| Photos (see all 45 | slideshow) |
| Robert De Niro | ... | Jake La Motta | |
| Cathy Moriarty | ... | Vickie Thailer | |
| Joe Pesci | ... | Joey La Motta | |
| Frank Vincent | ... | Salvy Batts | |
| 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 | |
| Don Dunphy | ... | Himself | |
| Bill Hanrahan | ... | Eddie Eagan | |
| Rita Bennett | ... | Emma | |
| James V. Christy | ... | Dr. Pinto | |
| Bernie Allen | ... | Comedian | |
| Floyd Anderson | ... | Jimmy Reeves | |
| Gene LeBell | ... | Ring announcer | |
| Harold Valan | ... | Referee [Reeves fight] | |
| Victor Magnotta | ... | Fighting soldier | |
| Johnny Barnes | ... | Sugar Ray Robinson | |
| John Thomas | ... | Trainer [first Robinson fight] | |
| Kenny Davis | ... | Referee [first Robinson fight] | |
| Paul Carmello | ... | Ring announcer [first Robinson fight] | |
| Jimmy Lennon Sr. | ... | Ring announcer, second Robinson fight (as Jimmy Lennon) | |
| Bobby Rings | ... | Referee [second Robinson fight] | |
| Kevin Mahon | ... | Tony Janiro | |
| Marty Denkin | ... | Referee [Janiro fight] (as Martin Denkin) | |
| Shay Duffin | ... | Ring announcer [Janiro fight] | |
| Eddie Mustafa Muhammad | ... | Billy Fox | |
| 'Sweet' Dick Whittington | ... | Ring announcer [Fox fight] | |
| Jack Lotz | ... | Referee [Fox fight] | |
| Kevin Breslin | ... | Heckler [Fox fight] | |
| Louis Raftis | ... | Marcel Cerdan | |
| Frank Shain | ... | Ring announcer [Cerdan fight] | |
| Coley Wallace | ... | Joe Louis [Cerdan fight] | |
| Fritzie Higgins | ... | Woman with Vickie [Cerdan fight] | |
| George Latka | ... | Referee [Cerdan fight] | |
| Fred Dennis | ... | Cornerman #1 [Cerdan fight] | |
| Robert B. Loring | ... | Cornerman #2 [Cerdan fight] | |
| Johnny Turner | ... | Laurent Dauthuille | |
| Vern De Paul | ... | Dauthuille's trainer | |
| Chuck Hassett | ... | Referee [Dauthuille fight] | |
| Ken Richards | ... | Reporter at phone booth [Dauthuille fight] | |
| Peter Fain | ... | Dauthuille cornerman [Dauthuille fight] | |
| Billy Varga | ... | Ring announcer [third Robinson fight] (as Count Billy Varga) | |
| Harvey Parry | ... | Referee [third Robinson fight] | |
| Ted Husing | ... | Himself, announcer [third Robinson fight] (voice) (archive footage) | |
| Michael Badalucco | ... | Soda fountain clerk | |
| Thomas Beansy Lobasso | ... | Beansy | |
| Paul Forrest | ... | Monsignor | |
| Peter Petrella | ... | Johnny | |
| Sal Serafino Tomassetti | ... | Webster Hall bouncer | |
| Geraldine Smith | ... | Janet | |
| Mardik Martin | ... | Copa waiter | |
| Maryjane Lauria | ... | Girl #1 | |
| Linda Artuso | ... | Girl #2 | |
| Peter Savage | ... | Jackie Curtie | |
| Daniel P. Conte | ... | Detroit promoter | |
| Joe Malanga | ... | Bodyguard | |
| Sabine Turco Jr. | ... | Bouncer at Copa | |
| Steve Orlando | ... | Bouncer at Copa | |
| Silvio García Jr. | ... | Bouncer at Copa | |
| John Arceri | ... | Maitre d' | |
| Joseph A. Morale | ... | Man at Table #1 | |
| James Dimodica | ... | Man at Table #1 | |
| Robert Uricola | ... | Man outside cab | |
| Andrea Orlando | ... | Woman in cab | |
| Allan Malamud | ... | Reporter at Jake's house | |
| D.J. Blair | ... | State Atty. Bronson | |
| Laura James | ... | Mrs. Bronson | |
| Richard McMurray | ... | J.R | |
| Mary Albee | ... | Underage ID girl | |
| Lisa Katz | ... | Woman with ID girl | |
| Candy Moore | ... | Linda | |
| Richard A. Berk | ... | Musician #1 | |
| Theodore Sauners | ... | Musician #2 | |
| Noah Young | ... | Musician #3 | |
| Nick Trisko | ... | Carlo, bartender | |
| Lou Tiano | ... | Ricky | |
| Bob Evan Collins | ... | Arresting deputy #1 | |
