Sylvester Stallone’s directorial debut is a sweet natured, comic tale of three Italian-American brothers (con man Stallone, beefy Lee Canalito & embittered Armand Assante) attempting to lift themselves out of go-nowhere lives in the 1940s slums of New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. When the gentle lunk of the trio shows an aptitude for wrestling, they head to the sleazy Paradise Alley club in hopes of winning big. Featuring music by Bill Conti, cinematography by László Kovács, and wrestling choreography by the legendary Terry Funk.
“It’s an upbeat, funny, nostalgic film populated by colorful characters. Stallone proves a number of points with [Paradise Alley]. First that he’s a very capable director with a keen eye for casting. Second, he has a charming comic presence.” – Variety
