Requiem for a Heavyweight

Requiem for a Heavyweight
by Ralph Nelson

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Movie Reviews of Requiem for a Heavyweight

Movie Review: Grim... repellent... fascinating.
Summary: 5 Stars

First of all we see the viewpoint from a camera backing up behind a bar, watching the patrons, all men, as they stare intently at a TV screen up on the wall behind the camera. Theyre watching a boxing match, and we know this because of the hyperbolic commentary coming from the TV; the old pro wont quit even though his blood is spattered all over Clay! The Old Pro is a boxer named Mountain Rivera, and hes being beaten to a pulp in front of a baying crowd by a young kid named Cassius Clay, the boxer the world now knows as Mohamed Ali!

The camera cuts to the boxing ring, and what we see is blurred and distorted. Clay moves into view, firing off punches, moving out of reach, then coming in for the kill; suddenly were looking up at the lights, the referee is standing over us, counting to 10, then mercifully, its over. Mountains manager and trainer rush into view, help him up, our view of the world shifts and blurs as the trainer tends to cuts and abrasions; helped out of the ring on unsteady legs, Mountain is led through a jeering crowd, and still we are seeing the world as he sees it. They go through a door, heading for the changing rooms and showers, a distorted face suddenly looms into view, and just a quickly shrinks away, shocked and horrified; the camera spins around, and finally we get our first look at the boxer. Dazed and confused, supported by his manager and trainer, Mountain is a battered mess, his swollen face runs with blood from cuts around the eyes and cheeks, he looks uncomprehendingly at his own reflection in the mirror of a cigarette machine if this opening doesnt draw you in, nothing will!

Once in the changing room we learn that Mountain is all washed up, after 17 years in the ring, one more well placed punch to the head could blind him, permanently. What is he to do? But the boxer isnt the only one with problems, Maish, his manager for all of those 17 years, owes the mob, BIG time, partly as a result of Mountains fight against Clay. But its Mountains plight that takes center stage; what is he to do now that he cant fight? All he knows is life in the ring.

Almost in desperation he visits an employment counselor, and what at the outset appears to be a disaster in the making, becomes a turning point in Mountains life. The counselor is a young woman, somewhat sheltered in her upbringing; Mountain, and his world, is completely outside of her experience. But after some initial trepidation, she looks beyond the battered face, the cauliflower ears, the slurred speech and the sometimes shambling walk, to see Mountains heart. Strong and proud after those 17 hard years in the ring, hed never thrown a fight and was once rated the no. 5 heavyweight in the world. She tries a long shot, and against all the odds is able to offer Mountain a chance at a life outside the ring. But Maish is in a hole, and what he needs is a fighter will he let Mountain go?

This is a superb production, written by Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame, the script is relentless in its exposure of, not only, the fight game, but the dark underbelly of human nature itself. And as good as Serlings script is, what really makes this film work are the four central characters, and how they are brought to life on the screen. First and foremost, Anthony Quinn gives a magnificent, heartbreakingly honest performance as Mountain Rivera, and Jackie Gleason is slime personified as his manager Maish. Mickey Rooney, who Ive long considered a lightweight in the acting stakes, pours his heart into the role of, not only Mountains trainer, but his only true friend, and Julie Harris is luminous as the Employment Counselor who offers him that all important second chance.

Much has been said in the other reviews of this film about previous and alternative versions of the story, and how they alter the perception of Gleasons character, Maish, in particular. This is the only version Ive seen, although I would love to see the original, and I bought this on the strength of the Amazon reviews alone, something I very rarely do. A forgotten masterpiece, Requiem for a Heavyweight wont be to everybodys liking, especially those who think Rocky paints a realistic picture of the fight game! This is strong meat, grim and repellent, but its also a fascinating and magnificent tale of honor, sacrifice, and friendship HIGHLY recommended!

Summary of Requiem for a Heavyweight