Rocky is the story of an underdog who is given an enormous opportunity to fight the Heavy Weight Champion of the world. The story of the underdog was one that resonated with America, which was suffering from massive public dissonance over the Vietnam War.

In an interview, Sylvester Stallone describes “being Rocky”. He states, “Every day I truly miss that character so much, I tell you I could just cry. Because I’ll never have a voice like that again — where I can just speak whatever I feel in my heart. That’s the one thing I will always cherish about that character… because if I say it you won’t believe it but when rocky said it, it was the truth.” This is further reinforced in the scholarly article Fighting for Manhood: Rocky and Turn-of-the-century Antimodernism they observe, “The iconic rise of the underdog from South Philadelphia, serendipitously plucked out of obscurity to fight the heavyweight champion of the world, clearly meant something to the packed, electrified theaters cheering Rocky on as if he were a real fighter. As Rocky’s legacy grew to become one of the most recognizable films of all time, the importance of understanding its significance equally increased.” This is exactly what I think to lead to Rocky’s voice being so impactful. People loved him, they rooted for him, and he was a real inspiration to people who were desperate for inspiration. It won Best Picture in 1977 and there was little debate. Rocky was the underdog Champion that America needed and he embodied the man that American men wanted to be.

I think most people understand the plot of Rocky. The world turned its back on him. He is fighting for his life. That is a message that resonated with people across the country. An academic article titled: Fighting for Manhood: Rocky and Turn-of-the-Century Antimodernism argues that societal tension of the 1970s was akin to that of the 1890s where people of America experienced a cultural shift and questioned their stance on economics, politics, and gender. It states, “In fact, both societies were searching for a transcendent sense of identity in the midst of modernity-inspired confusion. Particularly, both societies looked to what was considered an earlier, more essential and violent manhood that would invigorate both themselves and their ‘listless’ nation. These antimodernist sentiments explain the significance of Rocky Balboa…” (Clay).  Rocky was not listless, he was actionable, moved with hope, and took charge of his dire situation. To see this from the perspective of people in the 1970s it is important to consider the culture at the time of Rocky’s release. During and after the Vietnam War, America felt like it had lost in front of the world. It was not warring as usual. Not only did it feel like the world had turned its back on us, but we also lost a lot of the spirit that kept this country together during some of our worst episodes of conflict. We lost the war in the South East, we lost thousands of young America men, and the sitting President of the United States certainly stripped America of some of its manhood. On top of all that, we left hundreds of thousands of vets to handle the true spoils of war on their own. This was certainly a depressing time in American History but watching Rocky run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art with ease is a satisfying visual and makes the audience feel Rocky’s improvement.

From a place of similar pain and desperation, America got their Champ. Rocky’s story was not developed in a vacuum. The kind of pain that Rocky and Stallone have is a heavy burdensome kind. It is so real to Stallone and Rocky that it is real to the audience. This honest pain came from Stallone’s own struggles, as he outlines in the interview mentioned. If I had to describe Rocky, its story, the character, and Stallone in one word it would be modest by all accounts. The movie spent just $1 million dollars in production and it has gone on to make millions and millions more in the box office (FilmSite).  When Rocky was asked to fight Apollo Creed he thought the promoter was looking for a sparring partner to get roughed up by Creed. In fact, when he is confronted directly with the prospect of fighting for the Heavy Weight World Championship, he denies the opportunity, a true sign of respect towards the then sitting World Champion. In his moment of shining glory, after winning the World Championship, eyes on him – world watching, all he wants is Adrian.

Though the film was widely well received by a greater audience, the New York Times review of the film digs into Stallone’s mediocre acting skills and essentially calls him a phony. It is interesting to note the reception of an “elite” writer such as Vincent Canby. He refuses to immerse himself into the world of Rocky and is not rewarded with the same romantic story of the great rise of Rocky Balboa.  He ends his piece particularly critically saying, “Throughout the movie we are asked to believe that his Rocky is compassionate, interesting, even heroic, though the character we see is simply an unconvincing actor imitating a lug. ”Rocky,” which has been rated PG (“parental guidance suggested”), contains some barroom language and a climactic boxing match that is effectively brutal”. I think history shows that this opinion does not stand the test of time.

Rocky is and will continue to be an American treasure because its essential theme is still so important. Sandwiched between Jaws and Star Wars, Rocky’s budget was modest but its truth was bold. Effects are amazing and can help enhance an incredible story, but when the explosive memories fade, the story is what is remembered or forgotten. Rocky portrays what everyone feels they could still have in them. Potential – even when the world has turned its back on you.  The opportunity to make a comeback; because everyone experiences hardships. The true triumph of victory – because everyone feels like an underdog at some point.