Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956 film)

Somebody Up There Likes Me is a 1956 American drama film based on the life of middleweight boxing legend Rocky Graziano. Joseph Ruttenberg was awarded a 1956 Oscar in the category of Best Cinematography Black and White. The film also won the Oscar for Best Art Direction Cedric Gibbons, Malcolm F. Brown, Edwin B. Willis, F. Keogh Gleason. It was directed by Robert Wise.

While working his way to the title, he is introduced to his sisters friend Norma, whom he falls in love with and later marries. Starting a new, clean life, he rises to the top, but loses a title fight with Tony Zale. A person he knew in prison finds him and blackmails him into throwing a fight. Rocky fakes an injury and avoids the fight altogether. When he is interrogated by the district attorney, he refuses to name the blackmailer and has his license suspended. His manager gets him a fight in Chicago to fight Zale the middleweight champion, once more. Rocky wins the fight.The role of Rocky Graziano was originally to be played by James Dean, but he died before filming began, and Paul Newman was asked to take the part. Australian actor Rod Taylor was also considered for the part although unsuccessful, his screen test impressed MGM enough for them to offer him a long term contract. ........

Source: Wikipedia