User reviews

Paradise Alley is set in 1946 in the dingy and dirty streets of Hell's Kitchen- or the Bowery, take your pick, maybe more like the Bowery- and is centered on a group of characters, specifically three brothers, and how they try to maintain in their squalor or, as it turns out, try and make a way for themselves to get out. It's a sentimental picture as it tries to act super tough and muscular, and it's kind of like a Saturday afternoon movie for the guys who have already seen Rocky and Rambo flicks too many times and want to see something sort of "different". It certainly is. And not always in a good way.

What I liked was seeing how the actors playing the brothers interacted. Cosmo, Victor and Lenny are impressionable and work very well as this trio dynamic. One had high aspirations and has a big mouth but a fairly good heart, another is a crippled war hero who's life has not worked out at all like he might have wanted for himself or his girl, and the other is a fairly content and BIG-sized ice delivery man who finds himself needing money to want that boat house. I liked also how Stallone put these characters against the lumbering idiot gangsters who were too bumbling to really make it as big-shots but could be threatening enough to other bums and the like in the neighborhood. Not to mention the character and performance of Frank McRae as the 40-something wrestler who lives in total degradation even as he's very good at what he does. Oh, and Tom Waits of course, for a role that is merely a blip but one that brings a smile all the same.

The problems seem to come for Stallone that he isn't confident enough to take the material where it needs to go as a down-and-dirty grungy street flick. He gussies it up with over-blown camera moves and editing tricks (I hated the freeze-screen effects used), and seem to not always be as strong with dealing with melodrama and the natural way people talk as he did in the first Rocky. If there was a time to make this story maybe it was right after he has his first big success, and then move on to more conventional stuff. But it is at times fairly schmaltzy, and not all of the acting is very good (the female actresses are all pretty weak, and for a couple of good scenes Lee Canalito feel really flat as the "happy" wreslter brother dubbed "The Salami"). Stallone and Asante fare better with the material, and even Stallone himself goes hammy with his own words in some scenes; Stallone is Stallone, not a Pacino or De Niro, so heavy-duty dramatic scenes don't seem to cut it out as well.

And yet, the film does have its moments. I especially dug that final wrestling match, the two contenders (the other being, I think, Terry Funk) duking it out as a rain storm is coming down in the arena and the power keeps cutting in and out with lightning effects thrown in. Stallone does make this an epic and nasty and brutal final bout, and it does bring a pretty satisfying completion to a film that is enjoyable but too clichéd by half.

I have to admit that this film to many critics was a turgid mess, but I cannot help but enjoy and have true sentimentality for it. You have to watch Paradise Alley when you are in the right kind of mood. What mood is that? The mood I was in when I saw it on TV years ago.

It's got heart, good wrestling, believable characters, funny moments, a couple of hot babes, suspense and a bit of violence. It even has a good "Rocky" feel ending that wins your heart ending with a strong ballad. This is entertainment and who cares if it doesn't live up to any purists idea of good film-making. It's fun. If this movie were to be redone it might have a chance at the Oscars. It's quirky and offbeat and contains all the elements to get your moneys worth.

Stallone made this film between "Rocky" and "Rocky II" and it shares alot of similarities with those films. It's the story of three brothers who dream of busting out of the poverty of Hell's Kitchen in New York during the mid-1940's.

Sly plays Cosmo Carboni, the street-wise hustler with no visible means of support but a head full of get-rich-quick schemes who hatches a plan to promote his brutish but gentle-natured brother (who's job is hauling giant blocks of ice all over the city) as a professional wrestler. Armand Assante plays his other brother, a cynical war veteran who was wounded in combat and now works as a mortician.

The story is peppered with colorful Damon Runyon-esque characters and a nicely balanced combination of humor and drama. Stallone writes and directs well, getting good performances from all his actors, and the film has a rich flavor and feeling for the period.

One of Stallone's least-known and least appreciated films, but it's well worth seeking out. Nicely done and entertaining.

Continuing my plan to watch every Sly Stallone movie in order, I come to to one of his most under rated movies. After rewriting the script to 'F.I.S.T' Sly went the full hog, and wrote, acted, directed and sings (Yes sings!! AndI think the style of music suits his voice well) the opening title track.

Plot In A Paragraph: The film tells the story of the three brothers Cosmo (Stallone) Lenny (Armand Assante) and Victor (Lee Canalito) in Hell's Kitchen, New York City in the 1940s who become involved in professional wrestling.

The tag line for this movie read "Three brothers... One had the brains, one had the muscle and one had the suit. Together they had a million dollar dream."

