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Paul Newman, Anna Maria Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart, Sal Mineo ... see more see more... , Robert Loggia , Harold J. Stone , Joseph Buloff , Sammy White , Arch Johnson , Robert P. Lieb , Theodore Newton , Patty Duke , Frank Campanella , Angela Cartwright , Russ Conway , Clancy Cooper , Michael Dante , Robert Easton , John Eldredge , Donna Jo Gribble , Jackie Kelk , David Leonard , Steve McQueen , Billy Nelson , Judson Pratt , Ray Stricklyn , James Todd , Ray Walker , Mart Crowley , Dean Jones , Courtland Shepard , Terry Rangno , John Rosser , Harry Wismer , Charles Green

Once you get past the fact that handsome Paul Newman could never pass for plug-ugly boxer Rocky Graziano in real life, you will be able to accept Somebody Up Their Likes Me as one of the more accompli... read more read more...shed movie biopics of the 1950s. Based on Graziano's autobiography (co-written with Rowland Barber), the film accurately depicts the teen-aged Rocky as an unregenerate punk, evidently doomed by his slum environment, and his own lousy attitude, to a life of petty crime. Determining that the only way he'll make a living is with his fists, Rocky becomes a boxer, at first willing to participate in a series of fixed fights. Eventually, Rocky develops a conscience and sense of self-respect, no small thanks to his sweetheart (and later wife) Norma (Pier Angeli). The film ends on an optimistic note after Rocky wins a "clean" bout with Tony Zale (playing himself). Training extensively with Graziano prior to and during production, Newman is quite impressive in his first worthwhile film role (this was only his third film, following the execrable The Silver Chalice and the forgettable outing The Rack). The title song in Somebody Up There Likes Me was written by Bronislau Kaper and Sammy Cahn, and performed by Perry Como. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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85% liked it

2,180 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

10 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Robert Wise

Release Date: July 3, 1956

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DVD Release Date: November 14, 2006

Stats: 138 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (138)

  • ythelastman89
    June 4, 2010
    ythelastman89
    A flawless movie on all accounts, it's one of the best boxing movies to ever be made. Its longstanding reputation is well warranted and I feel like it should be praised even more. Paul Newman is both charming and determined, he plays a character that has truly had nothing to his ... read morename since he was born and been treated as though he is worthless and stupid. It's so powerful and inspiring when he turns his whole life around and gets everything he goes for. The visual style of this is downright scary, there is not one shot that doesn't look hand crafted and meticulously planned out. Robert Wise created a film that is both a great piece of entertainment and an unforgettable piece of cinema.
  • rubystevens
    October 13, 2008
    rubystevens
    dunno what took me so long to see this. now i know where sly stallone got his rocky character. this part was meant for james dean before he was killed, giving newman the break that made him a star. with sal mineo and steve mcqueen as his street gang buddies. very entertaining... read more if somewhat predictable story. well what can u do, it's all true :P the only lame part was perry como's theme song
  • hypathio7
    November 19, 2011
    hypathio7
    Early in the movie when Rocky is running around with a street gang, including Sal Mineo and Steve McQueen, you can see why Robert Wise was later given the job of directing West Side Story. I recently read an informative biography about Paul Newman. I didn't realize that he came o... read moreut of the Actor's Studio, the same method school as Brando, Dean and many others. Newman observed the real Rocky Graziano, saw the neighborhoods where he lived, trained in the gym where he trained. Incidentally, Brando based his manner and voice for Stanley and Terry on Rocky too. Newman embodies a character who seems so different from the ones I've seen him play a later in life. He is excellent. I don't think I've seen any other movies in which Pier Angeli plays a role. Her role here is not the normal doting girlfriend/wife who fades into the background of the story. True she is doting on Rocky, but she shows a strength and a vulnerability that is usually not explored in a supporting part in a biopic like this. The circle of friends and family who surround Rocky through his life are played by a great cast of character actors. Parts of this movie were filmed on location in New York, when that was still a fairly new practice. So it has a realistic feel that doesn't often shrink from the tougher issues in Rocky's life. The big boxing match near the end must have been an inspiration to Scorsese and De Niro for Raging Bull. The movies of course share black and white cinematography. While Scorsese played with the camera speed more, here Wise keeps things at realistic speeds. The makeup work done on Newman as he gets pummeled and swollen looks quite similar to De Niro's makeup. This is a lifelike biopic that covers many years in Rocky Graziano life. The worst part about it is Perry Como's rendition of the title song over both sets of credits.
  • codyfranklin2
    November 17, 2008
    codyfranklin2
    I have not seen this one in awhile and still enjoyed it. Newman is great and Wise shooting on location in NYC looks great. I agree with Keith where I couldn't see Jimmy Dean pulling this off, especially with Deans unique fighting style.
  • keith222
    July 25, 2007
    keith222
    Could Never had seen James Dean doing this after Giant
  • thrusz
    January 12, 2008
    thrusz
    Call me a little blasphemous, but isn't Perry Como a little corny? (Says the guy who has absolutely no Italian in his heritage whatsoever.) Okay, I don't really care for boxing movies. Heck, the first two times I saw Raging Bull, I was a little "eh." (I have since chan... read moreged my opinion. You can continue to respect me.)

