Rocky IV

 
Movies:

Rocky IV

DVD Release: Rocky IV

  • Release Date: 1997
  • Original theatrical trailer

DVD Release: Rocky IV

  • Release Date: 2005
  • English: 5.1 Surround
  • French: Mono
  • Spanish: Mono
  • cc
  • High-definition transfer
  • English, French & Spanish language subtitles

  • Rating: StarStar
  • Genre: Drama
  • Movie Type: Sports Drama, Political Drama
  • Themes: Americans Abroad, Boxers, Righting the Wronged
  • Director: Sylvester Stallone
  • Main Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Brigitte Nielsen, Dolph Lundgren
  • Release Year: 1985
  • Country: US
  • Run Time: 91 minutes
  • MPAA Rating: PG

Plot

The third sequel to Sylvester Stallone's boxing blockbuster combines the ringside sports melodrama of the previous installments with the Cold War patriotism of the star/director's other motion picture series of the 1980s, the Rambo saga. Stallone is back as Rocky Balboa, the heavyweight champion of the world and now good friend of his one-time nemesis, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Creed is brutally slaughtered in the boxing ring during a lop-sided exhibition match against the superhuman Russian boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), an event that Rocky takes personally. Vowing revenge against Drago in the name of Creed and the United States, Rocky is invited to the Soviet Union for a matchup and hires Creed's former manager (Tony Burton) to get him in shape. While Drago trains using the latest technology, Rocky's ascetic preparations are a low-key affair of carrying logs up hills through knee-deep Russian snow. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Cast


Tony Burton - Duke; Michael Pataki - Nicoli Koloff; R.J. Adams - Sports Announcer; Dominic Barto - Russian Government Official; Daniel Brown - Rocky, Jr.'s Friend; Mark de Alessandro - Russian Cornerman; Lou Filippo - Las Vegas Referee; Bob Giovanne - Reporter; Ray Glanzmann - Reporter; James "Cannonball" Green - Manual Vega; Rocky Krakoff - Rocky Jr.; Sylvia Meals - Mrs. Creed; Leslie Morris - Reporter; Stu Nahan - Commentator #1; Leroy Neiman - Ring Announcer; Patrick Pankhurst - Reporter; Jeff Austin - Reporter; Al Bandiero - American Commentator; Gerald Berns - Reporter; Richard Blum - Reporter; Jim Bullock - Reporter; Rose Mary Campos - Maid; Jack Carpenter - KGB Driver; Frank D'Annibale - Reporter; Marty Denkin - Russian Referee; Robert Doornick - Sico the Robot; Rose Dursey - Reporter; Dean Hammond - Interviewer; Julio Herzer - Reporter; Jim Hodge - Reporter; Julie Inouye - Reporter; Rick Kelley - Reporter; Sergei Levin - Russian Ring Announcer; Anthony Maffatone - KGB Agent; Dwayne McGee - Limo Driver; George Pipaski - Caretaker; George Rogan - Igor Rimsky; Craig Schaefer - Reporter; George Spaventa - Reporter; Jean Thoreau - Reporter; Barry Tompkins - American Commentator; Rolf Williams - Reporter; Warner Wolf - Commentator in Las Vegas; James Brown - Godfather of Soul

Credit

Steve Abrams - Makeup; Tom Bronson - Costume Designer; Bill Butler - Cinematographer; Robert Chartoff - Producer; Arthur Chobanian - Executive Producer; Bill Conti - Composer (Music Score); Vince DiCola - Composer (Music Score); Leonard Engelman - Makeup; Rick T. Gentz - Set Designer; Howard Jensen - Special Effects; Bill Kenney - Production Designer; Michael McKensie - Choreography; Sylvester Stallone - Director; Sylvester Stallone - Screenwriter; John W. Wheeler - Editor; Irwin Winkler - Producer; Don Zimmerman - Editor; James D. Brubaker - Executive Producer; Stephen Abrums - Makeup

Similar Movies

Best of the Best; The Great White Hope; Requiem for a Heavyweight; Miracle
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Album Review: Rocky IV

  • Release Date: 1985
  • Genre: Soundtrack
  • Label: BMG
  • Total Time: 39:24

Review

Quite simply, Rocky IV was a movie for the ages. The story of a man who had it all, only to lose so much overnight. Revolving around tension and alienation at the personal, political, spiritual and athletic levels, Sylvester Stallone's portrayal of Rocky Balboa in Rocky IV was without question the most multi dimensional role of his career. This isn't to shirk the original Rocky, which dealt with questions of class, ethnicity, and overcoming obstacles to victory...but Rocky IV was more of a movie to be related to on a universal scale.



