Rocky:  million budget, Oscar for best film and cinematic masterpiece

Rocky: $1 million budget, Oscar for best film and cinematic masterpiece



Rockyunrivaled performance

There aren’t many films that can boast of having made so much money for so little. Of course there is The Blair Witch Project, produced for a total of approximately $500,000 and having grossed $248 million at the worldwide box office. There is also Paranormal activity, with a total budget of approximately $250,000 for worldwide revenue of $194 million. But these two films don’t do it differently Rockyfilmed in 1976 for 1 million dollars and which grossed a total of 225 million, obtained theOscar for best film.

Rocky
Rocky ©United Artists

In the working-class neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Rocky Balboa collects unpaid debts for a loan shark, and occasionally competes, for a few dozen dollars, in boxing matches under the name “the Italian Stallion.” However, Mickey, his old coach, disappoints him. His friend Paulie, who works in a cold store, encourages Rocky to go out with him his sister Adrian, a reserved young sales assistant in a pet shop. Meanwhile, Apollo Creed, the world heavyweight boxing champion, is looking for a new opponent with whom to put his title back into play. His choice will be Rocky.

With glorious critical reception and an incredible performance at the global box office, Rocky occupies a special place in the history of cinema. Sports film, but also captivating illustrationAmerican dreamand above all revelation to the whole world of an actor and director who has become legendary: Sylvester Stallone.

The beautiful story of Sylvester Stallone

Like his boxer Rocky Balboa, a boy from Philadelphia who dreams of becoming a professional boxer, Sylvester Stallone fought like crazy to bring him to the screen Rocky. Before writing the film’s screenplay and playing the title role, Sylvester Stallone had only made small appearances on screen, mostly extras for which he wasn’t even credited.

In March 1975 he witnessed the fight between boxing star Mohamed Ali and Chuck Wepner, an anonymous opponent. He created a surprise by resisting until the fifteenth round, before losing by knockout. Sylvester Stallone returned home and wrote an early version of the screenplay Rocky in three days. Among the studios and producers contacted, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff are interested and want to acquire the rights. Stallone wants to play the lead role, but the producers refuse. They think more of Robert Redford or Burt Reynolds.

But there is no question that “Sly” allows anyone other than him to play Rocky Balboa. He eventually got the role despite a significant reduction in the production budget, as the studios didn’t want to risk betting too much money on an actor who was still little-known.

Ten Oscar nominations and one of Tarantino’s favorite films

Nominated ten times at the 1977 Oscars, Rocky won three: best film, best director and best editing. Sylvester Stallone is personally honored twice, nominated to theOscar for best actor et al’Oscar for best original screenplay. A performance that only Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles had achieved before him, and no one since. The film also got the Golden Globe for Best Drama Film.

In his book Cinema Speculations, Quentin Tarantino writes:

When “Rocky” came out it pretty much became my favorite movie of all time. I’m aware I’ve said this more than once. (…) I had already seen films where the audience cheered for what was happening on the screen. But “never” – I repeat “never” – have I witnessed applause comparable to that which erupted when Rocky knocked out Apollo Creed in the first round.

Rocky’s posterity is impressive. He opens a saga consisting of five more films, then a spin-off saga with the films I believe. Film about boxing, a great touching love story that resonates with the memorable cry of “Hey, Adriano“, Rocky it hasn’t aged at all and with each passing year it reinforces its status as a cinematic masterpiece.

Source: Cine Serie

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