It ain’t about how hard you watch. It’s about how hard you rewatch and keep moving forward. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan revisit the 1976 classic ‘Rocky’ starring Syllvester Stallone, Talia Shire, and Carl Weathers. Watch this episode on our Ringer Movies YouTube channel! Producer: Craig Horlbeck Video Producers: Jack Sanders, Chia Hao Tat, Jon Jones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What is the significance of 'Rocky' in film history?
Yeah. Yeah.
We've done physical transformation there.
Yeah. By the way, this is our 11th Stallone rewatchable, so he's moved into the top five.
What all have you guys done?
He's tied. I mean, we've done a bunch of them.
I thought you might crash into Hackman at the last second here.
Well, I'm waiting for the results. Cruz, 15. De Niro, Pacino, 13. Denzel and Stallone, 11. That's our top five. Awesome top five.
How many more Stallones are still sitting? Are you scouting? Are you at the Combine looking at stolen movies?
There's a couple good ones left.
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Chapter 2: How does 'Rocky' set the standard for sports movies?
Mm-hmm.
Doesn't matter, does it? I'm sure you're going to give us a great show. And then he knows, like, oh, God, I'm going to fucking get smoked. Goes back, talks to Adrian.
Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed. And if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standing. I want to know for the first time in my life, you see. I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood.
I love all that stuff. You got me, Rock. You had me a half hour ago. I didn't need this speech. You got me. I'm splitting the fight up into three scenes. The entire fight entrance... Pauly got three grand. I got the robe. Shrewd. The Uncle Sam entrance from Apollo, which is great. Him talking shit to Sly. Sly's like so stupid in the pre-fight, but it's great. Is he talking to me?
Yeah, he's talking to you. And then the Joe Frazier cameo is amazing.
Awesome. You hear people chanting like Frasier in the background. Yeah.
Ducking me a long time. And then I love the nicknames. The Master of Disaster. Is that one of the best nicknames ever?
Love it.
King of Sting.
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Chapter 3: What are the major themes explored in 'Rocky'?
Yeah, those guys are just too movie star-ish. Yeah.
I needed somebody that you're almost rooting for him in real life, too, as he's in the movie. This was interesting. Ken Norton was targeted for Apollo Creed, pulled out, and they gave it to Carl Weathers. Stallone wanted Harvey Keitel as Pauly. Probably a better movie.
Cary Snodgrass, I don't even know who that is, was chosen to play Adrian, and they had a money dispute, and they auditioned a bunch of people, including Susan Sarandon and Cher. And Sarandon they really liked, but they thought she was just too pretty to be Adrian.
Oh, Cary Snodgrass was in Bill Rider. I remember.
This is my favorite, though. They wanted Lee Strasberg for Mickey, and he wanted too much money. Is this before 2? Godfather 2? Right after.
Oh, so yeah, because he didn't even want to, he wasn't even trying to act in movies, right? Yeah.
No one knows who gave the order, but I heard it. I wasn't angry.
I said, this is the business we've chosen. There's not even a statue of the man. The street named after him. The Rosado brothers. And then, uh, yeah, that's it.
In the room. No, I know I have a partner.
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