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2014-04-22 22:31:42 UTC
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/
After knocking around Hollywood for a few years, Sylvester Stallone broke through in 1976 with one of the most beloved movies of the era. It went on to win some awards and make its title character an icon. Six years later, he would move into the role of another iconic character. Stallone rode both these characters to much box office success throughout the 80s. But when he tried to move beyond those franchises the results were either disastrous or ignored. At one point, he was on the verge of being exiled to direct to video territory and the only thing that saved him was to first bring back the two franchises for one more round, then start a whole new one.
What the hell happened to Sylvester Stallone?
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/2/
Reportedly while watching the March 24 1975 fight between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, Stallone got the idea for Rocky. He supposedly went home and wrote the screenplay for it in three days. He then started sending it out. Most of the offers were for the script so someone else could star in it. But Stallone was adamant that he'd written it for himself to star in. Finally United Artist agreed to let Stallone star provided the budget was kept low enough.
John G Avildsen signed on to direct and Talia Shire and Burgess Meredith co-starred, the former Connie Corleone played Rocky's lover Adrian (and no, i'm not gonna yell out "Yo" before her name...oops too late) and the future Grumpy Old Man Burgess Meredith played crusty Irish trainer Mickey.
Rocky is the prototypical underdog becomes a champ story. Most people know the full details. For those who don't, here's a synopsis: Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is a low level loan enforcer and small-time boxer when champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), an obvious stand in for the aforementioned Ali, selects him as an opponent for an upcoming bout.
The underdog becomes a champ story happened both on film and in real life. Rocky went on to become a major success at the box office. It was nominated for ten Oscars and won three (Bext Picture, Avildsen for Best Director and Best Editing). Stallone was nominated for both Best Actor and Best Screenplay. The scrappy underdog was now a star (cue that inspirational Bill Conti music).
What does an underdog do once he becomes a champ?
In 1978, Stallone made two follow-ups that would try to show that he was not Mr. One-Trick Pony, that the man who fought the heavyweight of the world to a draw could go on to become Heavyweight Champion in his own right.
The first was Paradise Alley. Stallone scripted the film and made his directorial debut. He also performed the title song and proved that he was not going to give Frank Sinatra a run for his money in the acting/singing sweepstakes.
Stallone co-starred with Armand Assante and Anne Archer. Stallone played one of three brothers in 1940s era Hell's Kitchen who become involved in professional wrestling. Professional wrestling before it became the glorified cartoon that is today.
In other words, Paradise Alley was an attempt to do for wrestling what Rocky did for boxing. It didn't work. The film flopped at the box office and as of right now has a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/3/
After F.I.S.T got fisted at the box office and Paradise Alley was exposed as a piece of Glengarry real estate, Stallone returned to the character who made him a success. Cue Gonna Fly Now again.
In 1979, Stallone wrote, directed and starred in Rocky II.
This go round, Apollo presses for a re-match. At first, Rocky declines primarily for health reasons (although he does not claim to be "too old for this shit"). Eventually, brought on primarily by financial issues and inability to find employment outside of the world of boxing, Rocky agrees. He then proceeds to win.
While not as acclaimed as the original, Rocky II was successful at the box office.
With his Rocky reputation cemented, Stallone set out to try other territories. Again, the results were mixed.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/4/
In 1982, Stallone returned to the ring for his third go round as the Italian Stallion (makes more sense than the Sicilian Scallion). Here he again took on lead acting, writing and directing duties. The plot had him and Apollo Creed teaming up as Rocky goes up against cocky upstart Clubber Lang (Mr. T).
Despite the presence of both the man who would soon be BA Baracas and Hulk Hogan, the Rocky Series would not totally depart from reality until the next movie.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/6/
Also in 1985, Stallone brought back the Italian Stallion for a fourth go round. It is with this one that the Rocky series lost all contact with reality.
No, Rocky IV (Which Stallone wrote, directed and starred in) did not feature the Italian Stallion fighting an alien. Nor did it feature him taking on the Terminator although there was a friendly household butler robot in it. No, this installment had ol' Rock taking on the Soviet champion, a steroid pumped up hunk of muscle played by Dolph Lundgren. Of course when you cast Dolph Lundgren in your movie, any plausibility goes right out the window.
