2. Requiem For A Heavyweight
Director, Ralph Nelson. Starring: Jack Palance, Keenan Wynn. Requiem for a Heavyweight tells the story of a former boxing champions descent into the seedy world of professional wrestling following a humiliating defeat at the hands of a younger brawler. While a brilliant piece of television drama, Rod Serlings script nevertheless reflects common anti-wrestling prejudices: managers are corrupt, fans are unintelligent and the industry generally is depicted as a last chance saloon for reputable athletes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCKVwoVh8Xs However, if you are prepared to look past the assumptions made by the film, Requiem for a Heavyweight is an uncompromising account of an athletes fall from grace, and features stellar performances by Jack Palance as "Mountain" McClintock and Keenan Wynn as his manipulative manager. And, until the release of the next film on this list, it served as the consummate example of down-and-outs in the world of professional wrestling. Speaking of which