Part of 2024 In Tribute
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, is arbitrarily chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers in a career-defining performance), when the undefeated fighter’s scheduled opponent is injured. While training with feisty former bantamweight contender Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), Rocky tentatively begins a relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), the wallflower sister of his meat-packer pal Paulie (Burt Young). Featuring one of the most famous bouts in the history of cinema staged on New Year’s Day.
“ROCKY is actually the creation of a truly sensational new talent, Sylvester Stallone, who wrote himself this starring vehicle and, with Rocky-like spunk and determination, badgered producers into allowing him to do it…. Stallone is totally engaging Rocky playing him with a mixture of boyish intensity, lusty sensuality and cheerful innocence.” —Kathleen Carroll, New York Daily News (Nov 22, 1976) “ROCKY isn’t about a story, it’s about a hero. And it’s inhabited with supreme confidence by a star. His name is Sylvester Stallone…. He’s tough, he’s tender, he talks in a growl, and hides behind cruelty and is a champion at heart. ‘I coulda been a contender,’ Brando says in ON THE WATERFRONT. This movie takes up from there.” —Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times (Jan 1, 1976)
