A classic Robert De Niro movie released 45 years ago is airing on TV tonight

The film landed the legendary actor his second Academy Award

A classic Robert De Niro movie that was released 45 years ago is airing on TV tonight (Monday, May 5) for free across the UK.

With the majority of the public having today’s Bank Holiday off work, it’s essential to pick the right movie to have a fun night in with.

There’s an abundance of films to choose from, with Gary Oldman’s Winston Churchill film Darkest Hour airing on BBC One and The Dark Knight being shown on ITV2.

However, it’s hard to look past the film that landed one of Hollywood’s greatest ever talents his second Oscar win.

The New York native received his big break in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Street, kickstarting a filmmaking duo for the ages.

While they worked together on Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Casino and most recently Killers of the Flower Moon, their fourth collaboration remains their strongest.

Released in the summer of 1980, Raging Bull stars De Niro in an adaptation of boxer Jake LaMotta’s 1970 memoir.

The film follows the career of LaMotta as his turbulent personal life sees him consumed by jealousy and rage.

Boasting some of the best acting you’ll ever see, the film features Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Theresa Saldana, Frank Vincent and Nicholas Colasanto in its supporting cast.

What makes Raging Bull work is that De Niro encompassed the animalistic traits of a man who is his worst enemy at every turn.

On top of this, Scorsese’s direction rewards viewers with boxing scenes that walk over anything seen in the Rocky series or any other film about the sport.

De Niro gained approximately 60 pounds (27 kg) to portray LaMotta in his later years, showing a level of commitment that landed him his Best Actor Oscar.

Speaking to Off The Menu’s James Acaster and Ed Gamble, De Niro said: “When I was getting the weight, I had to eat in the morning three full meals, which was hard to do, and then digest the food, to eat lunch and then dinner.

“It’s kind of fun for the first 10, 12, 15, pounds, and [then] it’s drudgery.”

Raging Bull airs on Monday, May 5, at 10.30pm on BBC Two and on the BBC iPlayer