Rocky:
The deleTed ending
Copyright © 2014 by Maarten Mulder Books
Printed in the Netherlands
First edition
By MAARteN MULDeR
Text and design by Maarten Mulder
This book is not for sale and it’s not intended for commercial release.
It’s been made for private use only and no profit has been made from
it. The purpose of this book is to give an insight in the original planned
ending of Sylvester Stallone’s classic movie Rocky.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
MAARTEN MULDER BOOKS
Contents
Foreword
Part I:
Part II:
Part III:
Part IV:
The poster
The fight
The script
The ending
Source
6
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
8
19
23
43
55
83
7
Part I:
The
poster
T
he famous poster of the movie Rocky depicts a scene from the
movie between Rocky and Adrian after the memorable fight
of Rocky and Apollo that never appeared in the final movie.
Somehow it makes the poster more unique, because the poster tells
a story of its own. The shot that was used in the poster actually comes
from the originally intended ending for the movie.
After a rough cut of the movie had been assembled,
write and star Sylvester Stallone and director John
G. Avildsen evaluated the ending and decided that
it was to downbeat and that there was something
missing. Stallone and Avildsen decided to reshoot the
ending and to finish the movie with the emotional
embracement between Rocky and Adrian after
the climatic fight scene. While this reshoot was in
development, the promotion department of Rocky
had already designed this poster for its release.
Left: Sylvester Stallone during the première of Rocky
on November 21, 1976 in New York City.
Right page: The original theatrical poster of Rocky,
20
featuring Rocky and Adrian from the deleted ending.
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
Part II:
The
fight
M
any people would depict Rocky as a boxing or sports
and go to distance.
movie. But labeling it as a love story or a story of an
underdog going to distance would be more appropriate.
For Apollo the fight was more a show. He enters the arena in a boat
It’s a love story between Rocky and Adrian and it’s a personal struggle
dressed up like George Washington. Before the match starts he plays
of Rocky himself who want to proof that he was not ‘just another
with the audience and with Rocky, who is just in awe because he
bum from the neighborhood.’ All these elements that make Rocky
is standing in the same ring with the world heavyweight boxing
special comes together in the final of the movie.
champion, who he admires. Apollo was sure he would knock
Rocky down in the third round. But as soon as the bell rings Apollo
Being raised with the words of his father ‘You weren’t
is surprised by the resilience of Rocky who managed to knock the
born with much of a brain, so you better start using
champ down in the first round for the first time in the champ’s career.
your body,’ boxing became a metaphor for Rocky to
proof himself that he can achieve more in life. When
Apollo’s expectation to finish the match with Rocky in the third round
he surprisingly gets a change to fight the world
is soon gone since Rocky managed to collect Apollo’s punches and
heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed, he
to punch back as well. Each time Rocky is knocked down and gets
wants to make sure that he can proof to himself that
up, Apollo is in disbelieve. The fight eventually last 15 rounds and
he was not ‘just another bum from the neighborhood.’
Rocky goes to distance. Although Apollo gets the decision from the
The final fight between Rocky and Apollo became
jury and wins the fight, Rocky feels he has won too.
the highlight of the movie. Although Rocky knew he
wasn’t capable of winning from Apollo Creed, all he
wanted to proof is that he could last the 15 rounds
Left: Rocky before the match against the world
heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed. Rocky
knows he has no change of winning, but all he want
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to do is go to distance.
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
Next pages: A series of photographs from Rocky of the famous
boxing match between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed for the world
heavyweight boxing championship title.
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
25
26
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
27
Part IV:
The
ending
72
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
73
74
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
75
76
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
Rocky: The Deleted Ending
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