Rocky (1976)
Nominated producers: Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff (winners)
Director: John G. Avildsen
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith
Studio: United Artists
Other Oscar noms/wins:
director (winner), best actor (Sylvester Stallone), best actress (Talia Shire), supporting actor (Burgess Meredith, Burt Young), original screenplay (Stallone), film editing (Richard Halsey and Scott Conrad, winner), sound (Harry W. Tetrick, William L. McCaughey, Lyle J. Burbridge, Bud Alper), original song (“Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti, Carol Connors, Ayn Robbins)
Some viewers who watch “Rocky” are so impressed with its everyday hero and against-all odds triumph that the next day, they imitate the activities of drinking a raw egg, and going for an early morning run, only to realize how challenging the latter is.
Best Picture Competition
The underdog story of boxer Rocky Balboa manifested itself in real life, beating out “All the President’s Men,” “Bound for Glory,” “Network” and “Taxi Driver.”
It would have been fascinating to cover that dynamite year as an awards pundit and then watch the telecast and not know what would win the final category of the night – especially coming after “Network” won three acting awards and original screenplay, and “All the President’s Men” had tied for the most statuettes with four including supporting actor and adapted screenplay.
The DGA-winning Rocky prevailed and has since been considered one of the defining sports movies.
