Requiem for a Heavyweight

Requiem for a Heavyweight is a 1962 American film directed by Ralph Nelson based on the television play of the same name with Anthony Quinn in the role originated by Jack Palance, Jackie Gleason and Mickey Rooney in the parts portrayed on television by Keenan Wynn and his father Ed Wynn, and social worker Grace Miller was portrayed by Julie Harris. Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, appears as Quinn's opponent in a boxing match at the beginning of the movie. The film version is somewhat darker in its plotline than the original teleplay. Plot Luis "Mountain" Rivera is an aging heavyweight boxer. He who is managed by Maish Rennick, and Army serves his cutman. After his latest bout, against young up-and-comer Cassius Clay, Mountain take a serious beating and the doctor refuses to certify Mountain for future fights. Afterward, Maish is confronted by "Ma" Greeny and her thugs, who threaten his life if he fails to repay them for the losses they incurred, based upon the sure thing bet (he urged them to wager upon) that Mountain would go down in a certain round of the match. Maish's deal with them had been that they should deduct from their winnings (due to their betting against Mountain, as Maish had advised them to). The vast sums of losses that Maish's betting (and losing) had run up with them. Meanwhile, Mountain struggles to find a job and visits an employment agency, where he meets Grace Miller. Grace is initially standoffish but quickly becomes sympathetic to Mountain, and says she'll be in touch. Later, Grace meets with Mountain to tell him of an opening for a counselor position at a children's camp, which interests Mountain. The two bond over a drink and Mountain shares stories of his time in the ring.