hope more people get the opportunity to discover this fantastic movie which, by the way, reminded me quite a bit of another fantastic film in this era: On The Waterfront.

Boxer Rocky Graziano's biopic dealing with a selfish and violent boxer (Paul Newman in the title role playing one of his earliest characters as main star) who alienates the people around him , as his childhood friends (Steve McQueen, Sal Mineo) , his captivating wife (Pier Angeli) , his trainer (Everett Solane) , and other people , getting , eventually , redemption . Rocky Graziano is building a career in crime along with other young colleagues (Sal Mineo , Steve McQueen) , when he's finally caught and jailed . In prison , he continues being an obstinate rebel , always getting into trouble . Along the way he has several discussion and argument with his parents (Harold J. Stone and Eileen Heckart who was six years older than Newman) . When he gets out after many years he has decided to begin a new existence . However, he is immediately drafted to the army . But they can't keep him and he goes awol . Later on , Rocky discovers boxing as a way of earning quick money, and is subsequently discovered by a manager (Everett Solane) as a new talent . Punk Hoodlum! - Jailbird! - Alley Fighter! - He Brawled His Way From the Gutter All the Way to the Top! He Might Have Ended Up In "The Chair" - But For One Girl's Enduring Love! A Girl Can Lift A Fellow To The Skies! It's tougher than Blackboard Jungle!

M.G.M presents a most important motion picture , an interesting flick based on a screenplay by prestigious Ernest Lehman and based on Rocky Graziano autobiography , it is partially a noir drama about boxing world with an ambitious and usually angry starring , well personified by Paul Newman , and including ordinary issue about the boxing fixers . However , first was slated James Dean , but unfortunaly he died by an automobile accident , then was hired Newman . Being he first time Paul Newman and Steve McQueen showed on-screen , subsequently they would play various films get together . The violent boxing images shocked audiences of the 50s and still retains quite power nowadays . It's a grueling boxing tale with tough realism full of face-blistering , punch , knocks until ¨Raging Bull¨ by Martin Scorsese surpassed it years later . Top-notch acting by Paul Newman in Actor's Studio style , as an undisciplined , ruthless boxer in his usual hard-driving style and winning deservedly several prizes . Paul Newman is magnificently supported by a great support cast , plenty of known faces , such as Everett Sloane , Eileen Heckart, Harold J Stone , Sal Mineo , Robert Loggia's film debut , Steve McQueen , Dean Jones , Don Haggerty , Stanley Adams , the little girl Angela Cartwright in her debut feature and some of them uncredited .

It contains an adequate and evocative cinematography in black and white plenty of of lights and shades by Joseph Ruttenberger . Atmospheric and thrilling musical score by the classic composer Bronislau Kaper . The motion picture was well made by Robert Wise . The fine craftsman Wise was a good director who made films in all kinds of genres ; nowadays , some of them considered classic movies , such as : Musical : West side story , The sound of music ; SciF i: The day the Earth stood , Andromeda strain , Star Trek the motion picture ; Terror : The haunting , The body snatchers, , Audrey Rose , Curse of cat people ; Wartime : Run silent Run deep , The Desert Rats ; Historical : Helen of Troy ; Western : Tribute to a bad man ; Drama : I want to live , The Set-up , among others . Rating : better than average , 7.5/10 . The picture will appeal to Paul Newman fans .

Up until now I've only seen Paul Newman in 1990's and later movies - but he's never been the actor that called me into a movie theater or made me change the channel. He always seemed to play the same type of part: easy going, calm, aware, well contained. Or maybe that's the way he made each part seem.

After seeing this movie, now I know why he's considered such a great actor. I only watched boxing when it was part of the Olympics - just don't enjoy the sport itself that much - and only know about Rocky Graziano from the newspapers. But Paul Newman was riveting. He made this character of a complete underdog, who apparently had no hope, no charm, and nothing to live for, into someone I cared about enough to stick with the movie for two hours.

I don't know how true-to-life the story was; Hollywood generally creates composite characters, cleans up reality and changes or outright ignores major events. Certainly the many fights Graziano had were a bit of a blur in the film and I'm sure several critical steps in his advancement towards middleweight championship were neglected. The reason for the violent relationship between Rocky and his father was unexplained. And his mother's mental state (the film alludes to her time in the hospital) is not fully developed.

These gaps do not overshadow in any way Paul Newman's performance. I always thought it was longevity, charitable works, and a long-lasting marriage to another actor (not to mention darn good spaghetti sauce) that gave him the aura he has - now I understand.

Robert Wise was a film editor before he became a director. Having edited some of Orson Welles films when he was starting out, made him a natural director. After all, Mr. Wise knows how to move his camera and how to capture great moments in film. "Somebody Up There Likes Me" is a rarity these days, in that it's seldom seen.

This is also a film that has a rich texture. The story, photographed using New York as a backdrop offers a rare view of how it looked in those years. We are taken to Brooklyn, downtown Manhattan and other natural locations that were an asset in the film. It helps that Mr. Wise had the inspiration to engage Joseph Ruttenberg as his cinematographer because of the excellence of his work in the films he photographed.

This is a story of Rocky Graziano, a boxing champion, who came from a poor family. The father, Nick Barbella, is seen at the beginning trying to show young Rocco to box. When he doesn't get the response he wants, he punches the boy squarely on his nose, making him bleed. Rocco would grow up to become a hoodlum doing petty crime and being sent to jail.

Rocco's story could have ended in tragedy, but didn't. It helped to have met good friends along the way like Irving Cohen who helped him with his boxing career. The love of Nora is another of the blessings this man was blessed with. In fact, yes, somebody up there must have liked Rocco Barbella, a man who is a legend in boxing circles.

The young Paul Newman was lucky to land this part. James Dean had been selected to play the role, but it went to Mr. Newman who took it and ran away with the film. This was his big break through in films. Paul Newman was formed at the famous Actor Studio. His technique is in sharp contrast with other, formally trained actors, but in a way, by making Rocky's character so complex, we get a detailed account of the man by an inspired young actor that went to become a legend in his own right.

The supporting cast was excellent. Eileen Heckart is the suffering Ida Barbella, a woman who has been cheated out of everything by a husband that is a brute. Harold Stone is also good as Nick Barbella. Pier Angeli is sweet as Norma and Sal Mineo makes the best out of Romolo, the childhood friend. Everett Sloan plays the pivotal role of Irving Cohen.

In the film we see a lot of interesting young actors who went to have their own distinguished careers later on. Steve McQueen, Robert Loggia, George C. Scott, Frank Campanella, and other New York based theater actors are seen in the background without any credit.

This is a boxing film that was way ahead of the others because of the tight direction of Robert Wise.

How many chances do we get to watch Paul Newman overact? His over-the-top performance as an Italian-American boxing champ from New York City is lots of fun to watch. He turn Graziano into a poor man's Terry Malloy. Nice, albeit brief, performance by Sal Mineo as well, as Rocky's running buddy. Worth a look!