| Wally K. Berns | ... | Arresting deputy #2 (as Wally Berns) | |
| Allen Joseph | ... | Jeweler (as Allan Joseph) | |
| Bob Aaron | ... | Prison guard #1 | |
| Glenn Leigh Marshall | ... | Prison guard #2 | |
| Martin Scorsese | ... | Barbizon stagehand | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Joseph Bergmann | ... | Sailor (At Ballroom) (uncredited) | |
| Bruno DiGiorgi | ... | Soda fountain clerk #2 (uncredited) | |
| Marty Farrell | ... | Heckler in bar (uncredited) | |
| Tony Lip | ... | Patron at Nightclub (uncredited) | |
| Bill Mazer | ... | Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Dennis O'Neill | ... | Dancer (uncredited) | |
| John Turturro | ... | Man at table, Webster Hall (uncredited) | |
| McKenzie Westmore | ... | Jake's daughter (uncredited) | |
| Jimmy Williams | ... | Reporter (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Martin Scorsese | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Jake LaMotta | (book "Raging Bull: My Story") (as Jake La Motta) and | |
| Joseph Carter | (book "Raging Bull: My Story") & | |
| Peter Savage | (book "Raging Bull: My Story") | |
| Paul Schrader | (screenplay) and | |
| Mardik Martin | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Robert Chartoff | .... | producer | |
| Hal W. Polaire | .... | associate producer | |
| Peter Savage | .... | associate producer | |
| Irwin Winkler | .... | producer | |
Cinematography by | |||
| Michael Chapman | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Thelma Schoonmaker | |||
Casting by | |||
| Cis Corman | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Gene Rudolf | (New York) | ||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Phil Abramson | |||
| Frederic C. Weiler | (as Fred Weiler) | ||
Costume Design by | |||
| John Boxer | |||
| Richard Bruno | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Verne Caruso | .... | hair stylist | |
| Mary Keats | .... | hair stylist | |
| Mike Maggi | .... | makeup artist | |
| Mona Orr | .... | hair stylist | |
| Jean Burt Reilly | .... | hair stylist | |
| Michael Westmore | .... | makeup designer | |
| Allen Payne | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
Production Management | |||
| James D. Brubaker | .... | production manager | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Henry Bronchtein | .... | dga trainee | |
| Elie Cohn | .... | second assistant director | |
| Jerry Grandey | .... | first assistant director | |
| Joan Van Horn | .... | second assistant director (as Joan Feinstein) | |
| Allan Wertheim | .... | first assistant director | |
Art Department | |||
| Terry L. Adams | .... | assistant property master | |
| Kirk Axtell | .... | art director: Los Angeles | |
| Hank Bauer | .... | chief carpenter | |
| Emily Ferry | .... | property master | |
| Sheldon Haber | .... | art director: New York | |
| William Lowry | .... | construction grip (as William J. Lowry Sr.) | |
| Gene Ludvigsen | .... | construction foreman | |
| Alan Manser | .... | art director: Los Angeles | |
| Jack Mortellaro | .... | set dresser | |
| Eugene Powell | .... | scenic artist | |
| Thomas Saccio | .... | property master (as Tom Saccio) | |
| Hans Swanson | .... | assistant property master | |
| Louis S. Toth Jr. | .... | head construction grip (as Lou Toth Jr.) | |
| Linda Conaway-Parsloe | .... | assistant art director (uncredited) | |
Sound Department | |||
| Michael Evje | .... | sound mixer | |
| Gary S. Gerlich | .... | sound effects editor | |
| Walter A. Gest | .... | sound recordist (as Walter Gest) | |
| Richard Guinness | .... | boom operator | |
