Jake LaMotta Double Feature

Jake LaMotta was a boxer. He wrote a few books as he got older. Below are the reviews of the two films made from a couple of his books.

Raging Bull (1980)

C – 129m (Theatrical Cut) / 121m (Television Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: The Raging Bull
Based On The Book By: Jake La Motta (as Jake LaMotta)
With: Joseph Carter and Peter Savage
Screenplay By: Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin
Producers: Irving Winkler, Robert Cartoff and Peter Savage
Dir.: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, Mario Gallo, Charles Scorsese, Bernie Allen, Jack Lotz, Peter Savage, Martin Scorsese, John Turturro, McKenzie Westmore and Jimmy Williams.
Cinematography By: Michael Chapman
Editing By: Thelma Schoonmaker

The emotional self–destructive journey of Jake La Motta from his highs in the ring and his lows outside of it. Gripping and yet repulsive character study of boxer Jake LaMotta is tops! Wonderful cinematography, editing, acting and sound. A MUST WATCH! De Niro certainly earned his Oscar®.

Trivia: When Jake LaMotta first saw the film he realized how nasty he was. He asked the real person who Cathy Moriarty played, “Was I really like that?” She replied, “You were worse.” This is Cathy Moriarty’s film debut. In 1978 Scorsese was near death in a hospital due to a Cocaine addiction. Robert De Niro visited him and told him to clean up so he could do this film. Scorsese refused because he didn’t like sports film but gave in because De Niro persisted. Scorsese has since said that De Niro saved his life by getting him back into work. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci really punch each other in the, “Hit me” scene. Robert De Niro accidentally broke Joe Pesci’s rib in a sparring scene. Years later Pesci would have the same rib broken making: Casino (1995), with De Niro and Scorsese. Robert De Niro gained 60 pounds for play an older LaMotta, while Joe Pesci lost weight to play the older version of his character. Finally, the editing of the film lasted almost up to the last minute that the film was set to be released. 

Oscar® winner for: Best Actor – Robert De Niro and Best Editing – Thelma Schoonmaker. Additionally nominations for Oscars® were: Best Picture – Irving Winkler and Robert Cartoff, Best Director – Martin Scorsese, Best Supporting Actor – Joe Pesci, Best Supporting Actress Cathy Moriarty, Best Cinematography – Michael Chapman and Best Sound. Golden Globe winner for: Best Actor – Motion Picture – Drama – Robert De Niro. Additionally Golden Globe nominated for: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director – Motion Picture – Martin Scorsese, Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture – Cathy Moriarty, Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture – Joe Pesci, New Star Of The Year In A Motion Picture – Female – Cathy Moriarty and Best Screenplay – Motion Picture – Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin.

Rated: [R]

Out Of Print on VHS and Laserdisc but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

The Bronx Bull (2016 / 2017)

C – 94m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Raging Bull II
Raging Bull 2
Based On The Book By: Jake LaMotta, Chris Anderson and Sharon McGehee
Screenplay By: Rustam Branaman and Martin Guigui
Exec. Pro. – Dir.: Martin Guigui
Starring: William Forsythe, Joe Mantegna, Tom Sizemore, Paul Sorvino, Penelope Ann Miller, Ray Wise, Natasha Henstridge, James Russo, Robert Davi, Cloris Leachman, Mike Starr, Joe Cortese, Dom Irrera, Rebecca Forsythe and Joey Diaz.

Another take on the LaMotta drama in and out of the boxing ring. A sorry excuse for a remake / sequel features a great cast but nothing else. The talents of the cast can’t even save the less than sub–par material.

Rated: [R] – Brutal Fights, Pervasive Language & Some Sexual Content / Nudity
Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Frank Sinatra Detective Films (1968/1977/1980)

In 1968, after two outings as Tony Rome in: Tony Rome (1967) and Lady In Cement (1968), Frank Sinatra opted out of doing the third book in that series as a movie in favor of doing a film that pitted him against homosexual men: The Detective (1968). 

The Detective (1968)

C – 114m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
Novel: The Detective by Roderick Thorp
Screenplay By: Abby Mann
Dir.: Gordon Douglas
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Ralph Meeker, Jack Klugman, Horace McMahon, Lloyd Bochner, William Windom, Tony Musante, Al Freeman, Jr., Robert Duvall, Pat Henry, Sugar Ray Robinson, Renee Taylor, Tom Atkins, Jacqueline Bisset, Earl Montgomery, George Plimpton, Joe Santos, Diane Sayer, Philip Sterling and Peter York.
Music By: Jerry Goldsmith

A police detective tries to solve the murder of a homosexual man and finds links to corruption in New York City (NYC) and spends time in the world of Sex and Drugs, as he follows the clues. Soap-ish Sinatra film isn’t terrible but isn’t anything special either. Anyone who is a gay rights supporter may be offended by this one. 