This indomitable spirit is best exemplified by the album's lead off track "Burning Heart". The logical sequel to Survivor's epic, instantly recognizable and painfully unforgettable sports anthem "Eye Of The Tiger" finds the central protagonist a bit more mature and refined; world weary from his battles and exponentially more introspective than he was in his burning youth. This torch is then passed to John Cafferty; who soundtrack fans will no doubt recognize from his work on Eddie & The Cruisers, Eddie & The Cruisers 2: Eddie Lives and Eddie & The Cruisers: The Unreleased Tapes. Here, Cafferty has replaced his Brown Beaver Band with the urgent, yet mildly dated synthesizer work of Vince DiCola, whose name you will be hearing again in this review shortly.



Decidedly pacing the album's soundtrack as well as setting the calm before the storm, the soundtrack producers wisely teamed up Kenny Loggins and Gladys Knight for "Double Or Nothing". Astute viewers of the film will no doubt recall the placement of this tune where our hero Rocky Balboa is washing his car and attempting to be convinced by long time friend Apollo Creed to help him train for one last fight against the Russian hitting machine/movie antagonist Ivan Drago (with stoic wife convincingly played by future Flavor Flav arm candy Brigitte Nielsen). Anyways, this combination was no doubt inspired by a similar pairing of blue eyed soul boy with r&b legendary diva: George Michael and Aretha Franklin would hit the top of the charts with their fantastic duet "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me" (which is sadly not included here).



This boxing exhibition leads to disastrous results, with Creed's death in the ring at the hands of Drago, but not before being serenaded to his grave by the godfather of soul himself, James Brown. Perhaps the soundtrack's second most popular tune (second only to "Eye Of The Tiger" which makes a return appearance for good sales, no doubt), "Living In America" perfectly sums up the decadence, extravagance and sheer bloated pompousness of the eighties. It also reinforces the symbolism of Creed's death: that Americans, through this hedonism, have become fat, soft and bloated themselves, especially when compared to the steel and precision of Russian boxers.



Creed's death leaves a scarring impression on Balboa, but Rocky's loss is thankfully our gain, as we are treated to one of the best montage sequences in all of cinema history, with soundtrack contributed by Benny Mardones' (of "Into The Night" soft rock ballad fame) songwriting partner Robert Tepper. Taking clips from the first three movies in the series, we find Balboa reflecting carefully on his life and the choices he's made, all while driving with extreme recklessness; weaving through the city highways at breakneck speed in an imported sports car. Though barely heard from again after this, Tepper's voice no doubt left an impression on the landscape of rock music, as Nickelback's Chad Kroeger undoubtedly made a conscious investment to emulate Tepper's emotive, yet throaty delivery, a move that would catapult the mediocre band into superstardom and swimming pools filled with money.



Deciding to train in Russia for a boxing match on Christmas Day (again, the symbolism runs rampant and deep here) , we are treated to yet another montage and the first of two synth-based instrumentals from composer Vince DiCola, who quietly steals the show with "Training Montage". Easily a proto-jock jam, this ranks up there with some of the finest sports anthems ever. And while it doesn't have the accessibility of Queen's "We Will Rock You" or Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll Part Two", it's emotional peaks and valleys set the perfect contrast to what's on screen. The art of training runs deep within each man, with Balboa training in a desolate area of what appears to be Siberia, it's simply man versus the elements. In contrast, Drago trains in a state of the art facility with top technology, doctors and the finest steroids rubles can provide. But within each of these boxers, it's also a battle to conquer themselves. To push themselves beyond anything possibly capable before in the history of sport, let alone boxing.



