Rocky packed a punch

Boxing epic that became an incredible franchise.

ON November 21, 1976, a lowbudget film opened in American cinemas to little fanfare.

Made for just $1million and starring an unknown actor, little was expected of Rocky.

But in a depressed USA still reeling from Vietnam and the Watergate scandal, the inspiring tale of a no-hoper achieving the American dream struck a chord.

It became the highest-grossing film of the year and achieved similar success around the world.

The film received 10 Oscar nominations and was named Best Picture, beating off heavyweight competition such as Taxi Driver, All The President’s Men and Network.

It made a star of its writer and star, Sylvester Stallone, who has gone on to play the role a further six times.

The plot follows Rocky Balboa, an aimless Philadelphia club fighter who works for a loan shark and spends his time trying to entice shy pet shop worker, Adrian, out on a date.

When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed’s fight to mark the country’s bicentenary is put in jeopardy after his opponent pulls out injured at short notice, Apollo decides to give an unknown from Philadelphia a shot instead.

He comes across Rocky’s name and soon the slugger’s life is about to change, vowing to do something no other fighter has ever done and go the 15-round distance with the champ.

The inspiring theme music and scenes of Rocky running up the museum’s steps and punching slabs of meat have entered popular culture, but the film nearly didn’t happen.

“I was in a casting call with producers Bob Chartoff and Irwin Winkler and on the way out the door I said, ‘I do a little bit of writing, too’ and they said to bring it in,” Sly recalled in a documentary about the film.

“If I hadn’t stopped on the way out, I wouldn’t be here today, so I have to give incredible credit to them for their patience and willingness to take a chance, which doesn’t happen much anymore.”

Stars like Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds and Ryan O’Neal were lined up to play Rocky, but Sly insisted he play the role himself.

The studio’s offers for the script rose from $25,000 to $330,000 but Stallone remained adamant.

“I knew the opportunity wasn’t going to come around again, so I told myself I had managed poverty well and didn’t need much to live on.

“If I sold the script and it did well, and I wasn’t in it, I would have jumped off a building.

“I knew I had to try it, because I just believed in it so much.”