Requiem for a Heavyweight **** (1962, Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, Julie Harris) – Classic Movie Review 7723

Director Ralph Nelson’s 1962 black and white sports drama Requiem for a Heavyweight (Blood Money in GB) is a dour, nimbly-played fight movie, with the acting, fleshed-out characterisations and sweaty atmosphere stronger than the plot. Rod Serling bases his screenplay on his landmark 1956 TV play.

It stars the strong, iconic team of Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney and Julie Harris.

In the story, unprincipled manager Maish Rennick (Gleason) exploits punch-drunk boxer Mountain Rivera (Quinn), while trainer Army (Rooney) and job-finding sympathetic social worker Grace Miller (Harris) try to help.

Requiem for a Heavyweight may not be a knockout but it does win on points, with the help of iconic appearances from Muhammad Ali and Jack Dempsey. Once again Rooney is effective, though his later movie career is very patchy.

Jack Dempsey, Muhammad Ali (billed as Cassius Clay) and Rory Calhoun play themselves. Also in the cast are Stanley Adams, Madame Spivy, Val Avery, Herbie Faye and Nancy Cushman.

Requiem for a Heavyweight is Nelson’s feature début. It runs 87 minutes but the expanded TV version runs 100 minutes, cobbled together with deleted scenes for a two hour time slot, infuriating Nelson, who tried unsuccessfully to have his name removed from the credits.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7723

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