Actor Sylvester Stallone (1946)

Rocky IV (1985) is an American sports drama film starring and directed by Sylvester Stallone. That same year, Russian boxer Ivan Drago arrives in the United States with his wife Ludmilla, an Olympic swimmer, and a team of trainers from the Soviet Union and Cuba. His manager Nicolai Koloff seizes every opportunity to tout Drago’s athletic prowess as a symbol of Soviet dominance. Prompted by both patriotism and a personal drive for validation, former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed challenges Drago to an exhibition match. Though hesitant at first, Rocky agrees to help train Apollo for the fight. Tensions escalate ...

The American action film First Blood (1982), directed by Ted Kotcheff and co-written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, follows Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. Based on David Morrell’s novel of the same name, which had been unsuccessfully attempted to be adapted in the 1970s by various directors and studios. After searching for his old comrade at a lake house, Rambo discovers that he passed away from cancer caused by Agent Orange exposure during the war over a year ago. He expresses his condolences to the ...

The American sports drama film, Rocky III (1982), was written, directed by, and starred Sylvester Stallone. Five years after defeating Apollo Creed for the world heavyweight championship, Rocky Balboa had successfully defended his title ten times and enjoyed a rise in fame, wealth, and celebrity status. However, his manager Mickey Goldmill became concerned when a rising contender named James ‘Clubber’ Lang caught his attention. During a ceremony to unveil his own statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rocky announced his plan to retire but was interrupted by Lang’s public challenge for the title. ...

Victory (1981), a film directed by John Huston, follows a group of Allied POWs as they agree to participate in a football match against a German team. Led by English Captain John Colby, who played professionally for West Ham United before the war, the prisoners soon realize they are being used for German propaganda. As their captain and de facto manager, Colby handpicks his team members. However, Robert Hatch, an American serving with the Canadian Army, is initially left out but eventually convinces Colby to bring him on as the team’s trainer in order to facilitate his escape plans.

Nighthawks (1981) is an American neo-noir action crime thriller film directed by Bruce Malmuth. An undercover NYPD Detective Sergeant Deke DaSilva of the Street Crimes Unit thwarts three armed attackers, with the help of his partner, Detective Sergeant Matthew Fox. DaSilva chases and subdues one of the assailants in a subway station before heading to London where a department store bombing takes place. Upon returning to New York City, DaSilva and Fox execute a high-risk warrant in the Bronx, uncovering corrupt police officers among drug dealers. After successfully making arrests, DaSilva expresses his love for his ...

The sports drama film, Rocky II (1979), was written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, who also starred in the movie. On New Year’s Day of 1976, world heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed had defended his title against Rocky Balboa in a split decision. Both men were taken to the same hospital where, despite their previous agreement, Apollo challenged Rocky once again that night. He wanted to prove that Rocky’s ability to go the distance with him was just a fluke. However, Rocky chose to decline the rematch and retire from professional boxing. His girlfriend, Adrian, supported this decision as did his ...

F.I.S.T. (1978) is a neo-noir crime drama film from America, produced and directed by Norman Jewison. At a loading dock in Cleveland in 1937, Mr. Gant, the supervisor, hires Lincoln Dombrowsky – a new worker of Polish descent. Gant warns Dombrowsky that any overtime work will go unpaid and any damages to merchandise during working hours will be taken out of his pay. When Dombrowsky accidentally spills some carts of tomatoes, he loses pay and a colleague gets fired for trying to help him clean up. Johnny Kovak – a Hungarian-American laborer – becomes resentful of these unjust practices and leads a riot. ...

Paradise Alley (1978) is an American sports drama film featuring Sylvester Stallone as the writer, director, and lead actor. The Carboni brothers, Cosmo and Lenny, see potential for success in their younger brother Victor. They encourage him to enter the world of wrestling under the name Kid Salami. With Cosmo as his manager and Lenny as his promoter, they hope to earn enough money for all three of them to leave Hell’s Kitchen behind. Victor’s motivation? To marry his girlfriend from Asian descent and start a life on a houseboat in New Jersey. Each brother has their own unique personality; Cosmo is always on ...

Rocky (1976), anAmerican sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, depicts the story of heavyweight boxing world champion, Apollo Creed. As the United States Bicentennial approaches, Creed plans to hold a title bout in Philadelphia. However, just five weeks before the fight, he receives news that his scheduled opponent is unable to compete due to an injured hand. Despite efforts to find another replacement, all potential candidates are either unavailable or unable to prepare in time. In a bold move, Creed decides to ...

Farewell, My Lovely (1975) is an American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Dick Richards. In 1941 Los Angeles, private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by recently released bank robber Moose Malloy to locate his ex-girlfriend Velma. Despite not seeing her in seven years due to his incarceration, Malloy abruptly disappears after murdering the new owner of Velma’s former workplace. With the help of Velma’s old acquaintance Tommy Ray and a photo she provided, Marlowe tracks her down at an insane asylum. However, when he informs Malloy of his findings, he realizes that the picture he was given was ...

Directed by Paul Bartel, Death Race 2000 (1975) is a sci-fi action film set in a dystopian future plagued by civil unrest and economic devastation following the ‘World Crash of ’79’. In an attempt to control the population, the government establishes the Transcontinental Road Race, a vicious competition where drivers race across the nation in high-speed cars. The event is notorious for its brutality, with points awarded for hitting and killing innocent pedestrians. The 20th annual race showcases five renowned drivers with eccentric personas and themed cars – Frankenstein, a revered hero in black; ...

Capone (1975), a film directed by Steve Carver and written by Howard Browne, follows the story of Chicago mob boss Al Capone during Prohibition. From his rise to power to his eventual conviction and imprisonment, the film depicts Capone’s control over the city. This includes an incident in Brooklyn on May 6, 1918 where he tipped off police about a fur clothing heist in order to ambush them. However, things take a turn when Capone ends up being thrown through a glass window during the ensuing fight, leaving him with a scarred left cheek. Despite this, he is released ...