Sly isn't "the muscle" you would expect him to play here, but the con-man brother "The brains" and I think he does a decent job as the fast talking Cosmo, Assante is very impressive in his first movie role, and Canalito (whilst not the most gifted actor) has a real charm to him, as the sweet natured, but tough as nails Victor, who dreams of leaving Hells Kitchen and living on a houseboat with his girlfriend. Kevin Conway and Frank McRae both of who starred with Stallone in 'F.I.S.T' appear here, as does Joe Spinell, who had a role opposite Stallone in 'Rocky'.

Sly seems to be trying to add a bit of everything at his first attempt at directing, Action, drama, love, laughs and an underdog story. It's almost as if he was worried he may not get another chance to direct again, and wanted to try his hand at everything. He probably got his shot at directing this movie, for the same reasons a lot of actors get a shot at directing. They are hot property. But for some reason (like with his previous movie the brilliant F.I.S.T) audiences stayed away from this. I would recommend anyone to check it out!!

As a side note: He actually wrote this before 'Rocky' and tried to sell it to producers for years, to no avail. Once 'Rocky' became a smash hit, producers were willing to look at the script, and Universal Pictures green-lighted the production.

Sylvester Stallone directed and produced as well as starred in Paradise Alley about three brothers named Carboni. Sly is a gladhanding con man of the first order. He might even have conned a 4F for himself to get out military service in World War II. Flat feet was a mighty subjective deferment back in the day.

Brother Armand Assante served however and now walk with a limp and is a bitter man now working as an undertaker. The youngest is a giant of a man Lee Canalito who works as an iceman. Carrying those blocks of ice up several tenement stories in Hell's Kitchen will develop your biceps.

When at Paradise Alley which is a local underground nightclub/sports arena Canalito wins an arm wrestling match with a local wrestler managed by the club owner Kevin Conway. It occurs first to Stallone that Canalito's physique and Rocky like training and dedication might be a way out of Hell's Kitchen. It starts to look that way, but the brothers themselves change in interesting ways.

I have to single out Frank McRae former football player who delivers a memorable performance as a down and out wrestler who lives on Conway's pocket change. His last scene with Stallone is memorable.

So is Conway. He's one nasty little customer, constantly using derogatory ethnic terms. Stallone made a very good point about the ethnic rivalries in working class neighborhoods like Hell's Kitchen. In the end Canalito embarrasses Conway, humiliates him more likely in a way that he will never be an intimidating figure again.

Paradise Alley might not have gathered the enduring following that Rocky did. But it is still a fine and enduring film.

Coming off the success of Rocky, Stallone gave us this gem - which he stars in, wrote, directed. And he sings the theme song (offering little competition to his brother Frank, who has a small role in the movie). Even though it's set in New York in the 1940s, Stallone sports shoulder length hair and an earring. Basically it's "Rocky" in the 40s and about wrestling. The movie is also somewhat notable for being Tom Waits' film debut (he also wrote the theme song). With Lazlo Kovacs behind the camera, first rate production design and art direction, music from Bill Conti, and a generally first rate supporting cast, this ALMOST resembles a real movie. But like "Hudson Hawk", this is merely a vanity project that's probably best seen stoned - or spin the DVD to get unwanted guests out of the house.

Sly wore too many hats in this movie. It's one thing to write and direct a movie, but when you star in the film, co-produce and then decide to sing the movie's original song, you're biting off more than you can chew. With a re-write of the script, a better mainstream director and having his brother Frank sing the songs, Paradise Alley could have been a contender. Instead, it has been listed as one of Sly's cheesy films that he did in his post-Rocky / pre-Rambo era.

... and maybe pick up an award or two. This movie is very well-done on every level, and LOT of fun to watch. Stallone's characterization of a lazy goofball who wants everybody else to bust their butts to make his dreams come true for him is just brilliant, possibly his very best performance. Actually, there's not a single bad performance in this whole movie and that's saying a lot, considering that some of the major roles were filled by guys who were professional boxers or wrestlers. In addition, the sets/costumes/lighting give a very good sense of place and time -- only the hairdos on the female leads tip you off that this was made in the late '70s.

Apparently this movie was not beloved by critics like the original Rocky, and I had personally never heard of it. I just happened to catch it on television once and decided to watch it and while I am not the biggest wrestling fan this movie kept my interest. Wrestling is more of a side note anyways, it plays an important part in the movie, but the main focus is on these three brothers and that is what makes it enjoyable to watch, the last wrestling match in fact detracts from the movie as it was less entertaining than seeing the interplay between the brothers as they try to make their lives better. Like I said nothing all that great, but it held my attention while it was on and you get some spots from actual wrestlers Ted Debiase and Terry Funk, there may have been others, but they were the only ones I noticed, but like I said not the biggest fan of wrestling. If they could have substituted street brawling or something in its place it may have worked better as a movie, but as it is it is okay.

