ASA 🎥📽🎬 Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) a film directed by Robert Wise with Paul Newman, Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart

Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) Synopsis / Plot Robert Wise, who directed the classic boxing noir The Set-Up in 1948, also made this 1956 biopic about the life of Rocky Graziano, a one-time juvenile delinquent from New York's back streets who became World Middleweight Champion. Paul Newman, though in the thick of his mannered, Method approach to acting in those days, is wonderful as the impoverished young Graziano, who finds success in the ring through a combination of talent, hope, and tenacity. The script by Ernest Lehman is layered with well-meaning social-consciousness and observations about the effects of poverty, but that is less impressive than cinematographer Joseph Ruttenberg's outstanding footage of fight scenes. Steve McQueen and Robert Loggia made their screen debuts with this film. Awards 1956: 2 Academy Awards: Best Art Direction, Cinematography B&W. 3 Nominations 1956: National Board of Review: Top 10 Best Films 1956: Directors Guild of America (DGA): Nominated for Best Director 1956: Writers Guild of America (WGA): Nominated for Best Drama Screenplay