Trivia: There was an unconfirmed rumor that Bette Midler was an uncredited Girl At Party in the film. Roderick Thorp wrote a sequel titled, Nothing Lasts Forever. It was later retooled are made into a movie titled, Die Hard (1988). Since Frank Sinatra’s contract for The Detective (1968) gave him first option to play the part in a sequel, he was offered the role in Die Hard despite being 72 at the time. As a bonus: Bruce Willis made his film debut in the Frank Sinatra film, The First Deadly Sin (1980). Sinatra and his then wife Mia Farrow were supposed to star in this film together. When she backed out due to another film she was in being behind schedule in filming, Sinatra cast Jacqueline Bisset instead and served Mia divorce papers on the set of Rosemay’s Baby (1968), after she chose to do that film against his wishes.

Rated: [R] (Original Rating) / [NOT RATED] (Rerated)
Out Of Print on VHS and Laserdisc but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Nine years after: The Detective (1968), Frank Sinatra made another cop drama: Contract On Cherry Street (1977).

Contract On Cherry Street (1977)

C – 145m
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 – Fullscreen
A.K.A.: Stakeout On Cherry Street
Written For Television By: Edward Anhalt
Novel By: Philip Rosenberg (as Phillip Rosenberg)
Dir.: William A. Graham
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Martin Balsam, Joe De Santis, Martin Gabel, Harry Guardino, Henry Silva, Richard Ward, Robert Davi, Jimmy Boyd, Randy Jurgensen, Michael Stroka and Jilly Rizzo.
Music By: Jerry Goldsmith

When his partner is killed, a New York City Police Department (NYPD) Detective and his crime squad go after the mob despite the legal restrictions against them and the protests voiced by the detective’s superiors. Solid little made for television police thriller features no nonsense characters and a basic 1970’s plot. Sinatra and the rest of the capable cast are in fine form. The only quibble is slight over–length. It may be by the numbers but it is still slick for its kind.

Trivia: Frank Sinatra made this film because it was one of his late mother’s favorite novels. He produced the film through his production company: Artanis. The film was shot entirely on location in New York City, New York (NYC). As such, it was in production during the New York Blackout on July 13 – 14, 1977. Sinatra was given a round of applause on the set because he walked down 20 floors from his penthouse to shoot a scene, he was 61 at the time. A theatrical release outside of the United States was considered but was abandoned.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy.

Frank Sinatra made one more police detective film: The First Deadly Sin (1980).

The First Deadly Sin (1980)

C – 112m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: The 1st Deadly Sin
Novel: The First Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders
Screenplay By: Mann Rubin
Dir.: Brian G. Hutton
Exec. Pro.: Frank Sinatra
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Faye Dunaway, David Dukes, Martin Gabel, James Whitmore, Joe Spinell, Richard Backus and Bruce Willis.
Music By: Gordon Jenkins

A New York City, New York Police Inspector who has a dying wife and is near retirement himself tracks down a killer that is stalking the streets of New York. Morbidly entertaining police detective drama features a fine cast and a wonderful score by Gordon Jenkins. Fairly good suspense is built but one can see where Roman Polanski would have elevated this further.

Personal note: I had the honor and pleasure of meeting actor – writer Richard Backus, his daughter was one of my teachers while I was in school. He was gracious enough to answer all my questions about how Sinatra was to work with, and questions about another film he, Backus, starred in: Deathdream (1974). Although his scene was deleted he gave a very good description of the set and the atmosphere as people readied for Sinatra’s presence.

Trivia: This film was originally announced as a Don Siegal film by Columbia Pictures back in 1974. Roman Polanski was supposed to direct this but after the news of his rape case broke Columbia Pictures dropped him and Brian G. Hutton replaced him. Fay Dunaway previously worked with Polanski on Chinatown (1974). This was the final lead role that Frank Sinatra did in a theatrically released film and is also the final film of actor Martin Gabel. Gabel and Sinatra previously worked together on Lady In Cement (1968) and Contract On Cherry Street (1977). This was also the third and final film of Frank Sinatra’s production company, Artanis Productions Inc. The other two were: None But The Brave (1965) and Contract On Cherry Street (1977). This was also the final musical teaming of Frank Sinatra and Gordon Jenkins. The book’s ending is much more grand and epic than the ending the film has. Marlon Brando was offered the lead role but he rejected it.

Rated: [R]

Available on DVD & Digital Copy through: The Warner Archive Collection.