Raging Bull

Infobox Film
name = Raging Bull


image_size = 225px
caption = theatrical poster
director = Martin Scorsese
producer = Robert Chartoff
Irwin Winkler
writer = Paul Schrader
Mardik Martin
starring = Robert De Niro
Joe Pesci
Cathy Moriarty
music =
cinematography = Michael Chapman
editing = Thelma Schoonmaker
distributor = United Artists
released = 14 November fy|1980 "(US)"
19 February fy|1981 "(UK)"
runtime = 129 minutes
country = FilmUS
language = English
budget = $18,000,000 "(est.)"
gross =
amg_id = 1:40104
imdb_id = 0081398

"Raging Bull" is a 1980 biographical film directed by Martin Scorsese, adapted by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin from the memoir "". It stars Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, a temperamental and paranoid but tenacious boxer who alienates himself from his friends and family. Also featured in the film are Joe Pesci as Joey, La Motta's brother and manager, and Cathy Moriarty as his abused wife. The film features supporting roles from Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, and Frank Vincent, who has starred in many films directed by Martin Scorsese. After receiving mixed initial reviews, it went on to garner a high critical reputation and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made, along with the pair's other famed collaboration from that era, "Taxi Driver" (1976). It is one of three films that has been named to the National Film Registry in its first year of eligibility.

Plot

Beginning in 1964, where an older and fatter Jake LaMotta (Robert DeNiro) practices his stand-up comic routine, we are transported back in time to his boxing career in 1941 against his opponent, Jimmy Reeves, in the infamous Cleveland bout. Losing the fight by a fixed result causes a fight to break out at the end of the match. Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull" 2006 p.93-97, 98-103, 105.] His brother Joey (Joe Pesci) is not only a sparring partner to him but also responsible for organizing his fights. Joey discusses a potential shot for the title with one of his mob connections, Salvy Batts (Frank Vincent), on the way to his brother's house. When they are finally settled in the house, Jake admits that he doesn't have much faith in his own abilities. Accompanied by his brother to the local open-air swimming pool, a restless Jake spots a 15-year-old girl named Vikki at the edge of the pool (Cathy Moriarty). Although he has to be reminded by his brother he is already married, the opportunity to invite her out for the day becomes a possibility thanks to his brother.

Jake has two fights with Sugar Ray Robinson, set two years apart, and Jake loses the second when the judges rule in favour of Sugar Ray because he was leaving the sport temporarily for army conscription. This does not deter Jake from winning six straight fights, but as his fears grow about his wife, Vikki, having feelings for other men, particularly Janeiro, the opponent for his forthcoming fight, he is keen enough to show off his sexual jealously when he beats him in front of the local Mob boss, Tommy Como (Nicholas Colosanto) and Vikki. The recent triumph over Janeiro is touted as a major boost for the belt as Joey discusses this with journalists, though Joey is briefly distracted by seeing Vickie approach a table with Salvy and his crew. Joey has a word with Vickie, who says she is giving up on his brother. Blaming Salvy, Joey viciously attacks him in a fight that spills outside of the club.Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull" 2006, p.106-107, 109-110, 112, 114, 116-121.] When Tommy Como hears that the two of them rose fists in a public place, he orders them to apologize and tells Joey that he means business. At the swimming pool, Joey tells Jake that if he really wants a shot, he will have to take a dive first. The fight against Fox is a shambles as Jake does not even bother to put up a fight. Jake is suspended from the board on suspicion of throwing the fight, though he realises the error of his judgment when it is too late. This does little to harm his career, when he finally wins the title against Marcel Cerdan at the open-air Biggs stadium.

Three years have passed, when we see Jake fixing his television. He asks his brother if he fought with Salvy at the Copca because of Vikki. Jake then asks if Joey had an affair with his wife. Joey takes offense, and doesn't answer him. Then Joey storms out. While interrogating his wife about the affair she sarcastically states that she had sex with the entire neighborhood (including his brother, Salvy and Tommy Como). Jake takes this seriously and runs to his brother's house where he starts to fight Joey. Defending his championship belt against Dautbuille, he makes a call to his brother after the fight, but when Joey assumes Salvy is on the other end, Jake says nothing. This drags Jake down to when he eventually loses to Sugar Ray Robinson on their final encounter.

A couple of years later, in the middle of a photo shoot, Jake LaMotta surrounded by his wife and children, tells the journalists he is offically retired and that he has bought a new property. After staying all night at his new night club, Vikki tells him she wants a divorce (which she has been planning since his retirement). Arrested for introducing under-age girls (posing as 21-year-olds) to men, he serves a jail sentence after failing to raise the bail money. Returning to New York, he meets up with his estranged brother in a car park where they share a nervous hug.