| David J. Kimball | .... | sound re-recording engineer | |
| Les Lazarowitz | .... | sound mixer | |
| Victoria Martin | .... | assistant sound effects editor | |
| Donald O. Mitchell | .... | sound re-recording engineer | |
| Bill Nicholson | .... | sound re-recording engineer | |
| Gary Ritchie | .... | sound recordist | |
| Robert Sciretta | .... | cable person | |
| Murray Siegel | .... | cable person | |
| Chester Slomka | .... | sound effects editor | |
| Pat Suraci | .... | boom operator | |
| Frank E. Warner | .... | supervising sound effects editor (as Frank Warner) | |
| Bill Wylie | .... | sound effects editor (as William J. Wylie) | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Raymond Klein | .... | special effects | |
| Max E. Wood | .... | special effects | |
Stunts | |||
| Jimmy Nickerson | .... | stunt coordinator (as Jim Nickerson) | |
| Steven Burnett | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| David Copeland | .... | stunt double (uncredited) | |
| Bennie Moore | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Konrad Sheehan | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
Casting Department | |||
| Gail Kaszynski | .... | casting assistant | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| William Loger | .... | costumer (as Bill Loger) | |
| Betty M. Nowell | .... | costumer | |
| Marilyn Putnam | .... | costumer | |
| Dean Skipworth | .... | costumer | |
| Andrea E. Weaver | .... | costumer (as Andrea Weaver) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Craig Bassett | .... | assistant editor | |
| Donah Bassett | .... | negative cutter | |
| Mellissa Bretherton | .... | assistant editor | |
| Lisa Zeno Churgin | .... | assistant editor (as Lisa Churgin) | |
| Jeffrey Friedman | .... | assistant editor (as Jeff Friedman) | |
| Yoshio Kishi | .... | associate editor | |
| John Mavros | .... | assistant editor | |
| Michael R. Miller | .... | assistant editor (as Michael Miller) | |
| Susan E. Morse | .... | associate editor | |
| Sonya Polonsky | .... | first assistant editor | |
| Erik T. Ramberg | .... | associate editor | |
| Mary Scott | .... | assistant editor | |
| Karen I. Stern | .... | assistant editor (as Karen Stern) | |
| George Trirogoff | .... | associate editor | |
| Mark Warner | .... | associate editor | |
| William Chartoff | .... | apprentice editor (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Jim Henrikson | .... | music editor | |
| Robbie Robertson | .... | music producer | |
Transportation Department | |||
| George Alden | .... | transportation captain | |
| Ed Arter | .... | transportation captain (as Edward D. Arter) | |
| Tom O'Brien | .... | transportation captain | |
"Raging Bull" isn't the average, stereotypical underdog boxing movie, because it isn't really about boxing at all. Like most great movies, its focus is much deeper. It came out in 1980, earned Robert De Niro a Best Actor Academy Award, and was marked down as another solid triumph by director Martin Scorsese, whose previous 1976 outing with De Niro earned them both critical acclaim (and for De Niro, an Oscar nomination, although he would actually earn an Oscar for "Raging Bull" four years later).
It dwindled in production hell for quite some time, with Scorsese's drug use halting production and only the duo's strong willpower that kept the project moving ahead. It was after De Niro read boxer Jake LaMotta's memoirs that he knew he wanted to make the film, so Scorsese and De Niro turned to Paul Schrader for a script. Schrader, who had previously written "Taxi Driver" (1976), agreed, and wrote the screenplay for them. The rest is history.
