This installment of "30 for 30" concerns the boxer Chuck Wepner--who, according to many, was the inspiration for the character "Rocky". About the only one in the show who felt this was NOT the case was Sylvester Stallone--who eventually was sued by Wepner for part of the film royalties. This is odd, as there is quite a bit of evidence Wepner WAS Stallone's inspiration--especially since they show footage of Stallone himself back in the 1970s saying how he was inspired by the famous fight between Wepner and Muhammad Ali. However, this is NOT the sole focus of the documentary. Instead, it told the story of Wepner's career before and after this very famous 15-round fight. It's all rather interesting--especially since Wepner himself spends most of the film narrating his underdog story. Not among the very best of the series but still quite good--and very interesting.
4 Reviews
Good Documentary About the Influence on Sly
Michael_Elliott28 October 2011
Real Rocky, The (2011)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Extremely good documentary about Chuck Wepner, a man whose name most people probably won't know but he was the main inspiration for Sylvester Stallone and ROCKY. For years Stallone kept using Wepner's life in a number of his movies but when Wepner tried to get paid for what he had done, Stallone then claimed that the boxer had not been an inspiration. The thing would eventually be settled out of court but this documentary really gives the viewer no doubt that the ROCKY series owed a lot to Wepner. The amazing thing is that it wasn't just the ROCKY movies that Stallone borrowed from. This documentary is a very entertaining piece and especially for those who don't know the full story of Wepner. I had only vaguely heard of him but after viewing this there's no doubt in my mind that Stallone really owed this guy a lot and it's a shame that it took so long for Wepner to get some credit. The most obvious example is when Ali offered a "nobody" a chance at the title. This led to a Heaveyweight bout where Wepner was able to go fifteen-rounds with the champ, which is something no one expect. All the stock footage leading up to the fight was incredibly entertaining and somewhat shocking when Ali wanted to turn this into a race fight to try and gather more attention. The film does a pretty good job at showing the comparisons of Wepner's life and not only the Rocky character but a few others from Stallone's movies.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Extremely good documentary about Chuck Wepner, a man whose name most people probably won't know but he was the main inspiration for Sylvester Stallone and ROCKY. For years Stallone kept using Wepner's life in a number of his movies but when Wepner tried to get paid for what he had done, Stallone then claimed that the boxer had not been an inspiration. The thing would eventually be settled out of court but this documentary really gives the viewer no doubt that the ROCKY series owed a lot to Wepner. The amazing thing is that it wasn't just the ROCKY movies that Stallone borrowed from. This documentary is a very entertaining piece and especially for those who don't know the full story of Wepner. I had only vaguely heard of him but after viewing this there's no doubt in my mind that Stallone really owed this guy a lot and it's a shame that it took so long for Wepner to get some credit. The most obvious example is when Ali offered a "nobody" a chance at the title. This led to a Heaveyweight bout where Wepner was able to go fifteen-rounds with the champ, which is something no one expect. All the stock footage leading up to the fight was incredibly entertaining and somewhat shocking when Ali wanted to turn this into a race fight to try and gather more attention. The film does a pretty good job at showing the comparisons of Wepner's life and not only the Rocky character but a few others from Stallone's movies.
When your admired hero shows the flaws, you cringe...
Napoleonforever23 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
And Stallone showed what he truly is made of.
The Rocky Franchise is worth OVER a Billion dollars and Stallone could not throw Mr. Wepner a few crumbs?
I admired Stallone for decades, laughed at his revolving door of broads, escapades, self- promotions, etc., and shook it all off as part of "the life in Tinsletown".
But to make definite statements that Wepner inspired Rocky I, using Wepner's life almost to the exact T, then denying it when facing a legal court-ordered Deposition just turned me off.
Is it me, or could have more good will and faith been brought on by Stallone had he done the right thing when Wepner called? Don't say that you did not know better, Mr. Stallone. Some of us can't be fooled twice by the same person.
The Rocky Franchise is worth OVER a Billion dollars and Stallone could not throw Mr. Wepner a few crumbs?
I admired Stallone for decades, laughed at his revolving door of broads, escapades, self- promotions, etc., and shook it all off as part of "the life in Tinsletown".
But to make definite statements that Wepner inspired Rocky I, using Wepner's life almost to the exact T, then denying it when facing a legal court-ordered Deposition just turned me off.
Is it me, or could have more good will and faith been brought on by Stallone had he done the right thing when Wepner called? Don't say that you did not know better, Mr. Stallone. Some of us can't be fooled twice by the same person.
help me
samsonovajl14 February 2016
I would like to see this documentary, but I can not find it anywhere the Internet .Film removed for copyright infringement really want to see this movie, can someone help how to do it? someone help how to do it? I would like to see this documentary, but I can not find it anywhere the Internet .Film removed for copyright infringement really want to see this movie, can someone help how to do it? someone help how to do it?I would like to see this documentary, but I can not find it anywhere the Internet .Film removed for copyright infringement really want to see this movie, can someone help how to do it? someone help how to do it?
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