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Rocky
''Rocky'' is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise and stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith. In the film, Rocky Balboa (Stallone), an uneducated, small-time club fighter and debt collector gets an unlikely shot at the world heavyweight championship held by Apollo Creed (Weathers). ''Rocky'' entered development in March 1975, after Stallone wrote the screenplay in three days. It entered a complicated production process after Stallone refused to allow the film to be made without him in the lead role; United Artists eventually agreed to cast Stallone after he rejected a six figure deal for the film rights. Principal photography began in January 1976, with filming primarily held in Philadelphia; several locations featured in the film, such as the Rocky Steps, are now considered cultural landmarks. With an estimated pro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rocky Balboa
Robert "Rocky" Balboa (also known by his ring name The Italian Stallion), is a fictional title character and the protagonist of the ''Rocky'' film series. The character was created by Sylvester Stallone, who has also portrayed him in all eight films in the franchise. He is depicted as a working class or poor Italian-American from the slums of Philadelphia who started out as a club fighter and "enforcer" for a local Philly Mafia loan shark. He is portrayed as overcoming the obstacles that had occurred in his life and in his career as a professional boxer. While the story of his first film is loosely inspired by Chuck Wepner, a boxer who fought Muhammad Ali and lost on a TKO in the 15th round, the inspiration for the name, iconography and fighting style came from boxing legend Rocco Francis "Rocky Marciano" Marchegiano, though his surname coincidentally also resembles that of Middleweight Boxing Champion Thomas Rocco "Rocky Graziano" Barbella. The character is widely cons ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rocky Franchise
''Rocky'' is an American sports drama multimedia franchise created by Sylvester Stallone, which began with the eponymous 1976 film and has since become a cultural phenomenon, centered on the boxing career of Rocky Balboa. The franchise has been expanded into various films and, with a total worldwide gross of $1.7 billion, is one of the highest-grossing media franchises. The original film (''Rocky'') was written by Stallone and directed by John G. Avildsen, and was followed by the sequels ''Rocky II'' (1979), ''Rocky III'' (1982), ''Rocky IV'' (1985), '' Rocky V'' (1990), and ''Rocky Balboa'' (2006), all of which were written and directed by Stallone, except for '' Rocky V'' (1990), for which director John G. Avildsen was brought back, and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. After the sixth film, which was envisioned as the conclusion of the franchise, the spin-off and sequel films ''Creed'' (2015) and ''Creed II'' (2018), starring Michael B. Jordan as boxer Adonis Creed, were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apollo Creed
Apollo Creed is a fictional character from the ''Rocky'' films, played by Carl Weathers. He serves as the main antagonist in ''Rocky'' and '' Rocky II'' and also appears in ''Rocky III'' and ''Rocky IV''. He is a tough but agile boxer who is, when the series begins, the undisputed heavyweight world champion. The character was inspired by the real-life champion Muhammad Ali, having what one author remarked as the same "brash, vocal, ndtheatrical" personality. The film's writer and star Sylvester Stallone stated, " ackJohnson served as the inspiration for the character of Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies"; the character is loosely based on a combination of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Louis, and Johnson. Protagonist Rocky Balboa, Creed's rival in ''Rocky'' and '' Rocky II'', faces underdog odds (five-to-one in ''Rocky II'') and views Creed with respect, pointedly refusing the prodding of a reporter to trash-talk Creed (although it is implied that, being poo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Enzio Stallone (; born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, ) is an American actor and filmmaker. After his beginnings as a struggling actor for a number of years upon arriving to New York City in 1969 and later Hollywood in 1974, he won his first critical acclaim as an actor for his co-starring role as Stanley Rosiello in ''The Lords of Flatbush''. Stallone subsequently found gradual work as an extra or side character in films with a sizable budget until he achieved his greatest critical and commercial success as an actor and screenwriter, starting in 1976 with his role as boxer Rocky Balboa, in the first film of the successful ''Rocky'' series (1976–present), for which he also wrote the screenplays. In the films, Rocky is portrayed as an underdog boxer who fights numerous brutal opponents, and wins the world heavyweight championship twice. In 1977, Stallone was the third actor in cinema to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rocky Steps
The 72 stone steps leading up to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have become known as the "Rocky Steps" as a result of a scene from the 1976 film ''Rocky''. Tourists often mimic Rocky's famous climb, a metaphor for an underdog or an everyman rising to a challenge. A bronze ''Rocky'' statue was briefly situated at the top of the steps for the filming of ''Rocky III''. This statue, now located at the bottom right of the steps, is a popular photo opportunity for visitors. The top of the steps offers a commanding view of Eakins Oval, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and Philadelphia City Hall. In 2006, ''Rocky'' creator Sylvester Stallone recounted that the genesis of the iconic scene occurred when the 1976 film crew, bound by a tight budget, identified the steps one night while searching for filming locations around the city. Stallone first thought Rocky should carry his dog Butkus up the steps, but the big bull mastiff proved too heavy f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tony Burton
Anthony Mabron Burton (March 23, 1937 – February 25, 2016) was an American actor and boxer. He was known for his role as Tony "Duke" Evers in the Rocky (film series), ''Rocky'' films. Early life Burton was born in Flint, Michigan. He had a younger sister named Loretta. A Flint Northern High School graduate, he was a Michigan Golden Gloves heavyweight boxing champion and two-time all-state American football, football player. At Northern, he played Running back, halfback. In 1954, he scored 13 touchdowns and led his team in scoring. Many of his scoring runs were of 50 yards or more. He gained 820 yards rushing that year, and one of his runs was for 95 yards. That same year, he was selected to the first teams of the All City and All Valley teams as a halfback. He was also chosen as an All State honorable mention. He was the team's co-captain and Most Valuable Player. Burton led his team in yards gained and receiving yards. In one game against Grand Rapids, Michigan, Grand Rapids ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Burt Young
