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 . The film also won the Oscar for Best Art Direction . The film was directed by Robert Wise who also edited Citizen Kane , and later directed West Side Story , The Haunting , The Sound of Music , and The Sand Pebbles . 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. The film was also notable for being one of Paul Newman's first starring roles and for being one of the first films in which Steve McQueen appeared. It also marked the film debuts of Frank Campanella, Robert Loggia and Dean Jones, all in uncredited bit parts. Rocky Graziano has a difficult childhood and is beaten by his father.
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| Release date: | 1956 |
| Directed by: | Robert Wise |
| Runtime: | 114 Minutes |
| Producer: | Charles Schnee |
| Music by: | Bronisław Kaper |
| Cinematography: | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| Screenplay by: | Ernest Lehman |
| Genre: | Biography |