Paradise Alley (1978)

39% of users liked it
(2,984 ratings)

Film auteur Sylvester Stallone wrote, directed, and stars in this re-working of Rocky to fit an old-fashioned Hollywood formula, depicting three brothers from New York's Hell's Kitchen of the 1940s who want to claw their way out of poverty. Lee Canalito is the muscle-brained iceman Victor, and… More Film auteur Sylvester Stallone wrote, directed, and stars in this re-working of Rocky to fit an old-fashioned Hollywood formula, depicting three brothers from New York's Hell's Kitchen of the 1940s who want to claw their way out of poverty. Lee Canalito is the muscle-brained iceman Victor, and Armand Assante is the embittered, crippled war veteran Lenny. But the smooth-talking con man brother Cosmo (Sylvester Stallone), sees beef-cake Victor's fists as their ticket out of the slums. Cosmo, ever the manipulator, convinces the dull-witted Victor to participate in a series of bone-crunching wrestling matches as Kid Salami. Cosmo and Lenny exploit Victor's brute strength to grab the fast money on the wrestling circuit. But their climb to success is halted when the local gangster Stitch (Kevin Conway) puts up his malicious and dangerous wrestler Frankie the Thumper (Terry Funk) to fight against Kid Salami in a 22-round meat-pounder. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 10, 1978 Wide
On DVD: Mar 1, 2005
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
Equal parts unintentionally hilarious, unbearably earnest, and shamelessly derivative.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassie H

Good Sly film. :) I still love Rocky the most though. :)
Lesley N

You've gotta love the lunk, another fight show with a big heart, one-man show as Stallone wrote, directed, acted, and sang the theme song in his first followup to Rocky. This time the story's based around three Italian brothers and their attempts to make money out of the… More
You've gotta love the lunk, another fight show with a big heart, one-man show as Stallone wrote, directed, acted, and sang the theme song in his first followup to Rocky. This time the story's based around three Italian brothers and their attempts to make money out of the youngest's wrestling ability. With Terry Funk (champion westler, see Beyond The Mat for more details) and Tom Waits in his film debut as the piano-playing Mumbles...so no typecasting there then. Surprisingly enjoyable, especially If you like 70's films in general, Rocky in particular or wrestling in the rain.

Cast

            Sylvester Stallone as Cosmo Carboni

            Kevin Conway as Stich

            Anne Archer as Annie

            Armand Assante as Lenny

            Joe Spinell as Burp

            Lee Canalito as Victor

            Tom Waits as Mumbles

            Aimee Eccles as Susan Chow

            Terry Funk as Franky the Thumper

            Joyce Ingalls as Bunchie

            Frank McRae as Big Glory

            Chick Casey as Doorman

            James J. Casino as Paradise Alley Bartender

            Fredi O. Gordon as Hooker in Bar

            Lydia Goya as Paradise Alley Hooker

            Paul Mace as Rat

            Frank Pesce as Skinny the Hand

            Stuart K. Robinson as Towel Boy

            Ray Sharkey as Legs

            Patricia Spann as Bar Room Hooker

            John Zenda as Wrestler

            Ted di Biase as Wrestler

            Frank Stallone as Singer

            John Monks Jr. as Mickey the Bartender

            Pamela Miller as Vonny

            Dick Murdoch as Wrestler

            Jay York as Wrestler

            Howard Dayton
            
            Jeff Wald as Sticky

            Ray Stevens as Wrestler

            Gene Kiniski
            
See full cast