Requiem for a Heavyweight [Blu-ray]

Director: Ralph Nelson Ralph Nelson

Overview

A remake of Rod Serling's award-winning teleplay, this movie proves to be equally powerful when undertaken by Anthony Quinn. Centering around a heavyweight boxer who is forced from the ring by a body that just can't take the punishment any more and a doctor's warning that blindness will result if he does keep fighting, circumstances conspire to cost him the last vestiges of his dignity. An excellent production with one of Quinn's best performances, ably assisted by Rooney and Gleason.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/21/2023
UPC:	0683904635815
Original Release:	1962
Rating:	NR
Source:	Sony/Universal
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Anthony Quinn	Louis "Mountain" Rivera
Jackie Gleason	Maish Rennick
Mickey Rooney	Army
Julie Harris	Grace Miller
Stanley Adams	Perelli
Madame Spivy	Ma Greeny
Herbie Faye	Bartender
Jack Dempsey	Himself
Muhammad Ali	Ring Opponent
Steve Belloise	Hotel Desk Clerk
Lou Gilbert	Ring Doctor
Arthur Mercante	Referee
Val Avery	Young Fighter's Promoter
Rory Calhoun	Himself
Barney Ross	Actor,Actor
Alex Miteff	Actor
Willie Pep	Actor
J.J. Balargeon	Actor
Michael Conrad	Actor
Gus Lesnevich	Actor
Paoli Rossi	Actor
Abe Simon	Actor
Laurence Rosenthal	Composer

Technical Credits

Rod Serling

Ralph Nelson	Director
David Susskind	Producer
Rod Serling	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Six years after helming the Emmy-winning television play Requiem for a Heavyweight, experienced stage director Ralph Nelson successfully remade Rod Serling's heart-rending boxing tale for the big screen. As the fighter at the end of his career, Anthony Quinn is superb in the role originally played by Jack Palance. Quinn was at the height of his talents and popularity in the wake of The Guns of Navarone (1961) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and his stoic work in Requiem dovetails well with his other performances. As the disreputable manager, Jackie Gleason turns in a performance every bit as good as his work in 1961's The Hustler; Julie Harris, best known as Abra in East of Eden (1955), is also very good as the kindly social worker. Requiem rests comfortably near the top of the boxing-drama genre, beside such stellar examples as Body and Soul (1947), Champion (1949), and Raging Bull (1980).