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Requiem for a HeavyweightRating:
Release Date: 14 May, 2002 Retail Price: $24.95 OUR Price: $21.99 You SAVE: $2.96! Cast: Complete Cast (11 total) |
Requiem for a Heavyweight Reviews
requiem for a heavyweight
Rod Serling's screen play for one of the 3 greatest fight movies ever made.
Still Packs A Hellava Punch!
Requiem For A Heaveyweight, the film was released in 1962. It was initially written for television by none other than Rod Serling, and premiered on Playhouse 90 in the Fall of 1959. That production starred Keanin Wynn in the role of Mesh, the desperate and mercinary fight manager. His dad, Ed Wynn played Armie, Mountain Rivera's sympathetic handler and Jack Palance was cast in the lead role of the over-the-hill pugilist, Mountain Rivera.
The casting for the theatrical release is considerablly more inspired. Jackie Gleason stars as Mesh, a man desperatly attempting to stay one step ahead of the bookies and willing to sell the soul of his washed-up fighter to save his own skin. Mickey Rooney turns in an oscar worthy supporting role as Armie, Mountain's handler, confidant and "brother's keeper". And in the lead role we have one of Hollywood's finest dramatic actors, the inimitable, Anthony Quinn.
Requiem is a fasenating look at the seemey underbelly of the world of prize fighting. Keep in mind the history of professional boxing up until the time of this release was marred by rigged fights, doctored gloves and largely controled by the corrupt forces of organized crime. Fighters were viewed largely as commodities, expendable and easily replaced. Requiem For A Heaveyweight speaks directly to the heart of the grim reality of the "sweet science", during boxing's darkest period. The film still packs an enormous punch, (pardon the pun) and holds up remarkably well over the years. See it for the great story-telling by Sterling, the brilliant acting by Gleason, Quinn, Rooney and Eva Marie Saint. And finally catch it for the marvelous cameo by a very young and erasable Cascius Clay.
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