Rocky IV (1985)

Director:

Sylvester Stallone

Writer:

Sylvester Stallone (written by)

Release Date:

27 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

He's facing the ultimate challenge. And fighting for his life. [UK]

Plot:

When Apollo Creed is killed in a match against a powerful Soviet boxer, Rocky decides to challenge him himself.

Plot Keywords:

Boxer | Russian | Death | Fight | Champion

Awards:

7 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Sylvester Stallone	...	Rocky Balboa (also archive footage)
Talia Shire	...	Adrian
Burt Young	...	Paulie
Carl Weathers	...	Apollo Creed
Brigitte Nielsen	...	Ludmilla
Tony Burton	...	Duke
Michael Pataki	...	Nicoli Koloff
Dolph Lundgren	...	Drago
Stu Nahan	...	Commentator #1
R.J. Adams	...	Sports Announcer
Al Bandiero	...	American Commentator #2
Dominic Barto	...	Russian Government Official
Danial Brown	...	Rocky Jr.'s Friend
James Brown	...	The Godfather of Soul
Rose Mary Campos	...	Maid
Jack Carpenter	...	KGB Driver
Mark De Alessandro	...	Russian Cornerman (as Mark DeAlessandro)
Marty Denkin	...	Russian Referee
Lou Fillipo	...	Las Vegas Referee (as Lou Filippo)
James 'Cannonball' Green	...	Manuel Vega
Dean Hammond	...	Interviewer
Rocky Krakoff	...	Rocky Jr.
Sergei Levin	...	Russian Ring Announcer
Tony Maffatone	...	KGB Agent (as Anthony Maffatone)
Sylvia Meals	...	Mrs. Creed
Dwayne McGee	...	Limo Driver
LeRoy Neiman	...	Ring Announcer
George Pipasik	...	Caretaker
George Rogan	...	Igor Rimsky
Barry Tompkins	...	American Commentator #1
Warner Wolf	...	Commentator #2 in Las Vegas
Robert Doornick	...	Sico the Robot (voice)
Richard Blum	...	Reporter
Gerald Berns	...	Reporter
Ray Glanzmann	...	Reporter
Julie Inouye	...	Reporter
Patrick Pankhurst	...	Reporter
Jean Thoreau	...	Reporter
Jim Bullock	...	Reporter
Frank D'Annibale	...	Reporter
Rose Dursey	...	Reporter (as Rose Dursy)
Richard Kelley	...	Reporter (as Rick Kelley)
Craig Schaefer	...	Reporter
Jeff Austin	...	Reporter
Leslie Morris	...	Reporter
Bob Giovane	...	Reporter
Julio Herzer	...	Reporter
George Spaventa	...	Reporter
Rolf Williams	...	Reporter
Jim Hodge	...	Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Read Morgan	...	(scenes deleted)
David Lloyd Austin	...	Soviet Leader (uncredited)
Gabriel Campisi	...	Extra (uncredited)
Douglas Kidd	...	Russian Reveller (uncredited)
Bobby Mardis	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Mr. T	...	Clubber Lang (archive footage) (uncredited)
Garth Shaw	...	Betacam Operator (uncredited)
David Paul Hewitt White	...	Boxing Fan (uncredited)
Connie Woods	...	Casino Camera Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Sylvester Stallone

Writing credits
Sylvester Stallone		(written by)

Produced by
James D. Brubaker	....	executive producer
Robert Chartoff	....	producer
Arthur Chobanian	....	executive producer
Irwin Winkler	....	producer

Original Music by
Vince DiCola

Cinematography by
Bill Butler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John W. Wheeler
Don Zimmerman

Casting by
Amanda Mackey Johnson		(as Amanda Mackey)

Production Design by
Bill Kenney

Art Direction by
William Ladd Skinner

Set Decoration by
Rick Gentz		(as Rick T. Gentz)

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Stephen Abrums	....	makeup artist (as Steve Abrums)
Donna Bis	....	hair stylist: Vancouver
Jayne Dancose	....	makeup artist: Vancouver
Leonard Engelman	....	makeup artist (as Leonard Engleman)
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Mary Eilts	....	production manager: Vancouver
JoAnn May-Pavey	....	unit production manager (as Jo Ann May-Pavey)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Duncan Henderson	....	first assistant director
Janet G. Knutsen	....	second second assistant director (as Janet Knutsen)
Christopher Ryan	....	second assistant director (as Chris Ryan)

