Monkey on My Back (1957): cast, story & where to watch
1957 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1957, Monkey on My Back is a drama film directed by André de Toth, running about 94 minutes. “SHOCK by SHOCK...It Jabs Like a Hopped-Up Needle!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The painfully true story of welterweight boxing champion Barney Ross is detailed in Monkey on My Back. Cameron Mitchell stars as Ross, whose meteoric ring career is interrupted when he joins the Marines at the outset of WWII. A highly decorated hero, Ross contracts malaria oversees and is given morphine to assuage the pain. By the time he returns to the states, Ross is a confirmed drug addict. Before he can rise to the top again, he must hit rock bottom and his descent into the hell of narcotics dependency is graphically illustrated (so much so that the film was almost denied a Production Code seal). Though a cured Barney Ross served as technical advisor for Monkey on My Back, he ended up suing the producers for defamation of character -- and lost.
Who’s in it. Monkey on My Back stars Cameron Mitchell as Barney Ross, Dianne Foster as Cathy Holland, Paul Richards as Rico, Drug Pusher (as Paul E. Richards) and Jack Albertson as Sam Pian, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Monkey on My Back has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Monkey on My Back page.
If you liked it. Fans of Monkey on My Back tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Monkey on My Back (1957)?
- In US, Monkey on My Back is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Monkey on My Back worth watching?
- Monkey on My Back holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Monkey on My Back?
- Monkey on My Back stars Cameron Mitchell, Dianne Foster, Paul Richards, Jack Albertson and Kathy Garver.
- When was Monkey on My Back released?
- Monkey on My Back was released in 1957, with a runtime of about 94 minutes.