Somebody up there likes me...A Paul Newman tribute (1956 )

[8742leeds]

The theme of this movie was not copied by Sylvester Stallone for Rocky.Stallone was an unemployed actor who had tickets for the Heavyweight Championship fight between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner in Cleveland in 1975.Wepner was a small hall fighter who was pulled from obscurity to fight for the biggest title in the World in Ali's first defence.He had a disputed knockdown of Ali during the fight and although cut, badly beaten, managed to last into the 15th.The idea was born for a novel and film.

[joeparkson]

That's not the real Tony Zale playing himself.

It's Court Shepard, who played a lot of boxers in movies.

He's also the first boxer at the beginning of "Champion" who fights Kirk Douglas. He's not credited in that movie but he does have a line.

[fearless2916]

rocky was my great uncle. (:

[timtak1]

@fearless2916

what was he like?

[cellardoor199991]

@fearless2916 I read his bio. DAMN!!! You're great uncle had a fucked up life! It's a miracle he turned out the way he did. Proves that happiness is a matter of choice/attitude, not circumstances.

Can you tell us what he was like when he was old. I have a feeling he screwed up as a father. He mentioned that, a little, in the book.

[CalicoRoses]

Pier died of an overdose by barbiturates.

[Lovetheskorpionshow]

how did Pier Angeli die?

[kangryh]

RIP Pier Angeli , she was so beautiful

[Justingo7]

sylvester stallone clearly copied off this movie in Rocky (1976), they both talked funny was a bum that got a chance to make it big, there wives looked similar, they had the same strategy get hit most of the fight to wear the enemy down then when hes tired of hitting him then start hitting back, similar but both good movies.

[johnseeley]

@Justingo7 There are SO MANY parallels between the two movies. I saw this movie as a kid well before Rocky was released and then when I saw Rocky, I immediately knew the theme was taken from this movie.

[misterd699]

Wonderful Film- Paul Newman shows so much depth as an actor here- his 2nd major role- A powerful & moving film.

[muskratrowdy]

That's the real Tony Zale in there playing himself. This fight, the second of three between these two was probably the most savage, action packed fight in history and they didn't film it. This reenactment and the radio broadcast is all we have. Great movie, great book, thanks for the post!

[italianoettore]

Questo è un grande film!!!

[420billybong420]

RIP Paul Newman