Review of Paradise Alley (1978) by Person M — 14 Feb 2010

Fun but anyone with more than a passing interest in wrestling will get bored probablly as the film dosent break kayfabe. interestinglly there are a few major names here dory funk junior playing a mob enforcer turned wrestler and the wrestling matches were choreographed by terry funk. the plot is a combination of night and the city (far superior) and the harder they fall (boxing movie again far superior) two brothers exploit their retarded albeit exceptionally strong brother by managing him in illegal wrestling matches in a seedy speak easy in the bronx.

Stallone does show flashes of acting briliance but is suffocated by a terrible script the film also shows some noirish flare stallones character is almost a carbon copy of richard ridmarks in night and the city the major problem is the film builds tention in places then ruins it with a weird and unnecessary sense of humour. and half way through the film stallone and his seedy other brother totally reverse roles which is just strange. and the mob are like rejects from dick tracey.

A mixed bag worth checking out for terry funks artistic choreohgraphy and chain wretling sequences (linking a serious of holds and throws) and a wrestling match in the pouring rain.

Light hearted fun but not worth it your after serious wrestling or noir or even drama this isn't for you.