Rocky sets out to take on Dolph to avenge Apollo Creed's death at the hands of the evil Commie.
Not only does Rocky whup Dolph's ass in the movie, in real life he made off with the actress that played his wife. Yes folks, not long after Rocky IV wrapped, Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen eloped.
It was speculated throughout Hollywood that Stallone may have meant this as a shot at his chief box office rival Arnold Schwarzenegger, who'd co-starred with Nielsen earlier that year in Red Sonja and had reportedly had an affair (that last part looks more plausible with hindsight). Either way, the Stallone-Nielsen nuptials did not last very long. They were divorced in 1987. Since then, Nielsen has pretty much fallen into irrelevance aside from appearances on a few TV shows.
Stallone's two big movies were up against each other at the Golden Raspberries that year and competed in several categories. Rocky IV won five awards including Worst Actor (Stallone), Worst Director (also Stallone), Worst Supporting Actress (Nielsen), Worst New Star (also Nielsen), and Worst Musical Score. It also received nominations for Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actress (Talia Shire), Worst Supporting Actor (Burt Young) and Worst Screenplay (Stallone).
Ironically, Stallone claims to have ghost-directed First Blood 2. So unofficially, he competed against himself for Worst Director.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/8/
After attempting to start his own Lethal Weapon series, Stallone returned to his old stomping grounds in 1990.
Rocky V, to its credit, at least tried to restore some of the gritty realism that had been sucked out of the series since the second film. But it didn't totally work. The movie bombed and it seemed as if the Rocky franchise was over and done with, unless Stallone planned to bring in Betty White as his opponent in the next one.
Originally, Stallone intended to kill off Rocky and end the series forever. But Universal balked at the idea. Stallone agreed to change the ending after deciding that Rocky was a symbol of hope and perseverance. Having him die in a street brawl was against the spirit of the entire series.
In order to bring the Rocky series back to its roots for what was intended to be the final installment, director John G. Avildsen returned to direct. Stallone cast his real life son, Sage, as Rocky's son. Real-life boxing champ Tommy Morrison was cast as Rocky's protege turned opponent. Sadly, both Sage Stallone and Tommy Morrison died young. Stallone of a heart attack in 2012 and Morrison from AIDS in 2013.
Despite the return of Avildsen to the series, Rocky V did not bring back the old magic. Reviews were mostly negative and the movie disappointed at the box office. It was nominated for seven Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture, Worst Actor and Worst Screenplay for Stallone.
Stallone later admitted the only reason he made Rocky V was greed.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/12/
Faced with the prospect of starring in direct to video schlock and theatrically released kids movies, Stallone set out to revive his two most famous characters for one more round.
First up, Rocky Balboa.
I admit, when I first heard there was another Rocky on the way, my initial reaction was to envision the following.
Creak...creak..creak..Yo...creak...creak...Adrian...creak...creak...creak..WHERE'S THE WALKER???
However, the more I heard about this sixth and final go-round, the more enticing it sounded. Still not enough to get me into the theater to see it. But enough that I rented it later on (one of the last movies I rented from Blockbuster).
It turned out to be pretty good. Not quite on the level of the original Rocky. But definitely the best since and definitely Stallone's best performance since (the underrated) Cop Land.
Stallone wrote, directed and starred in the 2006 finale to the series. In it, Rocky has long since retired. Adrian has kicked the bucket. Rocky's estranged from his son. Basically what we have here is the most human Rocky since 1976. Definitely worth a view.
Rocky Balboa was a success with both critics and audiences if not a major smash.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/13/
Next, Stallone put the boxing gloves back on and teamed up with his Cop Land co-star Robert De Niro.
The thought of those two together as boxers immediately screamed Rocky meets Raging Bull. Unfortunately, Grudge Match ended up closer in quality to what many people feared Rocky Balboa would be. Creak creak creak. Boom.
It also under-performed at the box office.
