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• Comparison

  • Bonnie
  • 8/20/12

  I've recently read about a 1930's boxer, Primo Carnera; very sad story. Could Requium for a Heavyweight possibly been loosely based on Carnera's life?

• One of the best

  • Demetrius Pace
  • 2/3/12

  I've seen some great fight films, Raging Bull, being among the best. This film with it's all-star cast ranks right up there with the best. Anthony Quinn's portrayal of Mountain Rivera, is just as convincing as De Niro as Jake La Motta, no small accompishement.

• "Requiem" Packs A One-Two Punch

  • Bruce Reber
  • 2/2/12

  "Requiem For A Heavyweight" is a powerful story about a prizefighter facing the end of his career. Anthony Quinn stars as punch-drunk boxer Mountain Rivera, who's trying to start his life over again after a long and brutal 17 years in the ring (a performance that should have gotten him an Oscar nomination BTW). Jackie Gleason is Mountain's callous and uncaring manager Maish Rennick, Mickey Rooney is his compassionate trainer Army, and Julie Harris is the employment agency worker Grace Miller who tries to help Mountain. However, Mountain soon finds himself in a bad situation when his supposedly best friend/manager Maish plots to make some quick cash by exploiting Mountain as a professional wrestler. Mountain and Grace form an ill-fated romance, and she tries to build up his self-confidence by telling him there are better things in store, and suggests that he could be a kids camp counselor. But Maish sabotages Mountain's chance at a new life, and while Mountain agrees to wrestle to keep Maish from getting beaten up by bookies, he feels Maish's betrayal after Maish tells Mountain he's no longer a winner, that he bet against him in his fight against Cassius Clay, and now they're going to try to make money from "the losing end". The final scene says it all - trainer Army watching with tears in his eyes as Mountain enters the ring as wrestler Big Chief Rivera and the crowd booing and jeering, realizing the sad reality of Mountain's being sold out. Four Stars!

• REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT

  • william gauslow
  • 1/31/12

  How could this NOT receive at least one Academy nomination ???

• In the top 10 of all time

  • Big Ed
  • 1/31/12

  This is a great film. A top notch performance from the best of the best. An excellent script and storyline about loyalty, betrayal, friendship, and people who REALLY care. Oh, and how to tell the difference. This is an adult theme but fit for most ALL the family. It should be a part of YOUR DVD collection. Yes, I have it.

• Anthony Quinn, Great performance

  • Billy Wells
  • 11/6/11

  This is a fantastic and moving movie with a great performance from Anthony Quinn , Gleason and Rooney. Thanks for airing it again.

• A Profile of Courage and Redemption.

  • Frank Harris Horn
  • 1/3/10

  Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone, brings his Emmy Award-winning TV melodrama to the big screen. This grim sports drama stars Anthony Quinn as a veteran prizefighter, whose professional career is on the verge of going down the drain. Thus, forcing him down a path of corruption and degradation. Jackie Gleason also stars as his sleazy manager, Mickey Rooney as his sympathetic trainer, and Julie Harris as a concerned social worker. With Nancy Cushman, Madame Spivy, Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), Jack Dempsey, Stanley Adams, Herbie Faye, Michael Conrad, Val Avery & Rory Calhoun.

• Requiem Great But Short.

  • James Mills
  • 5/12/09

  Greatest sports movie I've ever seen but missing critical scenes from original theatrical release.

• Sports & Tragedy of Aging

  • Elaine
  • 5/8/09

  This is a great sports movie for any man, but I'm a woman. I usually don't like sports movies of any kind, But this isn't your normal sports movie. It shows the problems many sports figures face when aging. From the thrill of winning, losing and regrets of having to find a different career path with almost no qualifications other than being just a sports figure. The depression, problem and inadequaties of age and lost limelight in the sports world. It will make anyone feel his pain. Anthony Quinn is magnificent in this movie and it is one both men and women can really understand and enjoy.

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