"Raging Bull" has often been regarded as the greatest film of the 80s. To be honest, I'm not so sure about that, since various genres offer different feelings and emotions (comparing this to a comedy might seem rather silly). But to say it is one of the most powerful films of all time would be no gross overstatement -- it is superb film-making at its finest.
De Niro gained 60 pounds to play LaMotta, which was an all-time record at the time (later beaten by Vincent D'Onofrio, who gained 70 pounds for Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket"). His physical transformation is on-par with any great screen makeover, especially the most recent, ranging from Willem Dafoe in "Shadow of the Vampire" to Charlize Theron in "Monster." In addition, co-star Joe Pesci also lost weight for his role of Joey, LaMotta's short, eccentric brother. The greatest scene in the film is when LaMotta accuses his brother of having an affair with his wife. The tension is raw, the dialogue amazing, and the overall intensity electrifying.
The film is most often compared to "Rocky," more than any other, apparently because they both concern a certain level of boxing. As much as I absolutely adore "Rocky," "Raging Bull" is a deeper, more realistic film. But whereas "Raging Bull" is raw, "Rocky" is inspiring, and that is one of the reasons I do not think these two very different motion pictures deserve comparison, for the simple fact that they are entirely separate from one another. The only connecting thread is the apparently central theme of boxing, which is used as a theme in "Rocky," and a backdrop in "Raging Bull." They're entirely different motion pictures -- one uplifting, the other somewhat depressing -- and the people who try to decide which is better need to seriously re-evaluate their reasons for doing so. They both succeed splendidly well at what they are trying to do, and that's all I have to say about their so-called connection.
De Niro, who could justifiably be called the greatest actor of all time, is at the top of his game here. In "Taxi Driver" he displayed a top-notch performance. He wasn't just playing Travis Bickle -- he was Travis Bickle. And here he is Jake LaMotta, the infamous boxer known for his abusive life style and somewhat paranoid delusions during his reign as world middleweight boxing champion, 1949 - 1951. Throughout the film, he beats his wife (played expertly and convincingly by the 19-year-old Cathy Moriarty), convinced that she is cheating on him, and that is more or less what the film is truly about. The boxing is just what he does for a living, and could be considered as a way to release some of his deeper, harbored anger.
LaMotta has a close relationship with Joey, his brother, and their interaction is often what elevates the film above others of its genre. The dialogue is great, close to the perfection of Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," rich in that rapid-fire filthy language and brutal insults. Pesci, who was on the verge of quitting showbiz at the time of pre-production, was spotted by De Niro in a cheap B-movie named "The Death Collector" (1975), a.k.a. "Family Business," a truly horrid film that nevertheless showcased an early sign of things to come for Pesci. De Niro wanted him for the movie and his premonition was either very lucky or very wise -- this is one of the best performances of Pesci's entire career.
Scorsese shot the film in muted black and white, portraying a certain era of depression and misery. To make the blood show up on screen during the occasional fight scenes, Scorsese used Hershey's Syrup -- which is an interesting tidbit of trivia for any aspiring film-making planning on filming a violent movie in black and white. But how often does that happen?
This is certainly one of the most intense films Scorsese has directed, and one of the most important of his career. Along with "Taxi Driver," it is an iconic motion picture that will stand the test of time for years and years to come.
Scorsese and De Niro's partnership over the years has resulted in some of the most influential and utterly amazing motion pictures of all time: "Mean Streets," "Taxi Driver," "The King of Comedy," "Goodfellas" and "Casino" come to mind almost instantly. But perhaps the one single title that will be remembered as their most daring effort is "Raging Bull," a motion picture so utterly exhilarating that it defies description. It is simply a masterpiece for the mind and senses, leaving you knocked out cold after its brutal one-two punch. If I had to assemble a list of required viewing, this would be up there towards the top.