Somebody Up There Likes Me

Director: Robert Wise (1956)

Cast:Paul Newman, Pier Angeli

One of the very best true story boxing movies and one that cemented the young Paul Newman as a movie star. Director Robert Wise got his start as an editor on Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, before moving on to direct many successful movies. This movie has a little of everything: Inspirartion, romance and sports.

Based on the life and boxing career of former middleweight Champion Rocky Graziano. A tough kid from the wrong side of the tracks in New York City, Rocky is a wild kid is always getting into trouble at school, at home and with New York police. He is constantly beaten by his father, put into reform school and, in his late teens, ends up in prison .Upon his release he is drafted into the U.S. Army and when that sours again he runs away again he gives boxing a try just to make some money and lo and behold, he finds his calling and everything finally falls into place.

Rocky starts moving up in the rankings; his criminal past follows him too, especially his army court martial. By this time His wife Norma, a nice girl from the neighborhood, gives Rocky the love and stability he never had at home as a kid. Finally Rocky gets a second chance at the middleweight championship against Tony Zale…

Fun Facts:

This was Paul Newman's first starring role. He got his start in The Silver Chalice and Our Town, which are ensemble films. This was a film that he had to carry himself.

In 1954 and 1955 Paul Newman and James Dean were always going for the same characters In films like East of Eden and Giant. Dean was cast as Graziano for the film. When he was killed in a car crash, Director Robert Wise Gave Newman the Graziano role.

Dean Jones, Robert Loggia,and Angela Cartwright all had small parts in the film. Pier Angeli and Sal Mineo would both die young. Fear Strikes Out.