• Rocky certainly tapped into the zeitgeist in 1976 winning not only the box office crown for the year (by a wide margin) but also three Oscars including best picture, best director and best editing. It is difficult to fathom today that an unknown (Stallone) could come out of obscurity (I think he’s best known as one of the accosters on the subway in Woody Allen’s 1971 Bananas at this point) to achieve such success.
  • Director John Avildsen had been around—directing archiveable films like 1970’s Joe and 1973’s Save the Tiger (Jack Lemmon’s Oscar win).
  • The film opens with Avildsen’s camera floating down from a mural of Christ—watching over Rocky has he hits rock bottom. He’s part Cinderella embodiment of the rags to riches American ethos (it is the bicentennial after all). He’s also part Brando’s Terry Malloy from On the Waterfront (kind of a semi-gangster, has-been fighter working the docks). This is also connected to Capra- Rocky is Jefferson Smith (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) or Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Rocky is a marvelous character- so well written and performed. Stallone notoriously bet on himself, writing the screenplay and then refusing to sell it unless he played the lead—even if it meant sacrificing money up front.
  • Shot on location in Philly—and that is a magnificent choice as well. Philly is so foul here- part of Rocky’s rough edges. In some scenes with the garbage and the run-down nature of the city, it looks like Berlin in 1945.
  • Stallone’s screenplay is patient—slowly developing his character. He’s just milling around the pet shop, often talking to himself while the mousy, afraid of her own shadow introvert Adrian (played by a superb Talia Shire) listens. It is an hour into the movie before Rocky even gets offered the fight. And unlike the sequels, there is really only one montage here- and it is a spectacular one. This is the one with the 4am wake up, drinking raw eggs at the fridge with Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” carrying Rocky.
  • The fight between Rocky and Creed happens at the 105-minute mark and this is the first fight since the opening two minutes. In the big fight they show most of round one and round two but skip really to round 14 after that.
  • Fun drinking game- drink every time someone uses the word “bum”
  • The actors in support of Stallone and Shire are just as impressive as the two leads. Burt Young as Paulie, Burgess Meredith as Mick, and Carl Weathers playing Creed like Mohammad Ali.
  • Avildsen deserves credit for the shadowy lighting, capturing the raw feel of Philly. Also, Stallone himself would go on to direct the next three sequels– and they simply aren’t as good as the original here by Avildsen.
  • I love that Rocky doesn’t want to get interviewed because he’s afraid of getting made fun of. It is just such an endearing trait- and such a different type of character. Most actors and performers naturally relish the chance to take the spotlight and make a speech. There are little touches like Rocky saying the robe is a “little baggy” on his way to the big fight and when Adrian climbs into the ring at the climatic moment, he says “where’s your hat?”- haha.
  • Recommend / Highly Recommend border