{"id":75343,"date":"2021-08-28T14:18:43","date_gmt":"2021-08-28T21:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=75343"},"modified":"2021-08-29T09:02:35","modified_gmt":"2021-08-29T16:02:35","slug":"requiem-for-a-heavyweight-1962","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=75343","title":{"rendered":"Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;What else am I supposed to know how to do besides fight?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Poster-192x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-75344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Poster-192x300.png 192w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Poster-654x1024.png 654w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Poster-82x128.png 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Poster-172x270.png 172w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Poster.png 707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen an aging boxer (Anthony Quinn) is required to quit for his own safety, his manager (Jackie Gleason) &#8212; in hock to a ruthless gambling boss (Ma Greeny) &#8212; tries to convince him to turn to demeaning work as a costumed wrestler. With support from his kind trainer (Mickey Rooney), Mountain (Quinn) reaches out to an employment agent (Julie Harris) who begins to fall for him, and helps him get an interview as a camp counselor &#8212; but will Gleason support Mountain in his career shift, or try to sabotage him for his own gain?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anthony Quinn Films<\/li>\n<li>Boxing<\/li>\n<li>Gambling<\/li>\n<li>Has Beens<\/li>\n<li>Julie Harris Films<\/li>\n<li>Mickey Rooney Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nRod Serling wrote the Emmy-winning <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Playhouse_90\"><em>Playhouse 90<\/em><\/a> teleplay upon which this adaptation &#8212; originally starring Jack Palance &#8212; was based. Quinn is perfectly cast as a punch-drunk fighter named Mountain whose blurred vision after his final fight (against Cassius Clay!) serves as the opening sequence: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Clay.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Clay.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Clay.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Clay-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Clay-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Clay-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Clay-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Vision.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Vision.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Vision.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Vision-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Vision-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Vision-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Vision-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>We can understand Mountain&#8217;s loyalty to &#8220;Maish&#8221;, played with cool conviction by Gleason (likely building upon his similar characterization of Minnesota Fats in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72170\"><em>The Hustler<\/em><\/a>) &#8212; and it&#8217;s refreshing seeing Rooney playing a supporting role in which he&#8217;s purely sympathetic: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-Gleason.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-Gleason.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-Gleason.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-Gleason-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-Gleason-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-Gleason-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-Gleason-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Harris is fine as a well-meaning employment agent who finds herself caught up in the pathos of Quinn&#8217;s predicament; while it&#8217;s unclear whether their nascent romance will be feasible or not, it&#8217;s easy to see how and why she would want to help him. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-Harris.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-Harris.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-Harris.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-Harris-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-Harris-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-Harris-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-Harris-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Adding to the film&#8217;s menacing atmosphere is a unique turn by Madame Spivy (recognizable as <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Manchurian-Candidate-Garden-Party1.png\">a member of the &#8220;garden party&#8221; scene<\/a> in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=35521\"><em>The Manchurian Candidate<\/em><\/a>) as a cigar-puffing heavy in a trenchcoat:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Mr-Rainey.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Mr-Rainey.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Mr-Rainey.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Mr-Rainey-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Mr-Rainey-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Mr-Rainey-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Mr-Rainey-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Arthur Ornitz&#8217;s cinematography bathes the entire storyline in an effectively seamy light &#8212; and the film&#8217;s downbeat ending feels both appropriate and realistic. This one isn&#8217;t must-see, but remains worth a look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anthony Quinn as Mountain Rivera<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Quinn-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jackie Gleason as Maish<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Gleason.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Gleason.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Gleason.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Gleason-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Gleason-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Gleason-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Gleason-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Julie Harris as Grace<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Harris.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Harris.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Harris.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Harris-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Harris-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Harris-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Harris-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Mickey Rooney as Army<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Rooney-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Arthur Ornitz&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Corner.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Corner.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Corner.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Corner-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Corner-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Corner-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Corner-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Trio.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Trio.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"998\" height=\"548\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Trio.png 998w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Trio-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Trio-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Trio-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Requiem-for-a-Heavyweight-Trio-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s recommended for one-time viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0056406\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1962\/10\/17\/archives\/screen-requiem-for-a-heavyweightanthony-quinn-stars-in-serlings.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/requiem-for-a-heavyweight\/review\/2030278003\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;What else am I supposed to know how to do besides fight?&#8221; Synopsis: When an aging boxer (Anthony Quinn) is required to quit for his own safety, his manager (Jackie Gleason) &#8212; in hock to a ruthless gambling boss (Ma Greeny) &#8212; tries to convince him to turn to demeaning work as a costumed wrestler. With support from his kind trainer (Mickey Rooney), Mountain (Quinn) reaches out to an employment agent (Julie Harris) who begins to fall for him, and&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=75343\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=75343"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75483,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75343\/revisions\/75483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=75343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=75343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=75343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}