Requiem for a Heavyweight

Requiem for a Heavyweight

95 mins | Drama | Oct. 16, 1962

Mountain Rivera is a veteran heavyweight and near-champion who suddenly finds himself washed up in the only trade he knows—prizefighting. Yet, threatened by gangsters for welshing on a gambling debt, Mountain’s opportunistic manager, Maish Rennick, schemes to get the ex-boxer into a phony wrestling match to make some quick money. Although he and his loyal trainer, Army, oppose the degrading proposition, the disillusioned Mountain begins to wonder if he has any options left.

Requiem for a Heavyweight

95 mins | Drama | Oct. 16, 1962

Requiem for a Heavyweight
Mountain Rivera is a veteran heavyweight and near-champion who suddenly finds himself washed up in the only trade he knows—prizefighting. Yet, threatened by gangsters for welshing on a gambling debt, Mountain’s opportunistic manager, Maish Rennick, schemes to get the ex-boxer into a phony wrestling match to make some quick money. Although he and his loyal trainer, Army, oppose the degrading proposition, the disillusioned Mountain begins to wonder if he has any options left.
IMDb rating 7.8
Producers Columbia Pictures
Original title Requiem for a Heavyweight
Directors Winifred Leah Laurance, Ralph Nelson
Writers Rod Serling

Cast

Anthony Quinn

as Lewis 'Mountain' Rivera

Jackie Gleason

as Maish Rennick

Mickey Rooney

as Army

Julie Harris

as Grace Miller

Stanley Adams

as Perelli (as Stan Adams)

Madame Spivy

as Ma Greeny

Val Avery

as Young fighter's promoter

Herbie Faye

as Charlie, the Bartender

Jack Dempsey

as Himself

Muhammad Ali

as Himself (as Cassius Clay)

Lou Gilbert

as Dr. Gilbert

Michael Conrad

as Ma Greeny's Thug

Rory Calhoun

as Himself

Steve Belloise

as Hotel Desk Clerk

Al Bain

as Police Officer (uncredited)

William Calhoun

as Self - Rivera's wrestling opponent (uncredited)

Nancy Cushman

as Woman on Elevator (uncredited)

Sig Frohlich

as Diner Patron (uncredited)

John Indrisano

as Barfly Watching TV (uncredited)

Arthur M. Mercante

as Referee (uncredited)

Angelo Rossitto

as Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)

David Susskind

as Self - Trailor Narrator (uncredited)