Her Name Was Sally, But They All Called Her Sal Mineo

In an attempt to view every Steve McQueen film ever made, I watched "Somebody Up There Likes Me" (1956). McQueen is in the movie for all of two minutes, usually seen with a knife... badass. However, the movie still kicked some unexpected ass. I think it was Paul Newman's second movie and I've decided I like him too. This is primarily because of his performance, but secondarily out of vanity. Apparently my life partner's grandmother thinks I look like Paul Newman. I don't believe it, but I wouldn't mind if it were true.

Newman stars as Rocky Graziano, a middleweight world champ who came from a badass past, but turned his life around through boxing. IMDB tells me, and the Buskus may be able to confirm, that Graziano won the title from Tony Zale, but later, lost it to Zale in another match. He also fought Sugar Robinson, knocked him down, but eventually lost. The movie, however, concludes with Graziano on top.

The Trailer:


For Buskus, Zale vs. Graziano (1948):


The film also features Sal Mineo, perhaps you know him as Plato from Rebel Without A Cause. His role was relatively minor, but it finally explains a Lifter Puller (Finn's band before Hold Steady) reference. Until now, I was pretty sure they were talking about Al Mineo, the once leader of the Gambino family. I must have added an "S" by mistake. Coincidentally, both Al and Sal were murdered.

As Town might describe it, it was a good flick. I gave it 5/5 on Netflix. It also convinced me that the Buskus should pursue his boxing interests in the ring.