by Ronan Breathnach

While filming The Godfather Part II Robert de Niro began reading the autobiography of an Italian American middleweight boxer from the Bronx. Captivated by the story of Jake LaMotta, de Niro began the long process that would eventually see Raging Bull brought to cinematic life.

The first stop was to de Niro's close friend, Martin Scorsese. Unimpressed with the story and not very fond of boxing, or sports in general, Scorsese passed. Other producers and screenwriters were similarly dismissive of LaMotta's story. 

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Source: http://www.newstalk.com/