Review of Rocky (1976) by Tanner B — 02 May 2016

Rocky (1976) ????

Rare case of an old B-movie story scoring as a masterpiece. Loser Sylvester Stallone gets once in a lifetime opportunity to face legendary boxing champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) where he may get the chance to improve his self-respect. Cast is uniformly superb, lit on fire by grouchy coach Meredith, sensitive Young, shy Shire, and gentle Stallone. Training montage scene with Bill Conti's memorable "Gonna Fly Now" is one of the great movie sequences of the 1970s. Absolutely irresistible. Screenplay by Stallone. Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director, Editing. Followed by six sequels.