Rocky III (1982)

Director:

Sylvester Stallone

Writer:

Sylvester Stallone (written by)

Release Date:

28 May 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

His life is happy, his fights have seemed easy. Now a young upstart is going to make him prove just how far he can still go...

Plot:

When Rocky is defeated by a brutal challenger, Apollo Creed offers to retrain him in order to regain his fighting spirit.

Plot Keywords:

Champion | Rematch | Death | Boxing | Charity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Sylvester Stallone	...	Rocky Balboa
Talia Shire	...	Adrianna 'Adrian' Pennino Balboa
Burt Young	...	Paulie
Carl Weathers	...	Apollo Creed
Burgess Meredith	...	Mickey Goldmill
Tony Burton	...	Duke
Mr. T	...	Clubber Lang
Hulk Hogan	...	Thunderlips
Ian Fried	...	Rocky Junior
Al Silvani	...	Al
Wally Taylor	...	Clubber Lang's manager
Jim Hill	...	Sportscaster
Don Sherman	...	Andy
Dennis James	...	Wrestling commentator
Jim Healy	...	Wrestling commentator
Ray Gedeon	...	Wrestling referee
Gene Crane	...	Mayor
Stu Nahan	...	Title rematch commentator
Bill Baldwin	...	Title rematch commentator
Jimmy Lennon Sr.	...	Title announcer
Marty Denkin	...	Title referee
John David Morris	...	Doctor
Lou Fillipo	...	Rematch referee (as Lou Filipo)
Jeff Temkin	...	Rematch ring announcer
Mario Machado	...	Interviewer
Tony Hernandez	...	Himself
Frank Stallone	...	Singer / Opponent
Rabbi Philmore Berger	...	Rabbi
Big Yank	...	Sparring partner
François André	...	Clubber's cornerman
Eddie Smith	...	Clubber's cornerman
Chino 'Fats' Williams	...	Derelict
LeRoy Neiman	...	Cameo appearance
Bob Minor	...	Challenger
Clifford Strong	...	Challenger
Julius LeFlore	...	Challenger
Jason Felice	...	Challenger
Tony Brubaker	...	Challenger (as Anthony Brubaker)
Rex Pierson	...	Challenger
Ray Notaro Jr.	...	Challenger
Charles A. Tamburro	...	Challenger (as Chuck Tamburro)
Carey Lindley	...	Challenger
Jophery C. Brown	...	Challenger
Gilbert B. Combs	...	Challenger (as Gil Combs)
David Cadiente	...	Opponent
Roger Braxton	...	Opponent
J.D. Smith	...	Opponent
Tom Lupo	...	Opponent
Melvin Jones	...	Opponent
Alex Brown	...	Opponent (as Alex A. Brown)
David R. Ellis	...	Opponent (as David Ellis)
George O'Mara	...	Opponent
Clarke Coleman	...	Policeman (as Clarke C. Coleman)
Billy Hank Hooker	...	Policeman (as Hank Hooker)
Mickey Gilbert	...	Policeman
Fred M. Waugh	...	Policeman (as Fred Waugh)
James M. Halty	...	Policeman (as Jim Halty)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sasha Czack	...	Woman In Gym (uncredited)
Patti Negri	...	Singer (uncredited)

Directed by
Sylvester Stallone

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sylvester Stallone		written by

Produced by
James D. Brubaker	....	associate producer
Robert Chartoff	....	producer
Herb Nanas	....	executive producer
Irwin Winkler	....	producer

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
Bill Butler

Film Editing by
Mark Warner
Don Zimmerman

Casting by
Rhonda Young

Production Design by
William J. Cassidy

Art Direction by
Ron Foreman
J. Dennis Washington

Set Decoration by
Joe D. Mitchell

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Michael Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
James D. Brubaker	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clifford C. Coleman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Bill Dietz	....	property master
Fred Lucky	....	storyboard illustrator
Daniel Maltese	....	set designer
A. Thomas Schomberg	....	sculptor: Rocky statue

Sound Department
Steve Bartlett	....	sound
John S. Coffey	....	boom operator
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Walter A. Gest	....	sound re-recordist
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Nichols II	....	sound recordist
Donald C. Rogers	....	sound (as Don Rogers)
Frank E. Warner	....	sound editor
Charles M. Wilborn	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Howard Jension	....	special effects

Stunts
Freddie Hice	....	stunts
Don McGovern	....	stunt double (as Don Charles McGovern)
Don McGovern	....	stunt double: slyvester stallone
Ron Stein	....	stunt coordinator
Charles A. Tamburro	....	stunts
Michael S. Walter	....	action actor
Steve Walters	....	stunt performer
Branscombe Richmond	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Howard Block	....	camera operator
Colin J. Campbell	....	gaffer
Mike Chevalier	....	camera operator
James R. Connell	....	camera operator
George Hill	....	key grip
Joseph D. Steuben	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Cash Oshman	....	crowd casting
Sheryl Roberts	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dan Moore	....	wardrobe: men
Aida Swinson	....	woman's wardrobe

Editorial Department
Bruce Cannon	....	assistant editor
Gregory M. Gerlich	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer
James D. Young	....	music editor
Bill Conti	....	conductor (uncredited)
Bill Conti	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Peter T. Myers	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Celia Weiner	....	music editor (uncredited)

Other crew
Christopher Collins	....	nutritionist/trainer
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
S. Howard Friedland	....	set medic
Ray Notaro Jr.	....	boxing trainer
David Oliver	....	title designer
Thomas A. Renesto	....	technical advisor: wrestling
Sylvester Stallone	....	boxing choreographer
Charles A. Tamburro	....	helicopter pilot

Thanks
Jane Oliver	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Chartoff-Winkler Productions
• United Artists

Distributors

• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1985) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (The Undisputed Collection)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | 70 mm 6-Track

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Alberta) (re-rating) (1999) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Mexico:A | South Korea:12 | Brazil:12 | Peru:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:18 (1982) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Trivia:

The ring in which Thunderlips and Rocky fight featured the standard modifications used in professional wrestling; half-inch padding under the canvas, shock absorbers under the plywood and slightly loosened ropes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mickey gets sick and lays down on the table in the locker room, he has his knit cap on as he starts to lay down. The shot switches to a different angle as he continues to lay down, and now his cap is off and laying on the table next to him.

Quotes:

Rocky Balboa: Why'd you leave? Why'd you walk away like that?
Mickey: Life's too short, kid.
Rocky Balboa: Where you goin?
Mickey: I'm goin on a permanent vacation.
Rocky Balboa: What are you talkin about? We got one more fight.
Mickey: No, no, not me, you.
Rocky Balboa: Why you doin this?
[Mickey doesn't answer]
Rocky Balboa: I said why you doin this?
Mickey: Because you can't win, Rock! This guy'll kill you to death inside of three rounds!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Angry Video Game Nerd: Chronologically Confused About Sequel Titles (#1.15)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Pushin

Wow, Look Who's Still Got It!

30 minutes shorter than its predecessors-- according to audience reactions I still disagree with, that's the same curse that held "Superman IV" in Hollywood Purgatory (or maybe lower).

Thank heavens "Rocky III" is still an enjoyable piece of work!

For Stallone's second shot in the director's chair, he pits his famous character against Clubber Lang, a testosterone-oozing Mr. T. The trouble is, has Rocky grown complacent in light of his massive celebrity?

While it does stick to something of a formula, R3 still comes out swinging, with more humor and better drama than the first two, but doesn't reach the cheer-inspiring fever pitch of the second.

A worthwhile entry.