The Cyber Boxing Zone -- Garfield's Corner

Connections:
Jake LaMotta

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January 21, 2003:
LaMotta's Battles Outside the Ring

When Jake LaMotta stopped fighting, he began to get work in films as a character heavy, and he took it seriously and wanted to be the best actor he could be.

So, he enrolled in John Cassevettes' Theatre Workshop in New York, and did scenes to perfect his craft.

One day, I went to watch him, and he was up on the stage doing some Tennessee Williams' monologue. It was curious listening to those poetic lines coming out of LaMotta's mouth-- half Bronx and all menace.

While LaMotta was walking the stage, reciting his lines, a young, slight actor, who had no idea who LaMotta was, jumped on the stage and announced to Jake, "Your rehearsal time is over! It's my time now! Get off the stage!"

LaMotta said softly:"I'll just be a minute"

The kid, wanting to be an intense dramatic actor, stepped closer to LaMotta: "No. Now! Get off!"

LaMotta said: "But... And the kid interrupted him and SLAPPED Jake LaMotta in the face, and said," NOW!"

LaMotta just looked at him, for what seemed like an eternity, like a Great White Shark poised over chum... and said gently: "Don't do that," and walked off the stage.

That actor had no idea how abruptly his career might have come to an end.

* * * * *

On another occasion, I was in PJ Clarke's, a bar on the Eastside of New York for the sports world, the media and show biz. LaMotta could be found at the bar daily in the afternoon with his longtime friend, Pete, who wrote RAGING BULL.

LaMotta was relaxing with his back against the the bar with his trademark cigar in the corner of his mouth. In through the front door comes a sweaty, little guy in a cheap suit, and he beams when he sees LaMotta, and heads right for him.

The little guy stands in front of LaMotta and is telling him, for all to hear, how he saw him the night he knocked some guy out. And the little guy is demonstrating what LaMotta did by windmilling punches furiously in the air...much too close to LaMotta's face.

LaMotta doesn't move a muscle or change expression. The guy's swings are an eyelash away from him.

And, sure enough, the little guy lands one flush on the cigar and flattens it against LaMotta's face, like a character in a cartoon.

All LaMotta can do...after a long pause, is look heavenward and say: "Why me?"

- John Garfield