Raging Bull (1980)

An emotionally self-destructive boxer's journey through life, as the violence and temper that leads him to the top in the ring, destroys his life outside it.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

Jake LaMotta (based on the book by), Joseph Carter (with),

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci

Top 250 #100 | Won 2 Oscars. Another 26 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Jake La Motta
Cathy Moriarty	...	Vickie La Motta
Joe Pesci	...	Joey
Frank Vincent	...	Salvy
Nicholas Colasanto	...	Tommy Como
Theresa Saldana	...	Lenore
Mario Gallo	...	Mario
Frank Adonis	...	Patsy
Joseph Bono	...	Guido
Frank Topham	...	Toppy
Lori Anne Flax	...	Irma
Charles Scorsese	...	Charlie - Man with Como
Don Dunphy	...	Himself - Radio Announcer for Dauthuille Fight
Bill Hanrahan	...	Eddie Eagan
Rita Bennett	...	Emma - Miss 48's

Storyline

When Jake LaMotta steps into a boxing ring and obliterates his opponent, he's a prizefighter. But when he treats his family and friends the same way, he's a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. Though LaMotta wants his family's love, something always seems to come between them. Perhaps it's his violent bouts of paranoia and jealousy. This kind of rage helped make him a champ, but in real life, he winds up in the ring alone.

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Plot Keywords:

jealousy | boxing | rage | paranoia | violence | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 December 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Raging Bull

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$13,568 (USA) (28 January 2005)

Gross:

$45,250 (USA) (11 February 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists, Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On March 31, 1981, Robert De Niro's Best Actor Oscar win created a rarity in the Academy's history, in that the real-life Jake LaMotta was in the audience witnessing the victory. That same evening Sissy Spacek won her first Best Actress Oscar for playing singer Loretta Lynn (Coal Miner's Daughter) who was also in the pavilion audience, making the gala event unique.

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Goofs

Early in the film when Jake LaMotta is leaning out of a back window, shouting, he is leaning right out of the window when viewed from outside, but is hardly leaning out at all when viewed from inside.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jake La Motta: I remember those cheers / They still ring in my ears / After years, they remain in my thoughts. / Go to one night / I took off my robe, and what'd I do? I forgot to wear shorts. / I recall every fall / Every hook, every jab / The worst way a guy can get rid of his flab. / As you know, my life wasn't drab. / Though I'd much... Though I'd rather hear you cheer / When you delve... Though I'd rather hear you cheer / When I delve into Shakespeare / "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Hail, Hail, Black and White (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Prisoner of Love"
(1931)
Music by Russ Columbo (uncredited) & Clarence Gaskill (uncredited)
Lyrics Leo Robin (uncredited)
Performed by Perry Como (1946)
Courtesy of RCA Records

User Reviews

As perfect as perfect can be.

Raging bull is my favorite film. Robert de Niro's performance in this film is truly amazing and the direction from Scorsese and the script from Paul Schrader are flawless. The fight scenes are the most brutal that I have ever seen on film even though theres only like 12 minutes of them and the editing is simply brilliant. It should have earned Scorsese a best director oscar but at least they had enough sense to award de Niro the best actor oscar.

I'll come back to this film forever.