Raging Bull

***Raging Bull*** is a 1980 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin, produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana and Frank Vincent. The film is an adaption of middleweight boxing champion, Jake LaMotta's 1970 memoir *Raging Bull: My Story* and follows LaMotta, played by De Niro and his self-destructiveness ruining both his boxing career and his relationship with his family.

While Scorsese was hesitant to make a film on LaMotta's memoir, he eventually decided to create the film after relating to LaMotta's story. The film was also heavily praised by critics with it being placed as the 24th greatest film of all time on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies and 4th on the list's tenth anniversary. The film has also won numerous awards with it being nominated for 6 Academy Awards and with it winning the award for Best Actor (Robert De Niro) and award for Best Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker).

Since it's release, *Raging Bull* has been cited to be one of the greatest films of all time. The film has also been praised for it's accurate representation of anger and jealousy. Since then, the film has also been called "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the U.S. Library of Congress.

## Plot

In 1941, middleweight boxer, Jake LaMotta loses to Jimmy Reeves which causes a commotion from the audience. Jake's brother and manager, Joey, suggests his connections with mobster, Salvy Batts and the local Mafia could allow Jake a shot at the championship, however, Jake refuses saying he wants to win the championship on his own. At a pool in his Bronx neighborhood, Jake meets a 15-year-old girl named Vickie, who he has an affair with. In 1943, Jake wins against Sugar Ray Robinson, but loses their rematch, which Joey claims is only because Robinson was enlisting into the Army the following week.

Eventually, Jake becomes more and more controlling over Vickie and starts to constantly worry over the idea of Vickie cheating on him. Due to his jealousy of Vickie having an affair, Jake viciously beats Tony Janiro, in front of Vickie and Tommy Como, the local Mafia boss. While at the Copacabana, Joey notices Vickie sitting at a table with Salvy. Joey asks her why she's with Salvy, with Vickie implying she's dissatisfied with her and Jake's marriage. Hearing this news, Joey viciously attacks Joey before leaving the club. Como forces Joey and Salvy to apologize, and after they do, Como informs Joey that the only way Jake will win is with Como's control, which causes Jake to purposely lose to Billy Fox. After being suspended, Jake wins the middleweight championship title against Marcel Cerdan in 1949.

In 1950, Jake accuses Joey of having an affair with Vickie and beats him a fit of rage in front of his family after Vickie sarcastically confesses to the affair after Jake assaults her. While beating Joey, Jake knocks Vickie unconscious. Eventually, Vickie returns to their apartment and threatens to leave Jake, but stays when Jake begs her to not go. After being Laurent Dauthuille, Jake calls Joey in an attempt to reconcile with Joey, but after Jake fails to say anything over the phone, Joey confuses Jake for Salvy and insults him before hanging up. One year later, Jake purposely loses to Sugar Ray Robinson, which causes a decline in Jake's career.

In 1956, Jake is now overweight and living in Miami with his family. After failing to return home after spending the night at his nightclub, Vickie divorces Jake and takes custody of their children. Jake is then arrested a few days later after introduces underage girls to pimps at his nightclub. Jake tries to pay his bail by removing the jewels from his championship belt, but fails. In 1957, Jake is incarcerated and begins to cry over his past mistakes. Jake returns to The Bronx in 1958 and reunites with Joey, who reluctantly accepts his apology. In 1964, Jake is seen backstage preparing for a stand-up comedy routine at a club. Just before going out, Jake begins to shadowbox and chant "I'm the boss", before taking the stage.

## Cast

* Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta
* Joe Pesci as Joey LaMotta
* Cathy Moriarty as Vickie LaMotta
* Nicholas Colasanto as Tommy Como
* Theresa Saldana as Lenora LaMotta, Joey's second wife
* Frank Vincent as Salvatore "Salvy Batts"
* Lori Anne Flax as Irma LaMotta, Jake's first wife
* Mario Gallo as Mario
* Frank Adonis as Patsy
* Joseph Bono as Guido
* Frank Topham as "Toppy"
* Charles Scorsese as Charlie
* Geraldine Smith as Janet
* Candy Moore as Linda
* James V. Christy as Dr. Pinto
* Laura James as Mrs. Bronson
* Peter Savage as Jackie Curtie
* Don Dunphy as Himself
* McKenzie Westmore as Stephanie LaMotta
* Gene LeBell as Ring Announcer for Reeves Fight
* Shay Duffin as Ring announcer for Janiro Fight
* Martin Scorsese as Barbizon Stagehand
* John Turturro as Man at Webster Hall Table (uncredited)
* Coley Wallace as Joe Louis

### LaMotta's opponents

* Johnny Barnes as Sugar Ray Robinson
* Bill Hanrahan as Eddie Eagan
* Kevin Mahon as Tony Janiro
* Eddie Mustafa Muhammad as Billy Fox
* Floyd Anderson as Jimmy Reeves
* Johnny Turner as Laurent Dauthuille
* Louis Raftis as Marcel Cerdan

## Production

While on the set for *The Godfather Part II*, De Niro read LaMotta's autobiography and became instantly fascinated in the life of LaMotta. De Niro eventually went up to Scorsese, while he was directing *Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore* and asked him to make a film adaption of LaMotta's book. Scorsese immediately turned it down due to him having no idea who Jake LaMotta was and was also never interested in sports. Soon after, Martin Mardik read the novel and agreed the novel was extremely interesting. De Niro then showed the book to Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler, who said they would only produce the film if Scorsese directed it. In 1980, Scorsese was put in the hospital after nearly dying from an overdose of cocaine, which came from a heavy addiction Scorsese had after the commercial failure of his 1977 film, *New York, New York*. In order to save his career, Scorsese finally agreed to direct *Raging Bull*. While Scorsese was directed the film, he even began to relate to LaMotta. When some footage of De Niro in the ring was shown to De Niro, Michael Chapman and Michael Powell, Powell pointed out that the color of the boxing gloves were not maroon, which was the color of boxing gloves when the film takes place. Along with several other reasons, Scorsese decided to film *Raging Bull* in black and white. De Niro also gained 215 pounds (97 kg), from his original 145 pounds (66 kg) in order film certain scenes in *Raging Bull* in which LaMotta is overweight.