I saw the original Requiem for a Heavyweight starring Jack Palance in 1956, and I absolutely loved it. Jack was fantastic; I couldn't imagine anyone else doing a better job in the role. Now that I've seen both versions, the Playhouse 90 and Hollywood versions, I still can't pick a favorite. To me, Jack Palance and Anthony Quinn give excellent and different performances that can't be compared against each other. Jack is sweet; Tony is rugged. Jack is clueless; Tony is brain-damaged. Rod Serling's story is very heavy, but the 1962 version is a little heavier, so my advice is to start with whichever level of drama you're in the mood for.
In the story, Anthony Quinn gets one too many hits to the head and is forced to give up the only job he's ever had. His manager Jackie Gleason isn't happy about it because he's racked up an enormous amount of gambling debts. While he tries to talk Tony into humiliating himself by entering the world of wrestling so he can make more money, Mickey Rooney tries to look out for Tony's best interests. Mickey is the trainer, and he knows firsthand what it's like to be at the top of the world and suddenly have your career taken away. Both Jackie and Mickey are very good in these dark, emotional roles, but they're no comparison to Tony's performance. His raw, heartbreaking performance falls under the category of "What does it take?", as he wasn't even nominated for an Oscar. I've seen more than forty of his films, and this is probably the best performance he's ever given. If you liked Somebody Up There Likes Me, this movie might become your new favorite. I don't know how he balances the fine line of having brain damage and trying to hold onto the wits he has left, but it's scarily accurate. In one moment, he's able to carry on a conversation with Julie Harris, and in the next, he lapses into a flashback in the ring. He's brought out of his episode, and while part of him doesn't really know what he's done wrong, another part of him is terribly sorry and doesn't know how to make it right. If you're like me and you get affected by powerful performances, get out your Kleenexes.
In the story, Anthony Quinn gets one too many hits to the head and is forced to give up the only job he's ever had. His manager Jackie Gleason isn't happy about it because he's racked up an enormous amount of gambling debts. While he tries to talk Tony into humiliating himself by entering the world of wrestling so he can make more money, Mickey Rooney tries to look out for Tony's best interests. Mickey is the trainer, and he knows firsthand what it's like to be at the top of the world and suddenly have your career taken away. Both Jackie and Mickey are very good in these dark, emotional roles, but they're no comparison to Tony's performance. His raw, heartbreaking performance falls under the category of "What does it take?", as he wasn't even nominated for an Oscar. I've seen more than forty of his films, and this is probably the best performance he's ever given. If you liked Somebody Up There Likes Me, this movie might become your new favorite. I don't know how he balances the fine line of having brain damage and trying to hold onto the wits he has left, but it's scarily accurate. In one moment, he's able to carry on a conversation with Julie Harris, and in the next, he lapses into a flashback in the ring. He's brought out of his episode, and while part of him doesn't really know what he's done wrong, another part of him is terribly sorry and doesn't know how to make it right. If you're like me and you get affected by powerful performances, get out your Kleenexes.