Going back to the beginning sequence, Jake refers to the "I shouda have been a contender" scene from On The Waterfront complaining that his brother should have been there for him but is also keen enough to give himself some slack. Darting across the room at the information of the crowded auditorium by the stage hand, the camera remains pivoted on the mirror. The film ends on an ambiguous note with a biblical quote and a dedication to the director's film mentor at New York University, Haig P. Moonigan, who died of a heart attack before the film was released. Friedman Lawrence S. "Cinema of Martin Scorsese" 1997, p.114.] Baxter, John "DeNiro A Biography", p.184.]

Cast

Production

"Raging Bull" came about when De Niro read the autobiography getting him into shape. The actor found that boxing came naturally to him; he entered as a middleweight boxer, winning two of his three fights in a Brooklyn ring dubbed "young LaMotta" by the commentator. According to Jake LaMotta, he felt that DeNiro was one of his top 20 best middleweight boxers of all time.Baxter, John "DeNiro: a biography", p.198.]

Screenplay

Under the guidance of Winkler, Martin Mardick was asked to start writing the screenplay. Biskind, Peter "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" 1998, p.379.] According to Robert DeNiro, under no circumstances would United Artists accept Martin Mardick's script.Biskind, Peter "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" 1998, p.384.] The story which was based around the vision of journalist, Peter Hamill of a 1930s and 1940s style when boxing was known as "the great dark prince of sports" did not impress the expectations of DeNiro very much when he finished reading the first draft.Baxter John "DeNiro A Biography",p.186.] The screenwriter of Taxi Driver, Paul Shrader was swiftly brought in to re-write the script around August 1978. Baxter John "DeNiro A Biography",p.187.] Some of the changes that Schrader made to the script saw a re-write of the scene with the uncooked "steak" and inclusion of LaMotta seen urinating in a Florida cell. The character of Jake's brother, Joey was finally added, previously absent from Martin's script. Baxter John "DeNiro A Biography",pp.188/9.] Biskind, Peter "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" 1998, p.385.] The film company, United Artists saw a massive improvement on the quality of the script. However, the chief executives of United Artists, Steve Bach and David Field met up with Scorsese, DeNiro and producer, Irwin Winkler in November 1978 to say they were worried that the content would be X-rated material and have no chance of finding an audience. According to Martin Scorsese, the script was left in the hands of him and Robert DeNiro where they spent two and a half weeks extensively re-building the content of the film which was done on the island of St Martin. The most significant change would be the entire scene when Jake fixes his television and then accuses his wife of having an affair. Other changes includedthe removal of Jake and Joey's father; the reduction of the organized mob and a major re-write of Jake's fight with Tony Janiero. Biskind, Peter "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" , p.390.] Baxter, John "DeNiro A Biography", p.193.] They were even responsible for the end sequence where Jake is all alone in his dressing room quoting "I shouda been a contender" scene from On The Waterfront while using this to blame his brother but also himself. Baxter, John "DeNiro A Biography", p.193.] An extract of Richard III had been pondered but Michael Powell thought it would be a bad decision within the context of a film that was American. According to Steven Bach, only the first two screen writers (Mardick Martin and Paul Schrader) would receive credit but since there was no payment to the writer's guild on the script, Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese's work would remain uncredited.Baxter, John "DeNiro A Biography", p.193.]

Casting

A trademark of Martin Scorsese was casting many actors and actresses new to the profession, which on this occassion there would be no exception. Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", p.65.] Robert DeNiro, who was already committed to play Jake LaMotta, began to get unfamiliar names to play his on-screen brother, Joey and wife, Vikki. Evans, John "The Making of Raging Bull", p.61.] Baxter, John "DeNiro A Biography", pp.196/7.] The role of Joey LaMotta was the first to be cast. Robert DeNiro was watching a low budget tv film called "The Death Collector" when he saw the part of a young career criminal played by Joe Pesci (then an unknown and struggling actor) as an ideal candidate. When Pesci received the call from Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese for the proposal to star in the film, he had not worked in eight years (now running an Italian restaurant in New Jersey), claiming that it must be a good role to justify the means. Pesci accepted the role with little fuss. The role of Vickie LaMotta, Jake's wife, would have much interest across the board, but it was Pesci who suggested the actress, Cathy Moriaty, from a picture he once saw at a New Jersey disco. Both DeNiro and Scorsese from meeting her on several occassions that her husky voice and maturity would be perfect but they had to prove to the screen actors guild that she was right for the role when Cis Corman showed 10 comparing pictures of both Cathy Moriaty and the real Vickie LaMotta for proof she had a resemblance. Moriaty was then asked to take a screen test which she managed - partly aided with some improvised lines from DeNiro - after some confusion wondering why the crew were filming her take. Joe Pesci also persuaded his former show-biz pal and co-star in The Death Collector, Frank Vincent to try for the role of Salvy Batts. Following a successful audition and screen test, the relative newcomer Frank Vincent received the call to say he had won the part. Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", pp.65/66.] Even, the director's father, Charles Scorsese made his film debut as Tommy Como's cousin, Charlie.

