Another overlooked masterpiece. Every actor in this is a knockout. Realistically filmed in black and white and written by the master of suspense, Rod Serling, this film chronicles the after life of a has-been heavyweight boxer, Mountain Rivera (Anthony Quinn), his corrupt manager, Maish Rennick (Jackie Gleason) and his world-weary sidekick, Army ( Mickey Rooney). The opening scene of the movie shows the former Cassius Clay (now Muhamed Ali) pummeling Mountain's head to a bloody pulp.
Quinn, an actor I don't normally admire, brings a total believability to the role - a gentle, confused, hopelessly loyal and not overly intelligent man who has probably been in the ring for far longer than any responsible doctor should have let him.
He is left with very few choices for living out the remainder of his days. Grace Miller, played by Julie Harris, works in an unemployment agency and is attracted to his character, she sees the gentle giant for what he is and encourages him to interview for a job in a summer camp teaching children.
Some of the scenes are haunting and the black and white photography make it all the more so. There are remarkably few outdoor scenes, most of the movie takes place inside locker rooms, bars, seedy hotel rooms and of course the boxing ring. I took Madame Spivy to be a Peter Lorre type actor (male) to begin with. I was completely shocked that it was a woman, a fairly masculine woman appearing in a 1962 movie - way ahead of its time - an incredibly creepy and downright malevolent performance. I recall her doing something similar in the original "Manchurian Candidate".
At the end Mountain sells his very soul for Maish even though he now knows the truth of Maish. One has felt he can never make it with Miss Miller and her dream of him coaching the children and he has known it too. And that will remain one of the two bright "coulda" moments in his life, the other being number five in the world heavyweight boxing circles. One hopes it is not a long life. That thought would be unbearable. 8 out of 10. It is impossible to single out any one performance, all brilliant.
Quinn, an actor I don't normally admire, brings a total believability to the role - a gentle, confused, hopelessly loyal and not overly intelligent man who has probably been in the ring for far longer than any responsible doctor should have let him.
He is left with very few choices for living out the remainder of his days. Grace Miller, played by Julie Harris, works in an unemployment agency and is attracted to his character, she sees the gentle giant for what he is and encourages him to interview for a job in a summer camp teaching children.
Some of the scenes are haunting and the black and white photography make it all the more so. There are remarkably few outdoor scenes, most of the movie takes place inside locker rooms, bars, seedy hotel rooms and of course the boxing ring. I took Madame Spivy to be a Peter Lorre type actor (male) to begin with. I was completely shocked that it was a woman, a fairly masculine woman appearing in a 1962 movie - way ahead of its time - an incredibly creepy and downright malevolent performance. I recall her doing something similar in the original "Manchurian Candidate".
At the end Mountain sells his very soul for Maish even though he now knows the truth of Maish. One has felt he can never make it with Miss Miller and her dream of him coaching the children and he has known it too. And that will remain one of the two bright "coulda" moments in his life, the other being number five in the world heavyweight boxing circles. One hopes it is not a long life. That thought would be unbearable. 8 out of 10. It is impossible to single out any one performance, all brilliant.