Remembering Rocky: New book takes readers behind the scenes of a boxing franchise

Revealing the blood, sweat and tears that went into making Rocky Balboa a cinematic success

Technical knockout: Stallone gets behind the camera in ‘Rocky IV’ (1985) (Photos Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)

Rocky Balboa is the Philadelphian southpaw who took on the world and won. The Italian Stallion, a gutsy fighter who rose above the odds to boxing glory, is a classic rags-to-riches character in movies.

Ever since Sylvester Stallone unleashed his impassioned boxer in 1976, the resilient fighter has earned his place in history as a symbol of tenacity and courage, and become a cinematic legend.

The story of Rocky the movie is as exciting as that of its eponymous boxer. Shot on a tight budget, with the virtually unknown Stallone writing the script as well as taking on the lead role, it became a surprise overnight sensation, generating millions in boxoffice revenue, notching up three Oscar wins, and transforming Stallone into a global star as an actor, writer and director.

The Rocky phenomenon developed into a franchise of six films, including Rocky Balboa in 2006 and a further appearance in Creed (2015), for which Stallone was nominated for an Academy Award.

Taschen’s Rocky: The Complete Films brings you all the guts and all the glory of the complete Rocky story, right through to Creed. Including on-set pictures from sports photographer Neil Leifer, with material from the Academy Library and MGM archive revealing the making of an enduring action hero as much as a movie masterpiece.

Since playing the title role in his own screenplay of Rocky, which won the Academy Award in 1976 for Best Picture, Sylvester Stallone has gained worldwide recognition with the Rocky, Rambo and The Expendables franchises, and has worked as an actor, writer, director and producer.

A foreword by Stallone and vintage interviews over the course of his career provide some insight about the development of Rocky Bilbao the hero, and the films, demonstrating the tenacity, spirit and passion that brought the character to the screen.

You can purchase ‘Rocky: The Complete Films’, here