Art Department
Louis S. Fleming	....	property master (as Louis Fleming)
Bill Iiams	....	construction foreman
Roger Irvin	....	construction coordinator
Fred Lucky	....	illustrator
Wayne McLaughlin	....	property master: Vancouver
William Ladd Skinner	....	assistant art director
Thom Wells	....	construction coordinator: Vancouver (as Thomas Wells)
Marti Wright	....	set decorator: Vancouver
Gary Clark	....	head paint foreman (uncredited)
Stan Cockerell	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
David Fischer	....	art director: Vancouver (uncredited)
William S. Maxwell III	....	lead man (uncredited)

Sound Department
Mary Andrews	....	adr editor
Leslie Gaulin	....	assistant sound editor
Gary S. Gerlich	....	sound effects editor
William Gocke	....	boom operator (as William F. Gocke)
Jay M. Harding	....	re-recording mixer
Michael J. Kohut	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Victoria Martin	....	sound effects editor
Ray O'Reilly	....	re-recording mixer
Andrew Patterson	....	adr editor (as Andy Patterson)
Aaron Rochin	....	re-recording mixer
Frank E. Warner	....	supervising sound editor (as Frank Warner)
Charles M. Wilborn	....	sound mixer (as Chuck Wilborn)
Bill Wylie	....	sound effects editor (as William Wylie)
James D. Young	....	music editor
Steve Bartlett	....	sound (uncredited)
David Behle	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Marty Church	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
David B. Cohn	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Donald C. Rogers	....	sound (uncredited)
Gordon Webb	....	cable person (uncredited)

Special Effects by
George Erschbamer	....	special effects coordinator: Vancouver
Howard Jensen	....	special effects
Michael Clifford	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric D. Andersen	....	camera operator: Vancouver (as Eric Andersen)
Colin J. Campbell	....	chief lighting technician (as Colin Campbell)
James R. Connell	....	camera operator
John J. Connor	....	camera operator
Robert Ennis	....	camera operator: Vancouver (as Bob Ennis)
Walt Fraser	....	second assistant cameraman
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer
Michael Genne	....	camera operator (as Michael A. Genne)
Jack N. Green	....	camera operator: Vancouver (as John N. Green)
Robert Jason	....	assistant lighting technician
Philip Linzey	....	camera operator: Vancouver (as Phil Linzey)
Tom May	....	best boy (as Tommy May II)
Paul Mindrup	....	second assistant cameraman
Paul Murphey	....	video engineer (as Paul J. Murphey)
Rod Parkhurst	....	camera operator: Vancouver
Curtis Petersen	....	assistant camera
Timothy Prince	....	video engineer (as Tim Prince)
Ben Rusi	....	key grip: Vancouver
James M. Sheppherd	....	key grip (as Jim Sheppherd)
Brent Spencer	....	camera operator: Vancouver
Johnny Walker	....	first assistant cameraman (as John M. Walker)
Tony Westman	....	camera operator: Vancouver
Ron Williams	....	gaffer: Vancouver
Kenneth Zunder	....	first assistant cameraman
Roberto Contreras	....	second assistant camera: Vancouver (uncredited)
Adam Glick	....	rigger (uncredited)
Joseph Lederer	....	still photographer: Vancouver (uncredited)
Peter F. Woeste	....	assistant camera: Vancouver (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Diane Schneier	....	assistant: Amanda Mackey

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Henrikson	....	costumer: women's
Murray Lantz	....	costumer
Michael J. Long	....	costumer: men's (as Michael Long)
Susan Molloy	....	wardrobe head: Vancouver (as Susan Malloy)
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tim Board	....	additional film editor (as Timothy N. Board)
Paul Cichocki	....	apprentice editor
Barbara Gandolfo-Frady	....	assistant editor (as Barbara Gandolfo)
Gregory M. Gerlich	....	assistant editor (as Gregory Gerlich)
Ron Lambert	....	color timer
Patrick Magee	....	assistant editor (as Patrick W. Magee)
Martin November	....	assistant editor (as Marty November)
Markus Schaub	....	apprentice editor
James R. Symons	....	montage editor (as James Symons)
Rosemarie Urioste	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
Bill Conti	....	composer: original themes from "Rocky"
Vince DiCola	....	score arranger
Vince DiCola	....	score producer
Ed Fruge	....	score arranger (as Ed Frugé)
Ed Fruge	....	score producer (as Ed Frugé)
Robin Garb	....	music supervisor
Jeremy Lubbock	....	arranger: orchestrations
Jeremy Lubbock	....	conductor: orchestrations
Terry 'Doc' Mahady	....	additional orchestrations
Mark Torien	....	musician
James D. Young	....	music editor
Casey Young	....	musical sound designer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ed Arter	....	transportation coordinator (as Edward Arter)
Michael Brum	....	transportation captain
George A. Grieve	....	transportation coordinator: Vancouver (as George Grieve)

