An ad for the premier of Rocky at Cinema 2 in New York City.  The ad notes only one theater showing Rocky on its opening night.  This could either be due to the fact that other theaters initially didn’t want to carry Rocky because they thought that it would not be a successful film or there simply weren’t many theaters in Manhattan in 1976.  By D. Goldstein

Camby basically writes a negative review of the film Rocky.  Like Ray Elson, Camby points out the anachronistic qualities of the film and calls it “make-believe of the 1930’s.”  For the most part, Camby lambastes Stallone and Weather’s acting and praises Shire’s portrayal of Adrian.  Again, the acting in Rocky wasn’t what made it a success but rather it’s “feel good” message at a time when the country was cynical after Vietnam and Watergate.  By D. Goldstein

Shire talks about her experience playing Adrian in the movie Rocky.  She describes her methods for understanding her character.  Shire also discusses her relationship with her brother, Francis Ford Coppola who thought “women should be at home making babies” and who didn’t want Shire acting in the Godfather movies.  It is interesting to see how women were marginalized in the world of Hollywood even in the 1970s.  The role of the woman, Adrian, in Rocky is pivotal for the success of the male, Rocky Balboa.  By D. Goldstein

Stallone discusses the artistic processes that went into writing Rocky.  Klemesrud also describes the history of the movie from its conception and the debate over who should play Rocky to the details of the script and the choreography of Rocky’s final fight with Apollo Creed.  Klemesrud also reveals Stallone’s adamancy against the protest culture of the post-Vietnam war era.  I’m sure such a popular film as Rocky with an upbeat, optimistic ending would have had effects on films made afterwards.  By D. Goldstein

In this article, Elson categorizes Stallone’s portrayal of Rocky as an anachronistic boxer from the 1930’s or 40’s.  He claims that the fighter’s persona as a slow-talking, dimwitted boxer from the dirty streets of Philadelphia has tainted the ways people perceive boxers.  By D. Goldstein