Principal Photography

The film began shooting at a Los Angeles warehouse in April 1979.Biskind, Peter "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" 1998, p.391/2.] Baxter, John "DeNiro A Biography", p.199.] The warehouse was to replicate the Madison Square Garden venue in New York in the first of many boxing scenes to be completed first. Wanting to get as close to the action, one camera operated by the director of photography, Michael Chapman would be placed inside the ring as he would play the role of an opponent keeping out of the way of other fighters as their emotions would be filmed. Baxter, John "DeNiro A Biography", p.200.] The precise moves of the boxers would be done as dance routines from the information of a book about dance instructors in the mode of Arthur Murray. A punching bag was also used by DeNiro between takes. The initial five week schedule for the shooting of the boxing scenes took longer than expected, putting the still weak Scorsese under pressure. According to Martin Scorsese, production of the film was then closed down for around four months with the entire crew being paid in the mean time, so DeNiro could go on a binge eating trip around Northern Italy. Baxter, John "DeNiro A Biography" , p.201.] "The 100 greatest films of all time", Total Film p.180.] When he did come back to the United States, his weight blew up from 145 up to 215 pounds. The scenes with the fatter Jake LaMotta - which include announcing his retirement from boxing and LaMotta ending up in a Florida cell - were done approaching Christmas 1979within seven to eight weeks so as not to aggravate the health issues which were already affecting DeNiro's posture, breathing, and talking. Baxter, John "The Making of Raging Bull", p.83.] Thompson, David and Christie, Ian "Scorsese on Scorsese", p.84.] The final sequence where we see Jake LaMotta sitting in front of his mirror was filmed on the last day of shooting taking nineteen takes with only the thirteenth one being used for the film. Scorsese wanted to have an atmosphere would be so cold that the words would have an impact as he tries to come to terms with himself and his relationship with his brother.

Post-Production

The editing of Raging Bull was done during most of 1980. Biskind, Peter "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls", p.399.] The cutting room floor proved to the place where the final cut of the film would be done. Scorsese worked with the editor, Thelma Schoonmaker to ditch Schrader idea's of LaMotta's nightclub act intervening with the "flashback" of his youth and instead just follow along the lines of a single flashback where only scenes of LaMotta practicing his stand-up would be left "bookending" the film. Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", p.90.] A sound mix arranged by Frank Warner took six months to perfect. Biskind, Peter "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls", p.399.] A test screening in front of a small audience including the chief executives, Steve Bach and Arthur Alberk was show at the MGM screening room in New York around July 1980. Alberk praised Scorsese by calling him a "true artist". According to the producer, Irwin Winkler, matters were made worse when United Artists didn't even want to distribute the film but nobody was interested when they tried to sell the rights. Scorsese made no secret that "Raging Bull" would be his Hollywood swan song taking unusual care during post-production. This caused some friction with the producer, Irwin Winkler, who accused Scorsese of doing the editing process "inch by inch". Scorsese threatened to remove his credit from the film if he was not allowed to sort a reel which obscured the name of a whisky brand which was heard in a scene. The work was only completed four days shy of the premiere. Baxter, John "DeNiro A biography", p.204.]

Reception

Distribution

"Raging Bull" first premiered in New York on 14 November 1980 to mixed reviews. Biskind, Peter "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" 1999, p.399.] Baxter, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", p.90.] Jack Kroll of "Newsweek" called Raging Bull "the best movie of the year". Vincent Canby of "The New York Times" said that Scorsese "has made his most ambitious film as well as his finest" and went on to praise Moriaty's debut performance as "either she is one of the film finds of the decade or Mr Scorsese is svengali. perhaps both". Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", p.124.] Time praised DeNiro's outstanding performance since "much of Raging Bull exists because of the possibilities it offers DeNiro to display his own explosive art". Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", p.125.] Steven Jenkins from the British Film Insitute's (bfi) magazine, "Monthy Film Journal" said "Raging Bull may prove to Scorsese's finest achievement to date". Many critics however were repelled by the film's violence and its unsympathetic central character. For example, Kathleen Carroll from the "New York Times" criticised the character of Jake LaMotta as "one of the most repugnant characters in the history of the movies" who also criticised Scorsese because the movie "totally ignores [LaMotta's] reform school background, offering no explanation to his anti-social behavior".

