Rocky (1976)

  starring:
Sylvester Stallone
Talia Shire
Carl Weathers
Burgess Meredith

This movie is the beginning of one of the greatest series ever to grace the big screen. Considering that it was written and starred a virtual unknown (Stallone) this movie ranks up there with Citizen Kane as one of the greatest American movies. In fact, Citizen Kane and Rocky have a lot in common. Both were written by people inexperienced in Hollywood and the starring roles went to people who had very little experience in front of the camera (Orsen Wells and Stallone).

Stallone gave an awesome performance as the tough, yet gentle club fighter, Rocky Balboa. Burgess Meredith also gave a great performance as Rock's aged, tough trainer, Mickey.

Along with the great acting performances, this movie also includes a dynamic musical score, and the legendary fight sequence that became the trademark of the Rocky movies.

Story

Balboa is a Philadelphia club fighter who seems to be going nowhere. However, Balboa gets the biggest break of all when, as part as a plan to give a "nobody" a chance at the title as part of the country's bicentannial celebration, the World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) chooses Rocky as an opponent. As far as Creed is concerned, this match is little more then an exhibition, but for Rocky, it's a chance at the big time. While preparing for the bout under the watchful eye of his trainer (Meredith), Rocky romances Adrian (Talia Shire), a shy young woman who exposes Rocky's tenderness. As the fight approaches, Rock's love for Adriane gives him even more strength to "go the distance" against the undefeated Creed.

The crowd at the Philadelphia Spectrum saw Rocky, dressed in a baggy robe with an advertisment for a local meat company, and Creed, dressed up as Uncle Sam and riding in a boat making their ways to the ring. Unfortunatly for Creed, he finds out too late, during the fight, that Rocky is not just a regular guy of the streets of Philly. Creed cannot keep Balboa down on the mat and as the match goes on, Creed starts to suffer internal damage.

It looks as though Rocky might have Apollo close to going down when the bell to end the 15th and final round rings. In a split decision, the judges found in favor of Creed, but all Rocky cared about was finding Adriane and celebrating the fact that he went 15 rounds with the champ.