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MEMORIES:
kendra remembers...'The one with the Russian!' That's what I always say when I think of Rocky films.Of course,I love the original,but ... More »
Posted on 07/18/08
CATCH PHRASE:
Rocky IV brought Philadelphia’s golden boy out of the U.S. and into the Soviet Union at a time when Cold War tensions were at their peak. Actually, the film brought Sylvester Stallone – directing for the third straight time, writing for the fourth – to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the filming of another Rocky picture. Cast from the previous film returned: Talia Shire, Burt Young, and Carl Weathers with Dolph Lundgren portraying the stone cold Russian boxer Drago. Lundgren’s boxing prowess was so substantial that when Stallone opted to scrap shadow boxing in favor of some legitimate punches, Lundgren left him with temporary rib and heart damage.
Amateur Soviet boxing sensation Ivan Drago comes to America with an entourage of Soviet officials, and the belief that he can defeat anyone. His challenger comes in the person of Apollo Creed (Weathers), who talks his old nemesis/pal Rocky into training him for the big fight. Convinced that he’s stronger and quicker than he’s ever been, Apollo takes the ring under the belief that the warrior’s useless unless there’s a war. The fight ends in disaster as Drago pummels Creed, who dies in Rocky’s arms.
Desiring to honor his fallen friend, Rocky begins to entertain the notion of challenging Drago himself. Though his wife Adrian (Shire) tries to talk him out of it, Rocky decides to relinquish his title belt for an unsanctioned fight against the intimidating Drago on Russian soil. With a fight set for Christmas Day, Rocky, his brother-in-law Paulie (Young), and Creed’s former trainer all fly to the Soviet Union for several months of grueling training in the hostility of Russian winter. At the end of the road stands Drago, honed through technical precision to destroy anything in his path. The Eastern hope meets the Western hero as the two square off for an epic fight.
The film would mark the only time in the franchise that Bill Conti would not provide the score (Vince DiCola did the work instead). Regardless, Rocky IV went on to make almost $128 million domestically; better than any previous Rocky film. More significantly, it earned $175 million overseas, making it the highest grossing sports film of all time. Rocky would return yet again in 1990’s Rocky V and 2006’s Rocky Balboa.
