Requiem for a Heavyweight

The world of Mountain Riviera... the fast buck... the angry men... the lonely woman!

Mountain Rivera is a veteran heavyweight and near-champion who suddenly finds himself washed up in the only trade he knows—prizefighting. Yet, threatened by gangsters for welshing on a gambling debt, Mountain’s opportunistic manager, Maish Rennick, schemes to get the ex-boxer into a phony wrestling match to make some quick money. Although he and his loyal trainer, Army, oppose the degrading proposition, the disillusioned Mountain begins to wonder if he has any options left.

Drama

Anthony Quinn

(Lewis 'Mountain' Rivera)

Jackie Gleason

(Maish Rennick)

Mickey Rooney

(Army)

Julie Harris

(Grace Miller)

Stanley Adams

(Perelli (as Stan Adams))

Madame Spivy

(Ma Greeny)

Val Avery

(Young fighter's promoter)

Herbie Faye

(Charlie, the Bartender)

Jack Dempsey

(Himself)

Muhammad Ali

(Himself (as Cassius Clay))

Lou Gilbert

(Dr. Gilbert)

Michael Conrad

(Ma Greeny's Thug)

Rory Calhoun

(Himself)

Barney Ross

Willie Pep

Steve Belloise

(Hotel Desk Clerk)

Abe Simon

Stan Ross

J.J. Ballargeon

Paolo Rosi

Alex Miteff

Gus Lesnevich

Al Bain

(Police Officer (uncredited))

William Calhoun

(Self - Rivera's wrestling opponent (uncredited))

Nancy Cushman

(Woman on Elevator (uncredited))

Sig Frohlich

(Diner Patron (uncredited))

John Indrisano

(Barfly Watching TV (uncredited))

Arthur M. Mercante

(Referee (uncredited))

Angelo Rossitto

(Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited))

David Susskind

(Self - Trailor Narrator (uncredited))