MovieChat Forums > Rocky (1976) Discussion > Just Noticed For the First Time.

Just Noticed For the First Time.

posted 4 years ago by Sandman81 (1509)
7 replies | jump to latest

Duke, Apollo's trainer, was really annoyed during Apollo's entrance. You can see him walking along side the boat with a look on his face like "Just get in the ring already." Then when Apollo is doing the Uncle Sam bit, he spends almost the whole time trying to pull Apollo back into the corner so that he can get his gloves on for the fight. And he visibly looks mad the whole time.

This goes along with him being the only one from Apollo's team that paid attention to the news when Rocky was pounding raw meat in a meat locker.

[–] strntz (12460) 4 years ago

Wow, never noticed that. Gonna watch more carefully next time. I do love the scene where everyone is discussing the logistics of the fight, but only Duke is watching Rocky in the meat locker on TV. Apollo, not so much. "Yeah yeah, I'm serious too"...

[–] JohnnyCastle (393) 4 years ago

Yes I've noticed that. I always thought that was pretty obvious. And it showed Apollo looking past Rocky and not seeing him as a real opponent.

[–] millsey72 (10372) 2 years ago

I noticed it the very first time I saw it

[–] GolfnGuitars (2938) 2 years ago

Tony Burton was so great as Duke. "He doesn't know it's a damn show...he thinks it's a damn fight!" He knew Apollo didn't fully train for the fight like he should have and Duke is trying everything he can to get Apollo to focus on Rocky. Yes, I think Duke knew deep down walking into the ring that Apollo was in for a real battle against Rocky. Duke knew boxing and I think he recognized from the beginning that Rocky would be a tough matchup for Apollo.

[–] ExTechOp (2770) 2 years ago

I noticed back in '76, but the significance didn't dawn on me until this thread

Makes it way more powerful in 3 and 4, when Duke starts training Rocky himself

Looking back at this series, every sequel seemed like an exploitative cash grab, and they all were, but they also contained plenty of great human drama as well

Even Drago, in "Creed 2," got humanized in a way I'd have never thought possible. They shouldn't have deleted his and Rocky's final scene together:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pteVORo_CKs

[–] GolfnGuitars (2938) 2 years ago

ExTechOp wrote: "Looking back at this series, every sequel seemed like an exploitative cash grab, and they all were, but they also contained plenty of great human drama as well."

I think that is very well-stated. I absolutely love the original "Rocky" and think that it's one of the greatest movies ever made. There's a part of me that wishes that Rocky would've stayed retired with his eye injury. 😃

Having said all that...I do enjoy the next 3 Rocky movies. I don't think they're nearly as great as the original...but there are still some great performances in them. I think Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith really give great performances in "Rocky II." Mr. T. is just tremendous as Clubber Lang in ""Rocky III," plus it's interesting to see the interaction with Rocky and Apollo & Apollo's camp after becoming friends. And I thought Dolph Lundgren was excellent as Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV." I need to mention Burt Young and Talia Shire as well, because they're such great parts of all 4 movies also.

The "human drama" that you mentioned is still very compelling to watch. I think Stallone made some "big mistakes" in the sequels (I wish he'd done a better job with the boxing scenes in III and IV, plus I wish that he wouldn't have killed Apollo in IV). But they are still interesting movies to watch all the same, IMO (but not as great as the original).

[–] Mustang (5444) 2 years ago

Yeah I always noticed that. It shows how Apollo is no longer a serious athlete and more of a celebrity. Duke knows that and can see Rocky has the “eye of the tiger” and is a man who has nothing to lose which makes him even more dangerous.