New Film Examines the Unlikely Creation of the Boxing Classic Rocky

Peter Farrelly's new movie "I Play Rocky" explores the chaotic and improbable journey behind the making of Sylvester Stallone's iconic boxing film, which is now nearing its 50th anniversary.

The Struggle

Before writing "Rocky," Stallone was a struggling young actor in his mid-20s with little success in auditions and a background that included soft-core pornography. Working in New York and later Los Angeles, his first wife Sasha typed out his many scripts as he wrote over a dozen screenplays before finally catching a break. The idea for "Rocky" came to him in just three and a half days after he watched a 15-round boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner in a bar.

The Deal

Despite being homeless and parking cars for a living, Stallone refused to sell his script unless he was allowed to star in the lead role. He famously turned down $360,000, which was four times the initial offer, to keep control of his casting. Producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff negotiated the project while studio boss Sandy Maddox, played by Tracy Letts, fumed over the risky gamble. They ultimately agreed on a lower budget and moved production to Philadelphia to avoid New York unions, hiring director John G. Avildsen to bring the story to life.

Context

Biographical films about the creation of classic Hollywood movies often highlight the immense hurdles creators face before achieving mainstream success. The original "Rocky" went on to become a massive cultural phenomenon and the highest-grossing film of its year, despite starting as a long-shot project that major studio executives initially doubted.