Stallone thought he was Brando and Coppola on this one, a complete ego trip, he even sings the title song, horrendously I might add. Every goombah cliché is in here. The dialogue includes such beauties as "She's got a lovely set of yams" and characters have names like "Sticky," "Burp" and "Stitch." Wow is it bad. You have to be a die-hard Stallone fan to enjoy this self-indulgent tripe. Although it's nice to see a young Tom Waits, Anne Archer and Armande Assante, all too classy for this cornball crapola. Waits even contributes to the soundtrack, but the songs are not his crowning achievement. Despite what others are saying here, this is one flick the critics got right the first time around. Fresh off "Rocky," Stallone thought he could do anything, but he failed. If you like your meatballs lathered with a think layer of cheese, then by all means, take a peek. But the rest of you, yo! Get outta here!

Not everyone gets the just of this movie but for those that do it is a laugh riot!! Stallone is hysterical as the animated Cosmos Carboni who is incessantly trying to make an easy buck with random scams. Armand Assante plays Lenny, Cosmos' older brother and voice of reason for the Carboni Boys. Finally, there is the younger brother Vick who can haul 300lbs of ice up 15 flights of stairs without blowing his breakfast but has the IQ of a gnat. So many scenes are gut busters in this movie and I don't want to give them away but a few of my favorites include: Stallone waking up hungover to discover a plate full of roaches on his previous night's dinner. He proceeds to take aim on the plate with his Louisville Slugger and shatters it along with the roaches with his brother and pet bird looking on. The same day he is out in the streets freezing with a stolen concierge outfit on, holding a monkey chained to a table and chanting "see the dancing monkey!" This is his latest money making scheme after Vick won the monkey in a previous night's arm wrestling match. Anyway, it's crude and low brow humor, but that is what makes this film a great Friday night viewing among good buddies.

This was a film that I picked out on a trip to the video store(U-Can-Rent), when I was probably 7 or 8 years old. Me and my dad were bringing back a rental of Rocky IV and I was looking into the original films when I noticed a video in the mix of the series that had Stallone on the cover with the same hat he wore in Rocky IV. At the time, I thought it was another movie involving Rocky. No one else had ever heard of it. I eventually rented it and found myself tossing and turning as I watched it, waiting for a fight. I remember being bored because it didn't move like a Rocky movie and was set in a time that I knew nothing about. But I do remember eventually liking the characters and being a little sad that it was over. I often thought about that movie throughout the years and always wanted to watch it again.

Sometime in 2000, a good friend of mine sent me some odd books he had dug up. One of them was "Paradise Alley" by Sylvester Stallone. As I read this book over the course of a few nights, I started to remember parts of the movie and, at the same time, remembering things about my house at the time that I had watched it. It was a great book, one I couldn't wait to get back to and see how it ended. I couldn't help but here Sly's voice as I read it, the whole thing is written from Sly's character's point of view.

I give it a seven for the story and just for being a great movie about family, fighting and good, old-fashion memories.

Armand Assante is cool,too.

This is one of Slys chesser films, which had both bad a good in it. Here is one for the Stalone fans. The song in this film was actualy sung by Sly, and I think this is the only time he has done it. Lets start with the bad parts in the film. The tied up monkey, and Sly chasing the cockroaches with a bat is a little too much. The song with the bird in the morning was very annoying. I think it is Bella eat your seeds, my wife laughed, but I almost shut it off. It's 1947 right and Stalone is dressed like he's in the 80's, with his ear ring, yeah right. The race for the dollar bill at the beginning, was pretty lame brain. Here is what worked in the film. The wrestling was good, and the part where Sly drives the truck into the bad guy's bar is funny. When Sly is training his brother, and tells him to throw a toilet into the river I just got a kick out of it. Its a bad and good film so I gave it a 5.

It has its flaws but Paradise Alley is one of Stallones less know film that is decent and not just about the training montage and flexing muscles (although there are a few but not in the same league as Rocky 3 or 4)

I watched this movie and contemplated suicide. Yeah, it was that bad. After the first hour, I only continued with the film with the thought there had to be something appealing. And there wasn't. I am rather shocked it was distributed in DVD format.

I can't think of a worse movie now, this is the very bottom. The story was really shallow, the characters acted poorly. The type of characters were like that of a bad comic book. Timing was so slow that the story literally stops in spots. And the music was lousy. I think Sly actually sang the opening and closing song! 2 hours of my life totally wasted!

This movie stole 2 hours of my life! Nighly not recommended.

In 1946 New York City, poverty-stricken Sylvester Stallone (as Cosmo Carboni) survives by scheming and panhandling. Faring a little better at work are Mr. Stallone's brothers, disabled undertaker Armand Assante (as Lenny) and muscular iceman Lee Canalito (as Victor). To make more money for the brothers, Stallone arranges an arm-wrestling contest to win a monkey from gangster boss Kevin Conway (as Stitch). Stallone figures the monkey will attract bigger handouts on the street. This eventually leads the brothers into the wrestling business. As star, writer and director, Stallone is clearly full of himself in "Paradise Alley". He even sings the song "Too Close to Paradise" over the opening and closing credits. It was not a hit. With less Stallone, the film might have stood a chance.

