ROCKY (1976) (ROCKY/CREED MARATHON)

*** CATCH 'CREED III' IN THEATERS AND AT THE DIETRICH NOW!!!***

Initial release date: December 3, 1976

Studios: United Artists

Tagline: His whole life was a million to one shot

A true hero goes all the way!

Plot: Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, is arbitrarily chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, when the undefeated fighter's scheduled opponent is injured. While training with feisty former bantamweight contender Mickey Goldmill, Rocky tentatively begins a relationship with Adrian, the wallflower sister of his meat-packer pal Paulie

Cast

Sylvester Stallone - Rocky Balboa

Talie Shire - Adrian

Burt Young - Paulie

Carl Weathers - Apollo Creed

Burgess Meredith - Mickey

Thayer David - Jergens

Joe Spinell - Gazzo

Jimmy Gambina - Mike

Jodi Letizia - Maria

Writer: Sylvester Stallone

Director: John G. Avildsen (The Karate Kid 1-3; Rocky V)

Rated PG (120 min)

This coming weekend I will be taking a look at 'Creed III' for the Examiner, which had a great opening weekend and very positive reviews. So, to gear up for the continuation of the 'Rocky' spin-off series, I will be going through the entire series, which consists of the six 'Rocky' movies and the two 'Creed' movies.

The first 'Rocky' movie' was released in 1976 and is one of the ultimate underdog movies. This whole entire film is very memorable and definitely inspiring.

The boxing scenes are really great to watch and nail-biting as well. The final fight between Rocky and Apollo Creed is truly epic ... but the sequel's re-match is better (more on that in my 'Rocky II' take).

'Rocky' will always be one of the most iconic films ever released. It's the ultimate "rages to riches" story and I'm sure when Stallone wrote the script and tried to get the film made, he probably had no idea this would become such the renowned franchise it is now - except for a lousy fifth installment --- from what I've heard. I honestly have only seen the first two and literally watching 'Rocky III' as I'm typing this.

The 'Rocky' movies can be streamed on the Paramount Plus streaming service and the 'Creed movies' can be found on HBO Max!

HERE ARE MANY INTERESTING TIDBITS FOR 'ROCKY':

• After producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff became interested in the scripts they offered Stallone an unprecedented $350,000 for the rights. He had $106 in the bank and no car and was trying to sell his dog because he couldn't afford to feed him but he refused to sell unless they agreed to allow him to start in the film. They agreed on the condition that still won't continue to work as a writer without a fee and that he work as an actor for sale.

• After Winkler and Chartoff purchased the film they took it to United Artists who envisioned a budget of $2 million with an established star particularly Robert Redford, Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, Nick Nolte or James Cann. When they told United Artists that they could only get the screenplay if Stallone started, United Artists cut the budget to $1 million and the producer signed agreements that they would be personally liable if the film went over budget. The final cost was $1.1 million - Chartloff and Winkler mortgaged their houses for the last $100,000.

• Most of the scenes of Rocky jogging through Philly were shot guerrilla-style, with no permits, no equipment and no extras. The shot where he runs past the moored boat for example, the crew were simply driving by the docks, and Avildsen saw the boat, and thought it would make a good visual, so he had Stallone simply get out of the van and run along the quays, while Avildsen himself filmed from the side door.

• A similar story concerns the famous shot of Rocky jogging through the food market. As he runs, the stall keepers and the people of the sidewalks can clearly be seen looking at him in bemusement. While this works in the context of the film to suggest they're looking at Rocky, in reality, they had no idea why this man was running up and down being filmed from a van. During this scene, the famous shot where the stall owner throws Rocky an orange was completely improvised by the stall owner, who had no idea that a movie was being filmed and that he would be in it.

• Stallone insisted that the scene where he admits his fears and doubts to Adrian the night before the fight be filmed, even though the production was running far behind and the producers wanted to skip it. Stallone had only one take for the scene, despite the fact that he considered it to be the most important scene of the film.

• The highest-grossing movie of 1976.

• After the end of filming, Stallone kept the turtles "Cuff" and "Link," and as of June 2019, he still had them, alive and well.

• Stallone and Weathers suffered injuries during the shooting of the final fight: Stallone suffered bruised ribs, and Weathers suffered a damaged nose, the opposite injuries of what their characters had.

• Burgess Meredith got the part of Mickey because the other actors they considered for the role were insulted that Stallone wanted them to read for it.

• The first sports film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

• When he agreed to make the film, John G. Avildsen has never watched a professional boxing batch, nor had he ever seen a boxing movie.

• The film was shot in 28 days.

• One of the reasons for Talia Shire's shy and reserved performance in the first film is due to the fact that she was suffering from the flu at the time of filming.

• Ranked No. 4 on the AFI's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time (2006).

• The movie's line "Yo, Adrian" was voted as the No. 80 movie quote by the AFI (out of 100).

• 'Rocky' grossed $4,488 on its opening day at Cinema II, a house record. When it was released nationally, it grossed $5 million during its first wide weekend and consistently performed well for 8 months, and eventually reached $117 million at the domestic box office.

• In 2006, the Library of Congress selected the film in the US National Film Registry.

https://youtu.be/3VUblDwa648