Other crew
Laurie Allison	....	production assistant
Dale Benson	....	promotional coordinator
Marcei A. Brown	....	production assistant (as Marcei Brubaker)
Susan J. Brubaker	....	production assistant (as Susan Brubaker)
William Chartoff	....	assistant location manager (as Billy Chartoff)
Kay Cole	....	production assistant
Janet Crosby	....	assistant to producer
Lee Faulkner	....	product placement
Candice Field	....	script supervisor: Vancouver
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title design
Richie Giachetti	....	technical advisor (as Richard Giachetti)
Lori Imbler	....	assistant to producer
Gerri Kuhn	....	craft service: Vancouver (as Gerri Lee Kuhn)
Gerri Kuhn	....	first aid: Vancouver (as Gerri Lee Kuhn)
Robert H. Lemer	....	location manager (as Robert Lemer)
Susan Persily	....	assistant: Sylvester Stallone
Julie Pitkanen	....	script supervisor
Janice Polley	....	assistant to executive producers
Michael McKensie Pratt	....	dance choreography
Rodney Sharpp	....	production assistant
Karen Stewart	....	production coordinator: Vancouver
Chriss Strauss	....	production coordinator
Bill Wells	....	production consultant
Howard Blank	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mady Manson Burza	....	first assistant accountant (uncredited)
Gabriel Campisi	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lukia Czernin	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael G. Kehoe	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Roberts	....	location auditor (uncredited)
Ken Weikel	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Richard H. Bryan	....	special thanks: Governor, State of Nevada
Robert H. Kovoloff	....	special thanks: Associated Film Promotions
Dianne Neufeld	....	special thanks: The British Columbia Film Promotion Office (as Diane Neufeld)
Jane Oliver	....	this film is dedicated to: the enduring memory of
Tony Papa	....	musical special thanks
Casey Young	....	musical special thanks

Production Companies

• United Artists (presents)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (The Undisputed Collection)
• CBS / Fox Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1988) (USA) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (The Undisputed Collection)
• Warner Home Video (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• I.A.T.S.E. Local 667  sincere appreciation to (as The Camera Assistants from the Western District of I.A.T.S.E. Local 667, Vancouver, British Columbia)
• Scotti Bros. Records  soundtrack album on (as Scotti Brothers Records and Tapes)
• CBS Records  soundtrack album distributed by
• Province of BC, Ministry of Tourism, Film Promotion Office  special thanks to (as The British Columbia Film Promotion Office)
• Nevada Motion Picture Division  special thanks to (as State of Nevada Motion Picture Division)
• Yamaha Corporation of America  special thanks to (as Yamaha)
• Telex Communications  special thanks to
• Ricoh Company  special thanks to (as Ricoh Cameras)
• Rabena Belts and Wallets  special thanks to
• Trans World Airlines (TWA)  special thanks to (as T.W.A.)
• Quinton Instrument Company  special thanks to (as Quinton Instrument Co.)
• Baskin Robbins  special thanks to (as Baskin-Robbins)
• NEC Wireless Communications  special thanks to (as NEC Cellular Phone)
• Izod  special thanks to (as Izod, Ltd.)
• Pepsi-Cola Company  special thanks to
• Parker Pens  special thanks to (as Duofold)
• Cybex International  special thanks to (as Cybex Fitness Equipment)
• Biocycle  special thanks to
• USA Cable Network  special thanks to
• Bulgari  special thanks to (as Bvlgari)
• York Barbell  special thanks to
• Huffy Bicycles  special thanks to
• Jhane Barnes  special thanks to: sweaters by
• Tumi  special thanks to: luggage
• Hugo Boss  special thanks to: clothing & sportswear
• Tomy Corporation  special thanks to
• Stroh's Brewery  special thanks to (as Stroh Brewery Company, Inc.)
• Breco's Leathers  special thanks to
• Church's Chicken  special thanks to (as Church's Fried Chicken, Inc.)
• Knudsen  special thanks to
• Sony  special thanks to (as Sony Digital Compact Disc)
• Adidas  special thanks to (as Adidas USA)
• Tuf-Wear  special thanks to (as Tuf-Wear Mfg. Co. Inc.)
• JVC Professional  special thanks to (as Professional Video Division, JVC Company of America)
• Nissan Motor  special thanks to (as Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A.)
• Heartrate Incorp.  special thanks to: Versaclimber by (as Heart Rate, Inc.)
• Diamonds on Rodeo  special thanks to (as Diamonds on Rodeo of Beverly Hills, California)
• Time  used with permission of: reference to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED cover (as Time Incorporated)
• Associated Film Promotion  special thanks to (as Associated Film Promotions)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.® affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.)
• Goldman & Associates  extras casting (uncredited)
• Inter Video  24 frame video services (uncredited)
• Intrada  complete score (2010) (uncredited)
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Brazil:14 | Mexico:A | South Korea:12 | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1988) | Portugal:M/12 | Italy:T | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1986) | France:U | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Fremont Mansion - 56 Fremont Place, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