**** Paradise Alley (9/22/78) Sylvester Stallone ~ Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Lee Canalito, Kevin Conway

An after World War 11 film set in Manhattan where Sylvester Stallone further hurts the image of Italian-Americans with his Rocky like talk. This is most disparaging. At least, the award winning "Rocky" had a good story. In "Paradise Alley" Stallone plays a low-life hustler named Cosmo Carboni. He looks to take advantage of his younger brother's physique by making him a big-time wrestler.

An interesting performance here is by Armand Assante as the middle brother. Maimed and bitter by his injuries during the war, he becomes a promoter for his wrestling brother and really doesn't mind when the latter is getting hurt. It's all for the money for him. Assante, in his first film, gives a convincing performance nicely showing the changes that take place with him.

This film offers no violence which is one of its few assets. Other than the character development part of Lenny Carboni, (Assante) the film offers little else.

Stallones directing debut is a forgotten gem, back when it was released crushed by the critics and snubbed by the audiences. Wrongfully so, because this is great film that especially today makes you wonder whatever happened to Sylvster Stallone the artist. Here he was in all his glory: writer, director, star (even singer of the title song), and maybe that was the reason this film was ignored and critically lambasted back then. When Rocky came out, everybody body loved the writer-actor, but as we know, more sooner then later, people (especially the press) love to turn on the one they once favoured. Paradise Alley is a beautiful fim that needs to be rediscovered. Its made by someone who loves to tell a good, human story, captured in beautiful shots (just watch credit montage - the rooftop contest) Its full of colorful characters, full of warmth and feeling and wonderful humor. This film was a promise Stallone sadly later on never fulfilled, maybe because everyone turned so harsh on this one, which is something I will never understand. After decades of forgettable movies I wish Stallone would finally defy all nay-sayers and go back to stuff like this. He did by starring in Copland, but since then he made horribly choices as an actor, doing movies which didn't even make it to the theatres.

This is a good fun, adventure movie made at the height of Sylvester Stallone's critical popularity he was awarded for Rocky (1976). Working hard as Paradise Alley's Writer, Director and Star, Sly does amazingly well, and his script and energetic direction are both full of color and finesse. Sly gets the best out of his main co-stars, Armande Assante and Lee Canalito, who along with Sly make up the underdog Carboni brothers. As Cosmo, Sly is a fun loving, wisecracking, con-man, who, unlike Rocky, is an unlikeable and unredeeming character. Somehow though, perhaps its with the shadow of Rocky over him, Stallone turns Cosmo into a likeable character, the heart and soul of the picture and gets you rooting for him and his brothers. Armand Assante as Lenny Carboni, is the movies most interesting character, he turns virtually over night from a good natured itallian catholic boy, into a tough, street wise Wrestling promoter, because he gives into the world he was born into. Lee Canalito gives a slightly amaturish performance as Victor, not surprising as he wasn't an actor prior to this film. However, with Canalito's physical appearance, and syrupy voice you never once doubt the inner animal waiting to escape the child, and Canalito, as Kid Salami is every bit as good as Sly as Rocky, in the wrestling scenes here. It is also nice to see Stallone regulars Frank McRae, as fallen Wrestling legend Big Glory in a heart breaking scene with Stallone's Cosmo, and Rocky's Mr Gazzo, Joe Spinelli turns up almost unrecognisably, as a garrish, wrestling ring master. It is not hard however to see why this film failed. At times it doesn't know what sort of movie it wants to be. Should it go for the laughs or the sentimentality? Is Stallone's character the hero or is it Assante's? Stallone turns out an efficient movie, his first time as director, but it really needed someone like John G Avildsen, no stranger to sports movies with Rocky, and Rocky V (1990) A Power of One (1989), not to mention The Karate Kid series, to just smooth out those rough edges. Also the 1940's New York setting is kind of surplus, Rocky was set in the present (for the time), and you feel that this movie could have been all the better for being modern. It is also kind of strange to see a bare chested hero in the ring at the movies climax other than Stallone, and again, had Cosmo been given a redemption of sorts, the film would have had more of that feel good factor so common with Sly's movies. However, Paradise Alley is a well made, acted and enjoyable romp. With fantastically coreographed Wrestling scenes, good characters and a nice breezy pace, and an emotion and adrenaline charged Bill Conti music score to die for. Oh, and that is Sylvester Stallone singing the movies theme song "Too close to Paradise" a good tune sung well by Sly, but you judge for yourself.

8/10