Rocky III (1982)
Rocky III is a 1982 American sports drama film written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the sequel to Rocky II (1979) and is the third installment in the Rocky franchise. Along with Stallone reprising the title role, the film also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith and Mr. T. In the film, Rocky Balboa faces stiff competition from Clubber Lang, a powerful new contender, and turns to his old adversary Apollo Creed for training after the death of his manager and friend Mickey Goldmill. Development of the film began soon after the release of its predecessor. Stallone began a strict diet and workout regimen in preperation for Rocky III. Despite the returns of the original cast being secured quickly, casting for Lang proved difficult, with real boxers Joe Frazier and Earnie Shavers attached to the project at various points. Mr. T was hired in 1981 after winning America’s Best Bouncer, and the film is considered his breakthrough role.
Rocky III is the first film in the franchise not solely distributed by United Artists, due to the company’s merger with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1981.
Rocky III was theatrically released in the United States by MGM/UA on May 28, 1982. The film received generally mixed reviews, with praise for its action sequences and music but criticism for its screenplay, with some critics deeming the film unnecessary. Rocky III grossed $270 million worldwide, surpassing its predecessors to become the then-highest grossing film in the franchise, and the fourth highest grossing film of 1982. Its theme song, “Eye of the Tiger”, became a hit single and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. The sequel, Rocky IV, was released in 1985.
Plot.
In 1981, five years after winning the world heavyweight championship against Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa has had a string of ten successful title defenses. His fame, wealth, and celebrity profile have increased, leading him to participate in an exhibition charity event against professional wrestler Thunderlips. Rocky’s manager, Mickey Goldmill, worriedly eyes a young and powerful contender rapidly rising through the ranks, James “Clubber” Lang. While unveiling a statue of himself at the stairway by the Philadelphia Museum of Art just prior to announcing his retirement, Rocky is publicly challenged by Lang, now the number-one contender. Lang accuses Rocky of intentionally accepting challenges from lesser opponents and even makes a sexually suggestive comment toward Rocky’s wife Adrian. A furious Rocky accepts Lang’s challenge on the spot. However, Mickey initially wants no part of it.RELATED:
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Pressed by Rocky, Mickey confesses that he handpicked the opponents for Rocky’s title defenses in order to spare him from another beating of the kind that Creed gave him in their rematch. He explains that Lang is young and powerful, and most of all he’s “hungry”; by contrast Rocky is “civilized” and no longer has the stamina and strength to fight a boxer of Lang’s caliber. Rocky, shattered by the realization that all of his fights have been stacked in his favor, convinces Mickey to work with him for one last fight. Despite his promise to Mickey to “live in the gym”, Rocky insists on allowing the public to watch him train in a crowded hotel ballroom filled with distractions. In contrast, Lang trains alone with ruthless determination and vigor.
Lang and Rocky meet at Philadelphia’s Spectrum on August 15, 1981. Pandemonium erupts backstage as Mickey is violently shoved by Lang,
resulting in a fatal heart attack. Distraught, Rocky wants to call the match off, but Mickey urges him on while he receives medical care in the dressing room. Rocky’s lack of preparation is worsened by his anger over Mickey, preventing him from fully concentrating on the fight. The match begins with Rocky pounding Lang with several huge blows looking for an early knockout, but Lang quickly recovers and takes charge, dominating Rocky and finishing him off with a haymaker left hook in the second round, winning the world heavyweight championship. After the match, Rocky tells a dying Mickey that the match ended in a second round knockout without saying who the victor was. Mickey dies right after he says “I love ya, kid”. Rocky, lapsing into severe depression, mourns over Mickey’s death.
Development and writing.
For the role of Clubber Lang, two real world-class heavyweight boxers were first considered: Joe Frazier and Earnie Shavers. Both were about the same height as Sylvester Stallone and had the powerful physique he was looking for, but, according to casting director Rhonda Young, Frazier had a stuttering problem, while Shavers had a high-pitched voice which would have undermined the character’s menacing presence. After looking far and wide (even going to prisons in the hope of finding a suitable black antagonist), Rhonda Young stumbled upon a television program on NBC, America’s Toughest Bouncer, showcasing a sports competition, and was mesmerized by the winner’s physical prowess as well as his charisma. She then called the producer, Dan Ohlmeyer, to ask him about “the man with the mohawk”.
It turned out that not only was Mr. T a perfect fit, but he also proved tremendously determined to give the best possible performance right from the first screen test, for what would be his breakout role.
In preparation for film, Stallone claims to have got his body fat percentage down to his all-time low of 2.6% and weighed 155 lbs. He stated that he ate only ten egg whites and a piece of toast a day, having a fruit every third day. His training consisted of a two-mile jog in the morning followed by two hours of weight training, a nap during the afternoon followed by 18 rounds of sparring, another weight training session, and finishing the day with a swim