Show Notes
Leonard and Guy step into the ring with Rocky, the scrappy 1976 sensation that turned Sylvester Stallone into a star and made underdogs everywhere believe they had a shot.
They celebrate Stallone’s unforgettable performance and screenplay, the tender Rocky-and-Adrian romance, the knockout supporting work from Talia Shire, Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith, John G. Avildsen’s direction, Bill Conti’s iconic score, the Philadelphia atmosphere, and the film’s remarkable awards-season legacy.
Sit back and enjoy as they explain why Rocky still lands with such emotional force, and why this modestly made boxing movie became one of cinema’s most enduring champions.
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CHAPTERS:
01:34 – Why Rocky Still Goes the Distance 03:20 – The Rocky Sequels, Creed and “I Play Rocky” 06:20 – Rocky Balboa: The Ultimate Underdog 09:05 – Rocky, Adrian, Mickey and Paulie 10:30 – The Philadelphia Steps and Bill Conti’s Iconic Score 11:20 – Stallone’s Long Shot to Play Rocky 14:00 – Henry Winkler’s Crucial Role Behind the Scenes 14:45 – Why the Rocky Screenplay Works 15:55 – Carl Weathers, Character Actors and Stallone’s Star Power 19:25 – Ranking the Rocky Movies 20:10 – Creed, Ryan Coogler and Stallone’s Oscar Near-Miss 21:35 – Double Feature 23:35 – Leonard’s Encounters with Sylvester Stallone 25:10 – Why Rocky Remains Cinema’s Most Motivational Fighter
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