I haven't yet seen it, but 'Ernest Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man' was made seven years after 'The Battler' as a more thorough version of the story, based on Hemingway's collection of short stories featuring the character Nick Adams. This one-hour television special was created as part of the Playwright '56 program, and as this episode was released the year before 'Somebody Up There Likes Me', it was the perfect audition for Paul Newman to show off his acting chops.
Originally a short story written in 1925, 'The Battler' follows a young drifter as he runs away from home. He hitchhikes, rides a train, and learns a homeless man's tragic story. I don't want to spoil too much, but if you liked 'Somebody Up There Likes Me', you need to watch this (or the longer 1962 version). Paul Newman gives a heartbreaking performance. I'm not just trying to give a good review; I actually cried. I look forward to watching the 1962 movie, since Newman reprises his role in the film, and I hear it's just as emotional a performance.
