Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956 film)

• Paul Newman: Rocky Graziano
• Pier Angeli: Norma
• Everett Sloane: Erwin Cohen
• Eileen Heckart: Mother Barbella
• Sal Mineo: Romolo
• Harold J. Stone: Nick Barbella
• Joseph Buloff: Benny
• Steve McQueen: Fidel

Hell is in me, also known as the alternative title A hand full of dirt, is an American boxing film from the year 1956. It is based on the autobiography of boxer Rocky Graziano ( 1919-1990 ) that this in collaboration with the author Rowland Barber has written. The screenplay was written by Ernest Lehman and directed by Robert Wise. The main roles Paul Newman acted as Rocky Graziano and Pier Angeli as his wife Norma. In addition, Steve McQueen was in the role of juvenile criminals Fidel first time with a small voice in front of the camera. The original English title of the movie is Somebody Up There Likes Me (German Somebody up there likes me ) and the eponymous theme song was sung by Perry Como.

Action

Rocky Barbella grew up in broken homes. His father Nick is a drinker who has never coped with it, that he has given up on the request of his wife his boxers career. His anger and disappointment can pitch again and again to his son Rocky from that of continuous running more frequently at home and end up on the wrong path. First, it comes in a reformatory and soon the youth prison. There he meets Frankie Peppo know, the Rocky invites you to visit him after his time in the jointly operated by him boxing school.

After Rocky has depressed a guard in the camp of the youth prison, he was sentenced to six years in prison. His father has already abandoned, while his mother was increasingly suffering from the development of her son and eventually suffers a nervous breakdown Rocky. When she visited him in jail after her recovery, she looks broken and Rocky explains that they will abandon him if he does not improve. The poor condition of his mother and her words of warning bring in the young man a positive change.

As soon released from prison, he was drafted into the Army and is disappointed about his new barracks, that he suffers a relapse and his superiors severely threatened after it has granted him a lesson. Rocky must report Wood Hope, with whom he also gets another action before the company commander Captain. He knocks it and then commits desertion.

Soon he becomes aware of his predicament and want to earn the money that he probably paid as penalty if he would return to the army. He remembers the boxing school and visited them. However, his former cellmate, Frankie Peppo sits once again in prison and has no advocate more at the present management. Because just a sparring partner of a top class boxer is down, Rocky allowed in the ring and impressed the manager, as he reflected his strong opponent. Because he's still AWOL and is wanted by the army, he introduces himself under the name Rocky Graziano, under which he will fight from now on.

Soon Rocky rises for the first time in the ring and completed six bouts, all of which he by Ko wins. Then he was discovered and arrested by the military. He comes before a military court, is dishonorably discharged from the army and sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labor in a military prison.

After his release, he met Norma, a friend of his sister know. Although the two are very unequal, they fall in love and get married. Soon they have a daughter. Meanwhile, Rocky hurries on from victory to victory and finally qualified for the World Championship middleweight fight against the defending champion Tony Zale, but he loses.

Then he should fight another boxer and may in case of victory take up once more against Zale. Shortly before the scheduled fight, is regarded as the clear favorite in the Rocky, takes his former cellmate, Frankie Peppo contact with him and tried to persuade him to an intentional defeat, because influential people want to bet on in the background on the opponent to get a good rate to achieve. Rocky does not agree, but because Peppo threatens to leave divulge his past through the media, he does not dare to resist. However, he is also not willing to put through a feigned defeat his future career on the line and moves in front of a back injury, so that the fight is canceled.

The bandits see through his behavior and revenge in which they pass the Rocky incriminating facts to the media. At the same time the prosecutor is behind the thing and wants to learn from Rocky, who is behind the fraud. Although Rocky wants nothing to do with the bandits, he is on the other hand also not willing to cooperate with the police and provide Peppo to the knife. As a consequence Graziano is extracted from the New York Boxkommission the license so that it no longer allowed to box in his home. Soon after the offer is submitted to it for a rematch against Zale in Chicago, where he is not locked.

Again, there seems to be a bust for Graziano, because Zale drives him over long distances before him and decides the first five rounds in his favor. But in the sixth round of the fight and Graziano turns wins by a knockout. Rocky has achieved his long -desired goal is a new world middleweight championship.

Returning home in New York, he is hailed by the masses and continues with a convoy, which includes his parents, with whom he is again at peace, through the crowd. During the triumphal he says to Norma: " That's all I have never. Norma, drinking ' all in thee in, as long as it takes; because once I will lose the title. And just as I will lose the thud in my right one day. This will already come. But that can not mind. For I have won something that no one can ever take away from me again. I've been lucky. Someone up there must love me well, " Norma replied: ". And someone down here too. "

Reviews

"This role made ​​Paul Newman a star. He had systematically prepared, studied his model long, rough Italian accent also assumed as the temperamental outbursts, the springy gait, the hunched shoulders, the constant Umhertänzeln. His constant unrest signaled an explosive energy that can let off steam only in the fight basically. "

"The story is entertaining to watch, if you also lack the major highlights and suspense. "

Awards (selection)

The film was in 1957 won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography ( black and white ). Moreover, the price went in the category Best Art Direction ( black and white ) to Cedric Gibbons, Malcolm Brown, Edwin B. Willis and F. Keogh Gleason. Cutter Albert Akst received a nomination for Best Editing.