Oscar Winning Film Series - Rocky
- ibetyoudidntsee
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Sylvester Stallone barely had anything when Rocky hit the cinema's in 1976.
He had struggled with minor and background roles for years in NYC on the stage and on screen, going into mainly low-budget and "self-produced" plays and films with friends where he could. However, one play led an agent to offer him a chance with the lead in the low budget film The Lords of Flatbush.
It was plagued with issues and production problems and took several years to make, but in the mean time Stallone was able to land other roles during the on-off production. He also took a few supporting roles in some Roger Corman films, including Death Race 2000.
In 1975, Stallone saw Muhammad Ali fight in the ring. The story goes that he sat down that night and wrote the first draft for Rocky. What is more widely known is that he wrote it in three days. He wanted this to be his breakthrough, his moment. Despite several refusals from studios, Stallone persisted and was rewarded. However, that reward was some money for the film. Stallone was adamant he would star and he didn't let that slide. The producers who wanted the film didn't like the look of Stallone in the role, but they relented and gave it to him with strict conditions due to their schedule. Stallone's schedule also made an impact, but thanks to his determination, he had his chance.
The schedule was strict and tight. Lots of scenes were either improvised, altered for budgeting reasons or simply done to be as easy as possible and to get done in minimal takes. They used Stallone's own workout schedule as part of the footage, incorporating scenes there and the famous jogging scene through the streets was partially improvised. When Rocky catches the apple thrown to him, the group of followers were locals, not extras, and the throw was someone giving Stallone an apple and not scripted. The other, strictest condition that the crew were given was that the film needed to be made in 30 days.
They did it in 28.
Rocky was not just a small time film either. While Stallone was fairly new to cinema, Talia Shire stars as Adrian, Rocky's (Stallone) girlfriend, in her early career. Carl Weathers brings class and charisma to Apollo Creed as his acting career was well on its upward trajectory. But Burt Young and Burgess Meredith came in to being huge experience and star names to the project.
Rocky Balboa is a small time gangster in Philadelphia, collecting debts for a mafia loan shark. Using his pet tortoise's needs as an excuse to chat up his love interest Adrian, the sister of his best friend Paulie (Young), while boxing on in amateur bouts at a local gymnasium. Adrian and Rocky share a wonderfully awkward relationship early on, possibly due to Paulie's overbearing, arguably abusive protection of Adrian. Rocky doesn't have much, but it's his life on the back streets of Philly.
Meanwhile, Rocky is spotted by heavyweight world champion Apollo Creed (Weathers) who is looking for a replacement opponent for a Bicentennial celebration fight. Rocky accepts the challenge for the money, but leaving him very little time to prepare. This is when he manages to convince his gym's owner Mickey (Meredith) to coach him, which leads to a series of entertaining and high energy, unorthodox methods.
The eventual fight between Rocky and Creed is as spectacular as it is over-the-top. Apart from the overt, showcase entrance for Creed, the fighters suffer injuries that even real boxers of the day would have avoided where possible, never mind modern day boxers. It makes Anthony Joshua's fights look like a game of "Throw Throw Burrito"! It is a real bloodbath with no one being particularly concerned about the fighters.
Except Adrian, of course.
Rocky very quickly became ingrained in popular culture and cinema legend. It is so frequently referenced and parodied and, while it wasn't the first sports film by any means, it certainly redefined how boxing was seen in cinema. 10 nominations at the 1977 Academy Awards, taking three wins (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing) with Stallone himself nominated for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay cemented its place in history. Stallone had proven his doubters wrong and had become only the third actor to be nominated for two awards at the same ceremony. It set the stage for a new franchise, which would turn into a yo-yo of quality, and a new Hollywood star was shining.
Rocky would be the peak of it all, though. While Rocky III (1982) and Creed (2015) would also go to the Oscars (for Best Original Song "Eye of the Tiger" in 1983, and Sylvester Stallone nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2016), the now-9-film franchise has never risen to the level of the original film.
Stallone wrote and starred in all six Rocky films while directing four before producing all three - and co-starring in the first two - Creed films as well as co-writing Creed II. Considering this reviewer was not even aware of Creed III shows how much of an impact this arm of the franchise has had.
Rocky is an iconic watch, and one all sports fans as well as cinema goers should see. Stallone would go on to be the legend we all know and continues to perform, direct and produce, at 80 years old. But we all know where he came from, running up those steps that now lead to his statue.
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith
Release Date: 20 November 1976
Rating: 8/10
Other films in the franchise:
Rocky II (1979)
Rocky III (1982)
Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky V (1990)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Creed (2015)
Creed II (2018)
Creed III (2023)
The story of Stallone and Rocky is dramatised in I Play Rocky, in cinemas on the 50th anniversary of Rocky, with Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone in his first major lead role.
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