Somebody Up There Likes Me
Directed by Robert Wise
Written by Ernest Lehman from an autobiography by Rocky Graziano with Rowland Barber
1956/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing/Netflix rental
Rocky Graziano: Don’t worry ’bout a thing
This was Paul Newman’s first hit. He will light up the next several decades.
This is the story of middleweight champion Rocky Graziano (Newman). His birth name was Rocco Barbella. The Barbellas are poor. Pa Barbella is an alchoholic ex-fighter who uses “play” fights as an excuse to knock his son around. Ma Barbella (Eileen Heckart) is a doting mother. As Rocky grows up, he becomes a severe trial to her.
As soon as he is able, Rocky hits the mean streets and hooks up with a rough gang that specializes in petty theft. Several stints in reform school do nothing to tame the volatile Rocky. On one of his rare trips back home, the police collar him and take him down to “volunteer” for the army. Rocky escapes after knocking out his commanding officer. While on the lam, he earns money by appearing in prize fights. Manager Irving Cohen (Elliott Sloane) recognizes his talent and wants to train him. Before this can happen, Rocky is picked up, court-martialed, and sentenced to a year in Leavenworth.
Rocky’s stint in prison proves to be the turning point in his life. His performance in a brawl gets him invited to join the prison’s boxing club and he is trained and worked hard. He emerges from prison to begin the long road to the championship. Keeping him on the straight and narrow is his romance with Norma (Pier Angeli). At the worst possible time, however, the popular fighter’s past comes back to haunt him. With Sal Mineo and Steve McQueen (in his film debut) as gang members.
James Dean was signed to play Rocky but was killed before production could start. Newman is surely 100% more suited to this open and uncomplicated character. Wise,who had already directed a fine boxing film, The Set-Up, keeps things moving at a brisk pace. The fight scenes look great. The story is warm and human and I was absorbed throughout. Recommended.
The DVD I watched included a very good commentary by several participants and a film historian. Most prominent are the voices of Robert Wise and Richard Schickel but Paul Newman, Robert Loggia, and Martin Scorcese all put in appearances.
Somebody Up There Likes Me won Academy Awards in the categories of Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White. It was nominated for Best Film Editing.
Trailer
