Paradise Alley

Paradise Alley is a 1978 American sports drama film written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone (in his feature directorial debut). The film tells the story of three Italian American brothers in Hell's Kitchen in the 1940s who become involved in professional wrestling. Kevin Conway, Anne Archer, Joe Spinell, Armand Assante, Lee Canalito, Frank McRae, Joyce Ingalls, and Tom Waits co-star in the film. A number of professional wrestlers appeared portraying supporting characters and in cameos, including Terry Funk, Ted DiBiase, Bob Roop, Dick Murdoch, Dory Funk Jr., Don Leo Jonathan, Don Kernodle, Gene Kiniski, Dennis Stamp, Ray Stevens, and Uliuli Fifita. Playwright and screenwriter John Monks Jr. also appeared as a bartender. Paradise Alley was released in the United States on September 22, 1978, by Universal Pictures. The film received negative reviews from critics. Plot Victor, the youngest and largest of the Carboni brothers (Cosmo and Lenny are the other two), becomes a local wrestler (named Kid Salami) at the request of Cosmo, who thinks there is big money to be made.