After knocking around Hollywood for a few years, Sylvester Stallone broke through in 1976 with one of the most beloved movies of the era. It went on to win some awards and make its title character an icon. Six years later, he would move into the role of another iconic character. Stallone rode both these characters to much box office success throughout the 80s. But when he tried to move beyond those franchises the results were either disastrous or ignored. At one point, he was on the verge of being exiled to direct to video territory and the only thing that saved him was to first bring back the two franchises for one more round, then start a whole new one.
What the hell happened to Sylvester Stallone?
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/2/
Reportedly while watching the March 24 1975 fight between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, Stallone got the idea for Rocky. He supposedly went home and wrote the screenplay for it in three days. He then started sending it out. Most of the offers were for the script so someone else could star in it. But Stallone was adamant that he'd written it for himself to star in. Finally United Artist agreed to let Stallone star provided the budget was kept low enough.
John G Avildsen signed on to direct and Talia Shire and Burgess Meredith co-starred, the former Connie Corleone played Rocky's lover Adrian (and no, i'm not gonna yell out "Yo" before her name...oops too late) and the future Grumpy Old Man Burgess Meredith played crusty Irish trainer Mickey.
Rocky is the prototypical underdog becomes a champ story. Most people know the full details. For those who don't, here's a synopsis: Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is a low level loan enforcer and small-time boxer when champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), an obvious stand in for the aforementioned Ali, selects him as an opponent for an upcoming bout.
The underdog becomes a champ story happened both on film and in real life. Rocky went on to become a major success at the box office. It was nominated for ten Oscars and won three (Bext Picture, Avildsen for Best Director and Best Editing). Stallone was nominated for both Best Actor and Best Screenplay. The scrappy underdog was now a star (cue that inspirational Bill Conti music).
What does an underdog do once he becomes a champ?
In 1978, Stallone made two follow-ups that would try to show that he was not Mr. One-Trick Pony, that the man who fought the heavyweight of the world to a draw could go on to become Heavyweight Champion in his own right.
The first was Paradise Alley. Stallone scripted the film and made his directorial debut. He also performed the title song and proved that he was not going to give Frank Sinatra a run for his money in the acting/singing sweepstakes.
Stallone co-starred with Armand Assante and Anne Archer. Stallone played one of three brothers in 1940s era Hell's Kitchen who become involved in professional wrestling. Professional wrestling before it became the glorified cartoon that is today.
In other words, Paradise Alley was an attempt to do for wrestling what Rocky did for boxing. It didn't work. The film flopped at the box office and as of right now has a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/3/
After F.I.S.T got fisted at the box office and Paradise Alley was exposed as a piece of Glengarry real estate, Stallone returned to the character who made him a success. Cue Gonna Fly Now again.
In 1979, Stallone wrote, directed and starred in Rocky II.
This go round, Apollo presses for a re-match. At first, Rocky declines primarily for health reasons (although he does not claim to be "too old for this shit"). Eventually, brought on primarily by financial issues and inability to find employment outside of the world of boxing, Rocky agrees. He then proceeds to win.
While not as acclaimed as the original, Rocky II was successful at the box office.
With his Rocky reputation cemented, Stallone set out to try other territories. Again, the results were mixed.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/4/
In 1982, Stallone returned to the ring for his third go round as the Italian Stallion (makes more sense than the Sicilian Scallion). Here he again took on lead acting, writing and directing duties. The plot had him and Apollo Creed teaming up as Rocky goes up against cocky upstart Clubber Lang (Mr. T).
Despite the presence of both the man who would soon be BA Baracas and Hulk Hogan, the Rocky Series would not totally depart from reality until the next movie.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/6/
Also in 1985, Stallone brought back the Italian Stallion for a fourth go round. It is with this one that the Rocky series lost all contact with reality.
No, Rocky IV (Which Stallone wrote, directed and starred in) did not feature the Italian Stallion fighting an alien. Nor did it feature him taking on the Terminator although there was a friendly household butler robot in it. No, this installment had ol' Rock taking on the Soviet champion, a steroid pumped up hunk of muscle played by Dolph Lundgren. Of course when you cast Dolph Lundgren in your movie, any plausibility goes right out the window.