    I'm plowing through these Paul Newman's and really, this is an eye opener. Yeah, I don't really see Paul Newman being from Queens. But he pulled it off. He really did. Again, this movie wasn't really a surprise for anyone who knew anything about Rocky Graziano, but it was all new for me. Again, biopics, not so big with me, but this movie was charming. Maybe I'm growing soft in my not-so-old-age (as illustrated by one of my readers. I HAVE READERS!), but normally I'd chalk a movie like this up to a Hallmark Channel film. The abused boy falls in with the wrong crowd leading to a life of crime. He begins to earn some respect as a champion boxer when his past comes back to haunt him. Again, being a true story, some elements of the story couldn't be adjusted to make the story a little more moral (ie. ratting on the fixers), but the story is good in itself.

    I also find myself in the unique position of critiquing Robert Wise again. For those of you who don't know, this is the chap who refilmed and edited Orson Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons. Yeah, he's always gonna have to work a little harder to get my attention. He does a pretty solid job with Somebody Up There Likes Me, but nothing as memorable as his work on The Sound of Music. But perhaps a biopic of a boxer doesn't really require the epic crane shots over a mountain, so perhaps I'm bound to forgive him a little more than normal. It's not like he's blatently ripping off Stanley Kubrick like he did with Star Trek: The Motion Picture. One of the things that bothered me was the casting of Graziano's wife. I understand that she was supposed to have limited social skills, but she seemed very flat to me throughout the film. I know the part isn't very meaty until the end of the film, but I think this part could have been done a little better.

    BUT THE BIG SURPRISE! An uncredited cameo by Steve McQueen! Damn, I love Steve. He's the king of cool and who does he play? A HOOLIGAN! Awesome job, Steve. Awesome.

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Critic Reviews

October 1, 2008
TIME Magazine

Paul Newman brings to awesome life the jungle qualities implicit in a slum childhood... Full Review

Variety Staff
June 18, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Paul Newman's talent is large and flexible, revealing an approach to the Graziano character that scores tremendously. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Robert Wise's direction is fast, aggressive and bright, and the picture is edited to give it a tremendous crispness and pace. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
September 27, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Robert Wise's sports biopic of Rocky Graziano deservedly catapulted Paul Newman to major stardom; you can spot in small parts Steve McQueen, before he became a star, and Sal Mineo. Full Review

June 18, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

[Newman] worked himself into peak condition for the role, lifting weights and sparring with top professionals, and his portrayal of the scrappy, often tongue-tied, but wholly likable boxer is superb. Full Review

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

A disappointing biopic of Rocky Graziano, East Side delinquent turned World Middleweight Champion. Full Review

Christopher Null
February 4, 2006
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Straightforward and simplistic. Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Director Wise keeps the action fresh and lively, drawing excellent performances from Newman, Angeli as Mrs Graziano and Mineo in a small but significant role. Full Review

October 18, 2008
Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Susan Granger
December 17, 2007
Susan Granger, www.susangranger.com

No review available.

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Somebody Up There Likes Me Trivia

  • Which actor links the movies "Absence of Malice", "Hud", "Road to Perdition", "The Hudsucker Proxy", "Somebody Up There Likes Me" and "The Hustler"?  Answer »
  • What actress appeared in both "Marty" and "Somebody Up There Likes Me"?  Answer »
  • The 1956 film "Somebody Up There Likes Me" was based on the life story of which famous boxer?  Answer »
  • What does Paul Newman play in Somebody Up There Likes Me?  Answer »
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