After intensive training, the match eventually ensues and provides intense peaks and valleys, with Drago and Balboa struggling to gain the advantage, both physically and psychologically. This is scored by DiCola's "War/Fanfare From Rocky". Easily the weaker of the two pieces, this still compliments the movie's climax and eventual dénouement with grace and class. Eventually, Balboa does win, but not without a redeeming social message that wins over the hearts and minds of not only the Prime Minister of Russia, but the Russian army and people themselves.



The final song not mentioned on this soundtrack belongs to one song wonder Touch. With finding a suitable Journey soundalike in the eighties being a near impossible chore, Scotti Bros. and Stallone made the decision to go with Touch's stirring rendition of the song. The decision paid off in spades, as it still remains one of the best songs in the entire Rocky soundtrack catalog. While it was meant first and foremost to be entertainment, Rocky IV transcended both sports and politics to offer the thought provoking message: that if we all look past the surfaces of one another, if we can somehow disregarded our minor differences, we will see that we are all the same. That if his perceptions and cultural attitudes can change through education and acceptance, then we all can change. It was also the highest grossing movie in the Rocky series. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title iTunes Composers Performers Time
Burning Heart
...
Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan Survivor (3:51)
Heart's on Fire
...
Vince DiCola, Ed Fruge John Cafferty (4:06)
Double or Nothing
...
Steve Dorff, Paul Williams Gladys Knight, Kenny Loggins (3:42)
Eye of the Tiger
...
Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan Survivor (3:46)
War
...
Vince DiCola Vince DiCola (5:54)
Living in America
...
Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight James Brown (4:42)
No Easy Way Out
...
Robert Tepper Robert Tepper (4:21)
One Way Street
...
Peter Cox, Richard Drummie Go West (4:37)
The Sweetest Victory
...
Duane Hitchings, Jake Hooker (4:25)
Training Montage
...
Vince DiCola Vince DiCola (3:40)

Credits

James Brown (Performer), James Brown, Go West (Performer), Go West, Dan Hartman (Producer), Gladys Knight (Performer), Gladys Knight, Kenny Loggins (Performer), Kenny Loggins, Survivor (Performer), Survivor, Vince DiCola (Producer), Vince DiCola (Performer), Jimi Jamison (Vocals), Jimi Jamison (Performer), Bernard Edwards (Producer), Jim Peterik (Producer), Robert Tepper (Performer), Robert Tepper, The Touch (Performer), Ken Perry (Engineer), Josh Abbey (Engineer), Chris Lord-Alge (Engineer), Chris Lord-Alge (Assistant Engineer), Phil Bonanno (Engineer), John Cafferty (Performer), Joe Chiccarelli (Producer), Joe Chiccarelli (Engineer), Mike Clink (Engineer), Peter Cox (Performer), Jamey Dell (Assistant Engineer), Steve Dorff (Performer), Richard Drummie (Performer), Ed Fruge (Producer), Ed Fruge (Engineer), Don Hartman (Producer), Duane Hitchings (Producer), Duane Hitchings (Performer), Jimmy Iovine (Producer), Jeff Lord-Alge (Assistant Engineer), Julian Mendelsohn (Engineer), Larry Millas (Engineer), Tony Papa (Engineer), Gary Stevenson (Producer), Dave Whitman (Engineer), Paul Williams (Composer), Frankie Sullivan (Producer), Jake Hooker (Producer), Jake Hooker (Performer), Ken Lowrey (Engineer), Robin Garb (Executive Producer)
 
Wikipedia: Rocky IV


Rocky IV
Rocky_iv_poster.jpg
Rocky IV
Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Produced by Robert Chartoff
Irwin Winkler
Written by Sylvester Stallone
Starring Sylvester Stallone
Talia Shire
Burt Young
Carl Weathers
Brigitte Nielsen
Tony Burton
Dolph Lundgren
Michael Pataki
Music by Vince DiCola
Cinematography Bill Butler
Editing by John W. Wheeler
Don Zimmerman
Distributed by Flag of the United States MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Flag of Earth United International Pictures (rest of world)
Release date(s) November 27, 1985
Running time 87 min
Country United States
Language English
Russian
Budget $31,000,500
Preceded by Rocky III
Followed by Rocky V
IMDb profile

Rocky IV is the fourth and most successful movie, in terms of box office gross, of the Rocky franchise.[1] Rocky Balboa (played again by Sylvester Stallone), has said he plans to retire from boxing after recovering his title from Clubber Lang in Rocky III. A new sensation from the Soviet Union, Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren), however, begins to emerge as a top contender.

