Somebody up There Likes Me (DVD)

Worlds Leading Boxers Train Here Daily says a sign outside Stillmans Gym. Thomas Rocco Barbella isn't a boxer. He's just a scrappy, desperate youth who needs dough. So he enters the gym, gives himself the made-up name of Rocky Graziano, signs on to spar for $10 and flattens a top light-heavyweight. The name sticks. So does the impact of this inspiring tale about Grazianos rise from poverty and rage to the middleweight title. In his second film, Paul Newman plays the ring king, preparing for the role in part by meeting with Graziano to study his speech and ways. Robert Wise, who earlier captured the fight game in The Set-Up, directs this double Academy Award -winner* with K.O. force. Unbilled Steve McQueen and Robert Loggia add to the films many pleasures. Pull up a ringside seat. This is the stuff of champions.

Starring: Paul Newman, Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart, Sal Mineo, Harold J. Stone, Joseph Buloff, Sammy White, Arch Johnson, Robert P. Lieb, Theodore Newton, Angela Cartwright, Russ Conway, Ray Danton, Robert Duvall, Robert Easton, Dean Jones, Len Lesser, Robert Loggia, Steve McQueen