Overall, the uncomfortable setting of violence and anger struggled to capativate audiences (for the exception of the "art-house" audiences in New York) while being supported by a poor advertising campaign saw the film become a flop at the box office. Scorsese became concerned for his future career that the failure of "Raging Bull" would mean producers and studios would refuse to finance his films. Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", pp.125-127.]

Awards

Real acclaim for "Raging Bull" came when the film was nominated for eight Academy Awards (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Sound and Editing) at the 1980 Academy Awards. Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", p.127.] [cite web |url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1183090826415 | title=Raging Bull - Academy Awards Database | publisher=AMPAS | accessdate=2007-06-28 ] However the events surrounding John Hinckley Jnr's assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan trying to impress Jodie Foster the way that the character, Travis Bickle put his life on the line in the film Taxi Driver hurt the film's chances on the big night. Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", p.128.] For a fear he would be attacked, Scorsese went to the ceremony with FBI bodyguards disguised as guests which escorted him out before the announcement of the Best Picture Oscar to say that Ordinary People had won the Oscar. Nevertheless, the film managed to pick up only two oscars - Best Actor (DeNiro) and Best Editing (Schoonmaker). Robert DeNiro's acceptance speech thanked the real Jake LaMotta for his support "even though he is suing us".

The film was better received at many other film festivals winning best picture and best actor (DeNiro) by the Los Angeles Film Association; best actor (DeNiro) and best supporting actor (Pesci) by the National Board of Review; best actor (DeNiro) by the Golden Globes and National Board of Review and best cinematography (Chapman) by the National Society of Film Critics.The Berlin Film Festival chose "Raging Bull" to open the festival in 1981. Evans, Mike "The Making of Raging Bull", p.129.]

American Film Institute recognition

*1998 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies #24
*2001 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills #51
*2008 AFI's 10 Top 10 #1 Sports film

Legacy

By the end of the 1980s, "Raging Bull" had cemented its reputation as a modern classic. It was voted the best film of the 1980s in numerous critics' polls and is regularly pointed to as both Scorsese's best film and one of the finest American movies ever made. Walker, John "Halliwell's Top 1000, The Ultimate Movie Countdown" 2005, p.561.] Several prominent critics, among them Roger Ebert, declared the film to be an instant classic and the consummation of Scorsese's earlier promise. Ebert proclaimed it the best film of the 1980s, and the fourth greatest film of all time.Top Ten Lists of Roger Ebert]

The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Originally, the American Film Institute ranked "Raging Bull" 24th of the greatest American movies of all time. However, when the list was updated 10 years later, "Raging Bull" rose twenty places on the list, reaching #4. and fifth on the "Entertainment Weekly's" 100 Greatest Movies of All Time. The 2002 Sight and Sound Poll found listed tied for 6th with "The Bicycle Thief" [ [http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/topten/poll/directors.html BFI | Sight & Sound | Top Ten Poll 2002 - Directors' Poll ] ] . The movie poster was painted by Kunio Hagio. [http://www.west.net/~janus/kunio/ Kunio Hagio] In 2002, Channel 4 held a poll of the 100 Greatest Movies,on which Raging Bull was voted in at number 20.
Halliwell Film Guide, a highly respected British film guide, had a poll naming their Top 1000 movies. Raging Bull was placed #7.

In June 2008, AFI revealed its "Ten top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. "Raging Bull" was acknowledged as the best film in the sports genre. [cite news | author = American Film Institute | title = AFI Crowns Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres | work = ComingSoon.net | date = 2008-06-17 | url = http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46072 | accessdate= 2008-06-18] [cite web | title= Top 10 Sports | url = http://www.afi.com/10top10/sports.html | publisher= American Film Institute |accessdate= 2008-06-18]

Home video release history

* 1991 (laserdisc)
* 1993 (laserdisc)

Soundtrack

A two-CD soundtrack was released in 2005, long after the movie was released, because of earlier difficulties receiving permissions for many of the songs, which Scorsese selected from his childhood memories growing up in New York.

References

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

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* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5069962 Fresh Air interview with Thelma Schoonmaker]