Plot

The year is 1985 and following another friendly sparring match with Apollo Creed, Rocky returns to his home in Philadelphia to celebrate Paulie's birthday. Its also Rocky and Adrian's (almost) 9 year anniversary. Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a highly intimidating 261 pound Soviet boxer, arrives in America with his wife Ludmilla, his manager, Nicolai Koloff, and a team of trainers headed by Igor Rimsky to challenge the best American fighters. Apollo Creed, motivated by patriotism and a desire to prove himself after retirement, quickly jumps at the chance to step back into the ring in an exhibition bout against Drago. Despite apprehension from Rocky, who eventually agrees to help train him, Apollo sets the match between himself and Drago in Las Vegas. With Rocky in his corner, Apollo flamboyantly makes his way to the ring with a bigger show than when he first fought Rocky, which includes fireworks, James Brown performing "Living in America," and a patriotic theme, including a crowd implacably hostile to the visiting Soviet boxer. The match, which apparently was supposed to be for fun, ends in tragedy in the second round as Apollo, who took an unmerciful beating from Drago and refused to allow Rocky to throw in the towel, is killed in the ring by one final hard shot from Drago.

Rocky Balboa faces up to Ivan Drago in Rocky IV
Enlarge
Rocky Balboa faces up to Ivan Drago in Rocky IV

After Apollo's funeral, feeling wracked with grief over not stopping the fight, and incensed by Drago's cold indifference to killing Apollo, ("If he dies, he dies.") Rocky decides he must avenge Apollo's death and sets a match with the Russian. The match is set for Christmas Day, in Moscow, but neither Rocky's title is on the line nor is there any purse because the boxing commission refuses to sanction the fight. Furthermore, Rocky must give up his title because Drago is technically still an amateur boxer. Adrian initially cannot understand why Rocky would fight, fearing for his life. Rocky flies to a remote and rustic part of the Soviet Union to train; to help with his training he brings Apollo's former trainer Tony "Duke" Evers and his brother-in-law Paulie. Training runs for several months, with Rocky using more humble methods like chopping wood, running up snowy embankments, and lifting huge rocks; Drago is using the most modern equipment coupled with regular injections of what are implied to be anabolic steroids. During one of his runs, Rocky returns to find Adrian waiting for him. With Adrian finally showing her support and providing more reason to succeed, Rocky begins to train even harder.

Image:Dragopunched.PNG
Rocky Balboa delivers the "turning point" of the match.

After intense preparation for both fighters, the two men finally meet in the ring. The match set in Moscow, before the Politburo, and is broadcast throughout the globe. Much like the Americans did in the previous fight, the Soviets introduce Drago with an elaborate, patriotic ceremony that puts the attending audience squarely on the side of Drago, leaving Rocky to be fiercely booed, much like the American crowd cheered Creed and booed Drago in Las Vegas. After the ring introductions, an impassive Drago tells Rocky, "I must break you." After a pummeling first round, with the Russian easily winning, Rocky comes back toward the end of the second and cuts Drago just below his eye. With Drago's confidence shaken by the injury and Rocky's apparently limitless endurance and resilience, this is a turning point as Rocky and his trainers see that Drago is not superhuman as he appears, conversely while Drago describes Rocky as non-human and a "piece of iron."

The fight degenerates into a brutal battle of stamina and will across all fifteen rounds. Towards the end, the Soviet crowd has been won over by Rocky's determination and endurance, and have begun chanting his name. Koloff, angered by the crowd's change in mood and fearful of retribution from the Soviet premier, gets up from the premier's box and goes to Drago's corner to berate his performance. Drago clutches Koloff by the throat, lifts him off the ground, and tosses him aside, saying "I fight to win...for me...FOR ME....!" (the last part directed at the premier) In the fifteenth and final round, both fighters batter at each other, but Drago's endurance finally runs out, while Rocky finds his last burst of strength and lands one final signature left hook that finally knocks out the Russian.

