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Raging Bullis one of the best films in actor Robert De Niro’s career. The 1980 sports-drama film is based on the bookRaging Bull: My Story, based on the life of boxer Jake LaMotta. The film was a critical success and won De Niro several accolades. However, the film’s production wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.
Irwin Winkler, who produced the film, has revealed the argument he had with the legendary actor while filming the movie. The argument involved the dramatic physical transformation De Niro had to undergo for the role and how it ultimately impacted the final product for better or worse. Here is what Winkler said about his argument with De Niro while they were working onRaging Bull.
Raging BullProducer Reveals His Only Argument With Robert De Niro
Directed byMartin Scorsese,Raging Bulltells the story of boxer Jake LaMotta over 25 years of his life, withRobert De Niroplaying the role. As a result, De Niro’s character undergoes a drastic transformation in his physical appearance over the years. To accurately depict the character’s physical and mental state, De Niro wanted to put on weight for some portions of the film.
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However, producer Irwin Winkler revealed in abehind-the-scenesdocumentary about the film that De Niro’s decision to put on weight led to an argument between him and the actor. Winkler stated:
“The only time I ever had an argument with Bob [De Niro] in all these years was about gaining the weight.”
The producer, whose credits include the 1976 Academy Award-winning film,Rocky, added that De Niro was insistent on gaining weight for the role while he tried to persuade the actor otherwise.
“He said to me that i think the best way to do this for me to gain the weight is to shut down production for me to go off and gain 50 60 pounds.”
Winkler made the above statement, highlighting De Niro’s desire to undergo a physical transformation. While Winkler warned De Niro how the transformation could affect his health, the actor remained determined. In the same documentary, director Martin Scorsese added that after De Niro gained the necessary weight, the crew had to shoot swiftly as the extra weight had started to take its toll on theTaxi Driveractor.
Robert De Niro Talks the Difficult Preparation ForRaging Bull
For his role inRaging Bull, De Niro underwent a drastic physical transformation thatreportedlysaw him put on 60 pounds. As a result, it is no surprise that the actor considers the role one of the toughest in his decades-long career.
During an interview withThe Hollywood Reporterin 2019, De Niro admitted that his role inRaging Bullrequired one of the hardest preparations, especially because of the weight transformation. He said:
“I guess Raging Bull because of [putting on] the weight and all that.”
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Aside from gaining weight for the role, De Niro also underwent rigorous boxing training. For the most part, De Niro wastrainedby LaMotta himself regarding the ins and outs of boxing. De Niro’s commitment to the role and hard work certainly paid off as the actor wonhis second Academy Award(and his first in the Best Actor category) for the role of Jake LaMotta.
Raging Bullis streaming on MGM+.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1773
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
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