Gerald Tommaso DeLouise (born April 30, 1940), known professionally as Burt Young, is an American actor, author and painter. He played Rocky Balboa's brother-in-law and best friend Paulie Pennino in the '' Rocky'' film series. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the first film. He has also appeared in '' Chinatown'' (1974), '' The Gambler'' (1974), ''The Killer Elite'' (1975), ''Convoy'' (1978), '' Uncle Joe Shannon'' (1978), '' Once Upon a Time in America'' (1984), ''The Pope of Greenwich Village'' (1984), '' A Summer to Remember'' (1985), ''Back to School'' (1986), ''Last Exit to Brooklyn'' (1990), '' Mickey Blue Eyes'' (1999), '' Transamerica'' (2005), '' Win Win'' (2011), '' Bottom of the 9th'' (2019), ''Beckman'' (2020) and the documentary film '' Stallone: Frank, That Is'' (2021) and had a guest appearance on ''The Sopranos'' in 2001. Early life, family and education Young was born in Queens, New York City, New York, the s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irwin Winkler
Irwin Winkler (born May 28, 1931) is an American film producer and director. He is the producer or director of over 58 motion pictures, dating back to 1967's '' Double Trouble'', starring Elvis Presley. The fourth film he produced, '' They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'' (1969), starring Jane Fonda, was nominated for nine Academy Awards. He won an Oscar for Best Picture for 1976's ''Rocky''. As a producer, he has been nominated for Best Picture for five films: ''Rocky'' (1976)'', Raging Bull'' (1980), '' The Right Stuff'' (1983), ''Goodfellas'' (1990) and ''The Irishman'' (2019). Early life and education Winkler was born to a Jewish family in New York City, to Sol and Anna Winkler. Growing up in Coney Island, one of his first jobs was on a bumper ride on the boardwalk. Winkler graduated early from high school and got into New York University, but felt out of place among the older and more mature students, many of whom were former World War II soldiers that had entered university und ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill Conti
William Conti (born April 13, 1942) is an American composer and conductor, best known for his film scores, including ''Rocky'' (and four of its sequels), ''The Karate Kid'' (and all of its sequels), '' For Your Eyes Only'', ''Dynasty'' (and its sequel ''The Colbys''), ''The Big Chill'' and '' The Right Stuff'', which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Score. He also received nominations in the Best Original Song category for " Gonna Fly Now" from ''Rocky'' and for the title song of '' For Your Eyes Only''. He was the musical director at the Academy Awards a record nineteen times. Biography Early life Conti, an Italian American, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Lucetta and William Conti. He graduated from North Miami High School in 1959. He is a past winner of the Silver Knight Award presented by the Miami Herald. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Music, and also studied and gained honors at the Juilliard School of Music, includin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers (born January 14, 1948) is an American actor and former professional football player. He is known for his roles as boxer Apollo Creed in the first four ''Rocky'' films (1976–85), George Dillon in '' Predator'' (1987), Action Jackson in '' Action Jackson'' (1988), and Chubbs Peterson in ''Happy Gilmore'' (1996) and in ''Little Nicky'' (2000), and Combat Carl in the ''Toy Story'' franchise. He also portrayed Det. Beaudreaux in the television series '' Street Justice'' (1991–93) and a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series ''Arrested Development'' (2003–19), and voiced Omnitraxus Prime in ''Star vs. the Forces of Evil'' (2017–19). He has a recurring role as Greef Karga in the '' Star Wars'' series ''The Mandalorian'' (2019–). Weathers played college football at San Diego State University. After going undrafted in the 1970 NFL Draft, he signed with the Oakland Raiders. He would sign with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League afte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Burgess Meredith
Oliver Burgess Meredith (November 16, 1907 – September 9, 1997) was an American actor and filmmaker whose career encompassed theater, film, and television. Active for more than six decades, Meredith has been called "a virtuosic actor" and "one of the most accomplished actors of the century". A lifetime member of the Actors Studio, he won several Emmys, was the first male actor to win the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor twice, and was nominated for two Academy Awards. He established himself as a leading man in Hollywood with critically acclaimed performances as Mio Romagna in '' Winterset'' (1936), George Milton in '' Of Mice and Men'' (1939), and Ernie Pyle in ''The Story of G.I. Joe'' (1945). Meredith was known later in his career for his appearances on '' The Twilight Zone'' and for portraying The Penguin in the 1960s TV series '' Batman'' and boxing trainer Mickey Goldmill in the ''Rocky'' film series. For his performances in ''The Day of the Locust'' (1975) an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Talia Shire
Talia Rose Shire ( née Coppola; born April 25, 1946) is an American actress who played roles as Connie Corleone in ''The Godfather'' films and Adrian Balboa in the ''Rocky'' series. For her work in ''The Godfather Part II'' and ''Rocky'', Shire was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively, and for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama for her role in ''Rocky''. Life Shire was born Talia Rose Coppola in Lake Success, New York, in 1946, the only daughter of Italia ( née Pennino) and arranger/composer Carmine Coppola. Her paternal grandparents came to the United States from Bernalda, Basilicata. Her maternal grandfather, popular Italian composer Francesco Pennino, emigrated from Naples, Italy. She is the sister of director and producer Francis Ford Coppola and academic August Coppola, the aunt of actor Nicolas Cage and director Sofia Coppola, and the niece of composer and conductor Anton Coppola. She has three c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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