Paul Newman spent his first five years of acting in episodes of various TV series – none of which were noteworthy. His first big screen role was in "The Silver Chalice," a 1954 film that bombed at the box office. Interestingly, Newman won the Golden Globe award that year as the most promising male newcomer. The next year in his life was spent back in the TV dramas. Then came a break with his role as Rocky Graziano (nee, Thomas Rocco Barbella) in this 1956 biopic. The movie is based on Graziano's autobiography by the same title, "Somebody Up There Likes Me." Newman gives a superb performance. I agree with a couple of other reviewers, that this is one of the best boxing movies ever made. Newman showed his acting talents in playing the complex character of the troubled Barbella, growing up during the depression years in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He nailed the accent perfectly. The movie was a smash hit, and all the cast did superbly well in their roles. Pier Angeli played his wife, Norma Unger, daughter of Jewish German immigrants. Eileen Heckart played his mother and Harold Stone played Nick, his dad. Other notable roles were Everett Soane as his trainer, Irving Cohen; and Sal Mineo as a friend from the streets, Romolo. The fight scenes seem realistic. The film, like the book, pulls no punches (what better pun considering the subject?) in portraying Rocky's rocky (oops, another natural, no?) background. The supporting cast all are very good. I don't know how much Graziano gave to this in his book, but it would have been nice to see a little more with Army Sgt. John Hyland at Leavenworth military prison. Rocky actually spent nine months there and was dishonorably discharged from the Army for going AWOL after he punched and knocked out a captain. In the movie, Hyland took Rocky under wing to condition him for a fighting career when he got out. But nothing is shown of this. During Rocky's 1947 World Middleweight title fight toward the end of the film, the camera switches to scenes of family and other folks listening in on the radio. In a few scenes, the camera shows Hyland in civilian clothing listening in a bar with other men. This man likely played a more important role in Graziano's life (and depicted thus in his autobiography) than the movie shows. Apparently, Tony Zale was originally cast to play himself in this film. But when Newman got rough while sparring with him before the filming began, Zale knocked Newman out. So, Court Shepard replaced Zale for the film's final fight scene.Graziano's life had a happy ending, as does the movie. He lost the title the very next year to Zale (1948), but continued boxing for four more years. He won 20 of his next 21 fights, most by knockouts or TKOs, and had one draw. Then, on April 16, 1952, he again fought for the Middleweight title, but was knocked out halfway through the third round by Sugar Ray Robinson. I'm pretty sure I watched that fight on TV with my dad when we lived at Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he was serving in the Army.Graziano had one more fight five months later and he lost the 10-round bout in a unanimous decision. After that, he hung up his gloves. In 1971, he was elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame. He was a very popular celebrity and appeared as a guest on various TV programs and shows. He made TV commercials and built a local pizza chain In New York – Rocky Graziano's Pizza Ring. Rocky and Norma were married nearly 47 years when he died at age 71 on May 22, 1990. His funeral Mass took place in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. This is an excellent film about a troubled kid from the streets of New York who used his fists inside the ring to turn his life around. The movie won two Oscars and was nominated for a third.

According to his second autobiography published in 1981, Rocky Graziano was paid $200,000 for the rights to make this movie. Perry Como does a memorable job singing the theme while Sammy Cahn wrote the lyrics.The story portrays Rocco Barbella, a young Italian boy who grew up on the East Side of New York during the 1920's and 1930's. During this era life was extremely difficult for Italian immigrant families as they could not get decent jobs which were already taken by other ethnic nationalities who had preceded their arrival in America.Young Rocco was always loyal to his family and especially his mother (played by Eileen Heckart.) Long before his teen years, faced with an abusive alcoholic father and extreme poverty, Rocco learns the way of the streets. He becomes a bona fide hoodlum in the process. In reality, many of his friends and enemies from this era wound up in Sing Sing's electric chair.Eileen Heckart plays a superb role as Ma Ida Barbella, a religious, worry stricken mother who refuses to give up on her difficult son. Harold Stone plays an excellent role as Rocky's father Nick Barbella, whose main resolve is in a wine bottle.We see Rocky as he finally hits rock bottom, a point from which the only way is back up. Coupled with his girlfriend and future bride Norma (played by Pier Angeli,) Rocky takes on the world of professional boxing and shows a talent with great potential. (It should be noted that Rocky was rated as one of the best punchers in middleweight history by Ring Magazine.) I'm critical about some of the early fight scenes; but in all fairness the ones toward the end are extremely well done.The most important thing to remember about the story is that Rocky "turned the leaf" against huge odds; and not doing so might have landed him in the death house at Sing Sing. And so it follows that Somebody up there really did like him ! Great story.

Robert Wise directed this biographical account of Rocky Graziano, from his troubled youth as petty thief and hoodlum that led to his imprisonment, to his later release, where his big plans were intercepted by his prompt drafting into the army, where he proves just as undisciplined, and goes AWOL. He later uses his fighting skills in the boxing ring, where he finally finds the long sought-after success he has wanted, even finding love with a woman named Norma(Pier Angeli) Until one day when Rocky's past comes back to threaten him, and jeopardize his career...Paul Newman is fine as Rocky, with solid direction and interesting story of a not always likable lead character.

I've never been a fan of Paul Newman, although I know he's a good actor...just not my cup of tea. So, it was with little enthusiasm that I finally sat down to watch this film. Wow! What a great movie! So starkly real and compelling. And, although Newman gives a very fine performance, I'd have to say I give the credit, overall, to Robert Wise, the director. And oddly enough, when watching it, I saw obvious parallels in the opening scenes with "West Side Story', only to realize later that Wise directed that film, also.In particular, the early scenes of the film, where we learn what a juvenile delinquent Rocky was, are very powerful...although in this portion of the film, Newman is clearly too old for the part. However, I'm old enough to remember Rocky Graziano (although later when he had become a television star of sorts), and it was difficult to imagine Newman even portraying Graziano...but he did it extremely well. I walked away from this film more impressed with Newman than I had ever been in the past.Several other actors deserve mention here, also. Eileen Heckart as Graziano's "ma" turns in a stunning performance as a beaten down old woman living in the tenements. Sal Mineo as Graziano's young pal is always worth a mention. And, Everett Sloan, as the boxing manager is very good here.ANother thing worth mentioning here is that I am a bit of a boxing fan myself, and I watch most matches that are broadcast on HBO. The fight scenes here are the most realistic I have ever seen in a movie, and although we know they were throwing their punches, it's my guess that the actors were pretty sore after filming.And, last but not least, you have a superb Perry Como vocal -- one of his most powerful and dramatic performances -- in the opening and closing title song. What more could one want for that era?