Rocky sets out to take on Dolph to avenge Apollo Creed's death at the hands of the evil Commie.
Not only does Rocky whup Dolph's ass in the movie, in real life he made off with the actress that played his wife. Yes folks, not long after Rocky IV wrapped, Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen eloped.
It was speculated throughout Hollywood that Stallone may have meant this as a shot at his chief box office rival Arnold Schwarzenegger, who'd co-starred with Nielsen earlier that year in Red Sonja and had reportedly had an affair (that last part looks more plausible with hindsight). Either way, the Stallone-Nielsen nuptials did not last very long. They were divorced in 1987. Since then, Nielsen has pretty much fallen into irrelevance aside from appearances on a few TV shows.
Stallone's two big movies were up against each other at the Golden Raspberries that year and competed in several categories. Rocky IV won five awards including Worst Actor (Stallone), Worst Director (also Stallone), Worst Supporting Actress (Nielsen), Worst New Star (also Nielsen), and Worst Musical Score. It also received nominations for Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actress (Talia Shire), Worst Supporting Actor (Burt Young) and Worst Screenplay (Stallone).
Ironically, Stallone claims to have ghost-directed First Blood 2. So unofficially, he competed against himself for Worst Director.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/8/
After attempting to start his own Lethal Weapon series, Stallone returned to his old stomping grounds in 1990.
Rocky V, to its credit, at least tried to restore some of the gritty realism that had been sucked out of the series since the second film. But it didn't totally work. The movie bombed and it seemed as if the Rocky franchise was over and done with, unless Stallone planned to bring in Betty White as his opponent in the next one.
Originally, Stallone intended to kill off Rocky and end the series forever. But Universal balked at the idea. Stallone agreed to change the ending after deciding that Rocky was a symbol of hope and perseverance. Having him die in a street brawl was against the spirit of the entire series.
In order to bring the Rocky series back to its roots for what was intended to be the final installment, director John G. Avildsen returned to direct. Stallone cast his real life son, Sage, as Rocky's son. Real-life boxing champ Tommy Morrison was cast as Rocky's protege turned opponent. Sadly, both Sage Stallone and Tommy Morrison died young. Stallone of a heart attack in 2012 and Morrison from AIDS in 2013.
Despite the return of Avildsen to the series, Rocky V did not bring back the old magic. Reviews were mostly negative and the movie disappointed at the box office. It was nominated for seven Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture, Worst Actor and Worst Screenplay for Stallone.
Stallone later admitted the only reason he made Rocky V was greed.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/12/
Faced with the prospect of starring in direct to video schlock and theatrically released kids movies, Stallone set out to revive his two most famous characters for one more round.
First up, Rocky Balboa.
I admit, when I first heard there was another Rocky on the way, my initial reaction was to envision the following.
Creak...creak..creak..Yo...creak...creak...Adrian...creak...creak...creak..WHERE'S THE WALKER???
However, the more I heard about this sixth and final go-round, the more enticing it sounded. Still not enough to get me into the theater to see it. But enough that I rented it later on (one of the last movies I rented from Blockbuster).
It turned out to be pretty good. Not quite on the level of the original Rocky. But definitely the best since and definitely Stallone's best performance since (the underrated) Cop Land.
Stallone wrote, directed and starred in the 2006 finale to the series. In it, Rocky has long since retired. Adrian has kicked the bucket. Rocky's estranged from his son. Basically what we have here is the most human Rocky since 1976. Definitely worth a view.
Rocky Balboa was a success with both critics and audiences if not a major smash.
http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/02/12/what-the-hell-happened-to-sylvester-stallone/13/
Next, Stallone put the boxing gloves back on and teamed up with his Cop Land co-star Robert De Niro.
The thought of those two together as boxers immediately screamed Rocky meets Raging Bull. Unfortunately, Grudge Match ended up closer in quality to what many people feared Rocky Balboa would be. Creak creak creak. Boom.
It also under-performed at the box office.