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Requiem for a Heavyweight

Requiem for a Heavyweight

Drama · 1962

After suffering a brutal defeat and being told he can no longer fight, 37-year-old, scar-ridden prizefighter Louis 'Mountain' Rivera struggles to find a new direction in life.

Movie details

Requiem for a Heavyweight

“The world of Mountain Riviera... the fast buck... the angry men... the lonely woman!”

1962 Drama 1h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

After suffering a brutal defeat and being told he can no longer fight, 37-year-old, scar-ridden prizefighter Louis 'Mountain' Rivera struggles to find a new direction in life.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Requiem for a Heavyweight?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ralph Nelson

Written by

Rod Serling

Anthony Quinn

Anthony Quinn

Lewis 'Mountain' Rivera

Jackie Gleason

Jackie Gleason

Maish Rennick

Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney

Army

Julie Harris

Julie Harris

Grace Miller

Stanley Adams

Stanley Adams

Perelli (as Stan Adams)

Madame Spivy

Madame Spivy

Ma Greeny

Val Avery

Val Avery

Young fighter's promoter

Court is in session

Put Requiem for a Heavyweight on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.