And the words Stallone is mouthing on screen are the words he wrote in 3 1/2 days and sold to producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff on the condition that he would play ''Rocky,'' and not Burt Reynolds, or James Caan, or Ryan O'Neal, who were being mentioned for the part.

Who was the first choice for Rocky?

None. The producers offered Stallone $360,000 to buy the script. Ryan O' Neal and James Caan were considered, but Stallone wouldn't sell the script to anyone who wouldn't let him play the hero.

Who was supposed to be the original Rocky?

While the story of his first film was partly inspired by a 1975 fight between underdog Chuck Wepner and heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali (which nearly went the 15 round distance despite the odds), the inspiration for the name, iconography and fighting style came from boxing legend Rocco Francis "Rocky Marciano" ...

How did Sylvester Stallone lose the rights to Rocky?

The actor has long been galled by the fact that, as a young unknown in Hollywood, he signed a deal in which he gave up ownership of the “Rocky” franchise, which he created. (Stallone wrote the film.) Since at least 1976, Rocky's rights have been in the hands of producer Irwin Winkler.

Who did they want to play Rocky instead of Stallone?

Producers and directors loved Stallone's script but weren't enamored with the idea of him playing the main character, which was a condition he insisted upon. Instead, they had much bigger names in mind, such as Peyton Place's Ryan O'Neill, Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford, and James Caan.

1977: Sylvester Stallone on making ROCKY | Film 77 | Classic Movie Interviews | BBC Archive

Who was offered the role of Rocky?

After repeated negotiations with Rumar and Kubik, Winkler-Chartoff agreed to a contract for Stallone to be the writer and also star in the lead role for Rocky. United Artists liked Stallone's script and viewed it as a vehicle for a well-established star like Robert Redford, Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, or James Caan.

Who turned down Rambo?

Dustin Hoffman was offered the role of Rambo but turned it down. For the role of Sheriff Teasle, Kassar and Vajna approached Academy Award winners Hackman and Robert Duvall but both turned the part down. Marvin, another Oscar winner, turned down the part of Colonel Trautman.

Does Sylvester Stallone get royalties from Rocky?

In Stallone's case, although he does not have ownership rights over the film, he continues to make money from the project via back-end payments.

How much did Sylvester Stallone get paid for the first Rocky?

Sylvester Stallone was paid an initial salary of $35,000 for his work acting and writing the first Rocky movie. However, considering his contract guaranteed him 10 points on the back end, he ended up earning around $2.5 million due to the film's massive success.

Why did Rocky end up poor?

Rocky lost most of his money by putting Paulie in charge of his finances when he was in Russia in Rocky IV, which ended up being a huge mistake.

How much did Rocky weigh in Rocky 1?

According to Stallone, these were his weights for each of the first four Rocky movies: Rocky I: 178 pounds. Rocky II: 200 pounds. Rocky III: 166 pounds.

Did the actors in Rocky actually hit each other?

Sylvester Stallone decided that for the shooting of the fight, he and Dolph Lundgren should hit one another for real, so as to increase the intensity of the scene.

Who was originally supposed to play Apollo Creed?

Ken Norton was one of the best heavyweights of the 1970s – fought Ali three times, broke his jaw once and beat him (so boxing fans will argue he could've been given the decision in all three fights). So why are we bringing up Ken Norton? Because he was originally cast in the role of “Apollo Creed”.

Who almost played Apollo Creed?

A real boxer almost played Apollo Creed

Originally, they wanted Ken Norton, a real heavyweight boxer, to play Apollo Creed. Norton was no slouch as a boxer, having been a world champion and having beaten Ali in a match.

How many days did it take to film Rocky?

He refused to sell the rights to the script unless he was chosen to play the lead. As a result, his producers were given a shoestring budget of $960,000 to work with, and Rocky was filmed in just 28 days.

How old was Rocky in Rocky 1?

Read on. (Note: ESPN Classic will be showing "Rocky" at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.) In Reel Life: Rocky Balboa is a 30-year-old club fighter. In Real Life: Sylvester Stallone was inspired by Chuck Wepner, a 35-year-old club fighter who also happened to be the No.

How many Oscars did Rocky win?

Sylvester Stallone's Rocky (1976) received ten Oscar nominations, winning three, including Best Picture at the 49th Academy Awards #OnThisDay in 1977.

Where was Rocky filmed?

The film Rocky, produced in 1976, not only won accolades but also beautifully highlighted the enchanting landscape of Philadelphia. Although the majority of scenes were filmed on location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, some scenes were filmed in Los Angeles at the Olympic Auditorium.

What happened between Sylvester Stallone and Irwin Winkler?

American actor Sylvester Stallone has criticised producers of his hit film Rocky, for announcing its spin off Drago. He named producer Irwin Winkler and called him out for destroying the iconic characters of the original 1976 sports film.

How did Winkler get the rights to Rocky?

Stallone hated this idea, begging Winkler to help him get the rights to Rocky back. Luckily, due to Winkler's newfound fame from Happy Days, the actor was able to use his star power and buy the script back, saving Rocky from near disaster.

Was Sylvester Stallone in the military?

According to Essentially Sports, despite his talents, Sylvester Stallone has never served in the military. However, in 1969, when he was a student, he was eligible for the draft. Unfortunately, due to partial paralysis in his face, officials had to remove him from the draft.

Why does Rambo barely talk?

On his First Blood DVD commentary, David Morrell explains the thought process behind Rambo not speaking much, with the first reason being that in dealing with the long-term psychological effects of his experiences in Vietnam "That he wouldn't really have a lot to say." Morrell even reveals on the commentary that "there ...

What happened to Sylvester Stallone's son?

Sage was found dead in his Los Angeles home on July 13, 2012. He was 36 years old. Several media outlets initially reported false claims that the cause of death was related to a prescription pill addiction, although the coroner ultimately found that Sage had died of heart disease caused by atherosclerosis.

What town was First Blood filmed in?

First Blood Locations

First Blood was filmed in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Hope, British Columbia was selected for its quaint charm, and Pitt Lake, Golden Ears Provincial Park, and Port Coquitlam were chosen to capture the beauty of the forest (per IMDb).