This December will mark the 44th nationwide anniversary of Rocky, one of several American film staples to come from the auspices of actor Sylvester Stallone in the proliferation of his household name status since.
The inaugural franchise hit is now the subject of 40 Years Of Rocky: The Birth Of A Classic, written and directed by Derek Wayne Johnson and is now available on Amazon and iTunes/Apple TV+ from Virgil Films. Its international release as Becoming Rocky: The Birth Of A Classic, arrives via Branded Studios.
In 1976, a low budget movie written by an unknown actor was released, inspiring audiences around the world to go the distance. ‘Rocky’ became the ultimate underdog film. Over forty years later, Sylvester Stallone recounts the making of the beloved classic through rare home movies provided by Director John G. Avildsen and Production Manager Lloyd Kaufman.
The North American version is also available on Vimeo On Demand and Google Play, with the international release also now on iTunes/AppleTV and Amazon. Johnson also served as producer alongside Chris May, both of Cinema 83 Entertainment and Cinema 83 Documentary Films.
“The documentary is a golden nugget for ‘Rocky’ fans and casual audiences alike,” says Johnson. “It’s a charming piece of film history narrated by Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, and will give audiences an intimate, and at times, emotional experience. We’re proud of the film, and audiences can expect new stories and new footage that they’ve never seen before in a blend of director John Avildsen’s home movies, rehearsal footage and behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the ultimate underdog film.”
Adds May, “It has been an incredible journey working on this film and we are very excited for everybody to get to see it now. The cultural impact and value of ‘Rocky’ can’t be understated, and we are proud to have been able to add ’40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic’ into that world.”
Leonard Martin raves, “I enjoyed stepping back in time with this peek behind the scenes of ‘Rocky’…and so will any fan of the movie.”
Executive Producer David Polemeni funded the picture through Visionary Private Equity Group. Cinema 83’s next project will be a new documentary via Related Pictures Group about comedic legends Don Rickles and Bob Newhart’s long term friendship, and their impact on comedy.