Following his victory, Rocky gives an impassioned speech to the crowd, acknowledging their initial and mutual disdain for each other, and how they've come to respect and admire each other during the fight. Saying that the brutal battle between him and Drago in the ring was better than war between their two countries, he brings the crowd, including the Politburo, to its feet in applause, by claiming that "if I can change... and you can change... everyone can change!"

Production

Wyoming doubled for the frozen expanse of the Soviet Union. The small farm where Rocky lived and trained was located in Jackson Hole, and the Grand Teton National Park was used for filming many of the outdoor sequences in Russia. The PNE Forum at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, served as the location of Rocky's Soviet bout. Ironically, the site would later house production of another U.S.-Soviet sports film, Miracle.

Sylvester Stallone has stated that the punching between him and Dolph Lundgren in the first portion of the fight is completely authentic. One particularly forceful punch to Stallone's chest slammed his heart against his breastbone, causing the heart to swell and his breathing to become labored. Stallone, suffering from labored breathing and a blood pressure over 200, was flown from the set in Canada to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica and was kept in intensive care for eight days.[2]

Additionally, Stallone claims that Lundgren nearly forced Carl Weathers to quit in the middle of filming the Apollo versus Drago exhibition fight. Lungdren tossed Weathers into the corner of the boxing ring, prompting Weathers to leave the ring and announce that he was quitting and calling his agent.[3]

Music

The soundtrack for the movie included "Living in America" by James Brown; the film's music was composed by Vince DiCola, and also included songs by John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band, Survivor, Kenny Loggins, and Robert Tepper. Rocky IV is the only film in the series not to feature Bill Conti. Go West wrote "One Way Street" for the movie by request of Sylvester Stallone.

U.S. Box Office

When compared to the other Rocky installments, Rocky IV is the most successful in terms of non-adjusted box office gross.[4]

These figures only reflect movie theater ticket sales in the United States. The most profitable of the films by far was the original Rocky, which only spent a production budget of US$1.1 million.

Worldwide reception

Rocky IV made US$175 million outside of the U.S. grossing an overall US$300 million worldwide, the most out of any Rocky film. Additionally, Rocky IV is the most successful sports film of all time in terms of Box Office Adjusted for Inflation.

Trivia

  • Artist LeRoy Neiman makes his second appearance in the Rocky series as a ring announcer for the Apollo Creed/Ivan Drago exhibition fight.
  • Sportscaster Stu Nahan makes his fourth appearance in the series as commentator for the Apollo/Drago fight. Warner Wolf replaces Bill Baldwin (who had died in 1982) as co-commentator.
  • Apollo Creed's wife (Sylvia Meals) make her second of two appearances in the series, the first being in Rocky II.
  • It is the only movie of the series not to begin with the moving "Rocky" logo and not to feature a new score by Bill Conti.
  • Stallone's then-wife, Brigitte Nielsen, appeared as Drago's wife, Ludmilla.
  • Two Scandinavian actors (Danish Brigitte Nielsen and Swedish Dolph Lundgren) play Russian characters in the film.
  • In the 1987 film Spaceballs, the lengthy nature of the Rocky franchise was jokingly referenced (specifically that they had made four films already) when a TV newscaster said, "Next up, Pongo's review of Rocky Five... Thousand!"
  • The addition of a lengthy flashback to Rocky's previous films during the famous "car drive" sequence marks the only time in the franchise that the movie has two montages as opposed to just the lengthy training sequences.
  • The original ending was supposed to have Rocky being killed during his fight with Drago.
  • This is the only Rocky film that does not feature "Gonna Fly Now" as the training montage music.

References

  1. ^ Rocky Movies. Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo, LLC.. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  2. ^ Stallone Interview With Ain't It Cool News. AICN. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  3. ^ Stallone Interview With Ain't It Cool News. AICN. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  4. ^ Box Office gross. BoxOfficeMojo.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.

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