Paul Newman

Pier Angeli

Everett Sloane

Eileen Heckart

Sal Mineo

Harold J. Stone

Joseph Buloff

Arch Johnson

Sammy White

Robert P. Lieb

Theodore Newton

Steve McQueen

Stanley Adams

Fred Aldrich

Leon Alton

William Boyett

Bart Braverman

John Breen

Frank Campanella

Walter Cartier

Angela Cartwright

George Cisar

Russ Clark

Tom Coleman

Russ Conway

Gene Coogan

Clancy Cooper

Matt Crowley

Michael Dante

Ray Danton

James Dime

Robert Easton

John Eldredge

Joe Garcio

Robert Gardett

Tommy Garland

Sam Gilman

James Gonzalez

Herschel Graham

Donna Jo Gribble

Kit Guard

Don Haggerty

Bern Hoffman

Allen Jaffe

Dean Jones

Byron Kane

Jackie Kelk

Kenner G. Kemp

Jack Kenney

Jess Kirkpatrick

Richard LaMarr

David Leonard

Len Lesser

Robert Loggia

Jack Lomas

Wilbur Mack

Philo McCullough

Frank McLure

Joseph Marr

Gregg Martell

Joe McGuinn

Tyler McVey

Tony Michaels

Billy Nelson

Frank Mills

Robin Morse

Sol Murgi

Monty O'Grady

Ralph Neff

Jimmy Murphy

James O'Rear

Jack Orrison

Jack Perry

Judson Pratt

Terry Rangno

Sid Raymond

Michael Ross

Ralph Reed

Dick Rich

Christopher Riordan

Benny Rubin

Eddie Ryder

Wayne Taylor

Willard Sage

Scott Seaton

Jack Shea

Don Shelton

Court Shepard

Al Silvani

Buster Slaven

Bert Stevens

Ray Stricklyn

James Todd

Renata Vanni

Ray Walker

Bob Whitney

Billy Wilson

Anne Caprile

Rocky Graziano

Robert Wise

Ernest Lehman

Alan Stetson

William Tuttle

Robert Saunders

John Truwe

John Indrisano

Rowland Barber

James E. Newcom

Malcolm Brown

Tom Volpe

Edwin B. Willis

Joseph Ruttenberg

Van Allen James

Wesley C. Miller

Albert Akst

Cedric Gibbons

F. Keogh Gleason

Warren Newcombe

Charles Schnee

Bronislau Kaper

Lucky Kargo

Robert Franklyn

Hank Moonjean

Miklós Rózsa

Johnny Green

Drama

Somebody Up There Likes Me

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

United States of America

Ma, I tried to turn the leaf but I can't make it. It's something inside me. I try but I can't make it. 

Directed by multi genre supremo Robert Wise, the screenplay is adapted by Ernest Lehman from the Rocky Graziano biography of the same name. Music is by Bronislau Kaper and cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg. It stars Paul Newman, Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart and Sal Mineo.

This film really hits the spot to me as a portent of just what a great career Paul Newman was to have, not only that but it stands up as one of the better sports biographies I have seen. 

Fine story as we follow Rocky Graziano (Newman) from his wild youth into a man on the verge of destroying his life and then on to becoming the World Middleweight Champion (the final fight with Tony Zale is superbly choreographed). It's weird because during Graziano's wild antics one can't help but like the guy because Newman makes the character so charming. The time he spent with the real Graziano pays off in spades as he captures his mannerisms and style impressively.

One has to wonder what sort of performance original choice James Dean would have done with the role?. A big shout up to Pier Angeli as the main Female lead as she turns in a wonderful performance in view of Newman's barn storming show. Ruttenberg won the Academy Award for his pin sharp Black-and-White cinematography, the art department won for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White, while a certain Steve McQueen can be seen as one of Rocky's gang members - Fidel a knife wielding thug. 9/10

English

Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) Official Trailer - Paul Newman Movie