Grim and Gritty

Some movies simply require black and white; color would certainly have spoiled the flavor of this grim story. Anthony Quinn plays a boxer at the dead end of a punishing career. With no skills or experience outside the ring, and a manager who would sell his soul to pay off a vicious gambler, he has nowhere to go but down, until one person sees something more in him and offers a bit of hope. It would be wonderful to see him finally overcome his own limitations and rebel against forces that have controlled his life. There are people who prefer the Jack Palance version (which was done for TV prior to this full-length film), but the very different ending of this version is more credible.