Diagonaldi Very well executed

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

JasparLamarCrabb Ralph Nelson's hard hitting adaptation of Rod Serling's teleplay features a grotesque performance by Anthony Quinn as a punched drunk boxer struggling to come to terms with the fact that his career is over. He's helped (in vain) by employment placement specialist Julie Harris and stymied by shifty manager Jackie Gleason. The film is all about the acting and it's top notch. Quinn, who at times is a bit inaudible, carries the film and is in virtually every scene. Harris is terrific in an unlikely role and Gleason is very potent as a degenerate gambler facing mounting financial woes. The stunning B&W cinematography is by Arthur J Ornitz and there's a dynamite score by Laurence Rosenthal. Mickey Rooney, Stanley Adams and Madame Spivy (as "Ma") co-star.

capone666 Requiem for a Heavyweight You can tell a boxer is over-the-hill when they come to the ring wearing their bathrobe.After getting knocked out by Cassius Clay, "Mountain" Rivera (Anthony Quinn) hangs up his gloves in hopes of landing a less violent gig.But when his manager's (Jackie Gleason) life is threatened by a bookie, Mountain must put his aspirations on hold, swallow his pride, and enter the wrestling ring.Despite his embarrassment in the theatrics of the sport, Mountain agrees to the match-up, much to the chagrin of his career counselor/ love interest (Julie Harris).Based on the teleplay by Twilight Zone's Rod Serling, this film adaptation of the scribe's sci-fi free script is altered for cinematic purposes, but the pathos of an archaic contender is still present, and is pure Rod Serling.The worst thing about being a retired boxer is that with your slurred speech everyone keeps enrolling you in A.A.Green Light vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

MartinHafer This film begins at the very end of a boxer's career. After losing his fight, Man Mountain (Anthony Quinn) is told the fight doctor has de-certified him to box--saying he is physically unable to fight again. How this sweet man is able to assimilate to a normal life as well as the efforts of a nice woman (Julie Christie) to help him and his manager (Jackie Gleason) to exploit what's left of him.Like a lot of movies in the 1950s and 60s, this one was originally a live teleplay. This original version had a completely different cast--with Jack Palance playing lead and supported by Ed and Keenan Wynn as well as Kim Hunter. But this is not the only big difference--this version has a completely different ending that may leave you feeling VERY different from the first version. It's much, much more downbeat in this remake....much more so. Now you might like this, as it makes the boxing industry look even uglier. But as for me, I liked the hopeful ending in the TV version. Plus, while the acting in the movie was good, I don't think it was any better than the originals did. Too bad the original actors didn't get a chance to reprise their roles. Jack Palance, in particular, was superb and received an Emmy for his acting. Still, the film is interesting and makes you think about this soul-less 'sport'. I give it an 8...and the original a solid 10.

djkla Like so many others have already said, this is a great film, and one that I've watched many, many times since the late-1960's. Somewhere along the line, though, it was unceremoniously edited by someone who should've left it alone. The cut to which I refer involves an exchange between Maish Reynolds and Ma Greeney at the end of the film. Reynold's has narrowly escaped death at the hands of Greeney's goons, and in that moment, Reynold's vindictively intones to Greeney, "I wish you were a man." Greeney laughs out loud and replies, "Maishey darling, that's the nicest thing anyone ever said to me!" Maybe some of you remember it, but it has been many years since any version I've seen still has it.