In reality, Soviet Heavyweights were not allowed to box professional fighters during the Cold War.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rocky is driving and thinking about Drago, there is a flashback to the Drago/Apollo fight, but one of the shots of Drago is actually taken from the upcoming Rocky/Drago fight, because the trunks are the wrong color and Drago is bleeding

Quotes:

Ludmilla:You call him a killer. He's a professional fighter, not a killer. We are getting death threats. We are not involved in politics. All I want is for my husband to be safe, and to be treated fairly. You have this belief that you are better than us. You have this belief that this country is so very good and we are so very bad. You have this belief that you are so fair and we are so very cruel.
Nicoli Koloff:It's all lies and false propaganda to support this antagonistic and violent government.
Paulie:Whoa. Violent? Hey, we don't keep our people behind a wall with machine guns.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ben Affleck/David Cook (#34.7)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

One Way Street

Forget the politics and this is one of the most entertaining films ever made

In 1976, a phenom was born. By now we are all aware of the story of how Stallone wrote the screenplay for Rocky in three days after watching a fight between an extreme underdog and a highly favoured champ. Stallone was a nobody back then yet he still stood his ground and didn't sell out to the producers until they promised him the title role. The rest they say is history. Well 9 years later, after three Rocky films, in my opinion comes the best one. I realize that Rocky was all story and then a climatic boxing match and that is what won the film the Oscar. And even though I can admit that this film is not as concerned with character developement as it is with training montages and bulging muscles, it is by far and away the most entertaining film of the 5. And that is what I enjoy about the film. I love that Rocky IV has some of the best training montages ever filmed. I love that it has the heart of a lion when it shows Rocky scaling a mountain that you know damn well he shouldn't be able to. And I absolutely love the boxing match at the end of the film. This was completely choreographed by Stallone and he and Dolph Lundgren boxed for real for about 75% of the match. Stallone felt that it needed some authenticity so that was the way to do it. And if you think Robert De Niro is an impressive method actor, try this fact on for size. When filming the boxing match, some of the scenes were so real that Stallone was rushed to hospital because his heart was actually pushed up and his ribcage was slightly shattered. So when you watch that match at the end, just know that what you are seeing is not exactly choreography and trick camera work. They did the best job they could to keep the look of the fight as real as possible. And I think this is the best boxing match ever filmed, with all due respect to Raging Bull.

Stallone was in the shape of his life in this year as he filmed Rocky and Rambo back to back and it shows. I have never seen a more sculpted man in the movies than he was here. And I think that added to his superman persona. If you notice in all the Rocky films, he grows a little each time. And that also adds to the enjoyment of the film.

Rocky IV is different than Rocky, there is no doubt. And as much as I love the first one, it doesn't come close to entertaining me as much as this one does. Rocky IV starts fast and it ends hard and in between we are blessed with a great soundtrack and a beautiful montage of all the Rocky films to Robert Tepper's "There's No Easy Way Out" And it is here that even though some will say that Stallone has substituted real human emotion with an MTV ersatz video, I think it works well. There is nothing about this film that I didn't enjoy and if you forget what the experience of watching this one is like, I suggest that you rent it now and take a look at it. And try to remember what it was like when you first saw this film back in the winter of 85. I remember I was in Kokomo Indiana visiting family for Christmas. My mom and I walked into a packed theater and you want to talk about a place erupting like a volcano, then this was the place. When Rocky finally hits Drago to cut him over the eye and Duke yells " he's cut, he's cut! " the crowd went into a frenzy. And you can look no further than that as to why the Rocky films were so popular. It doesn't matter if you are Canadian, American, Portuguese, Polish or Dutch or whatever, Rocky appeals to all of us. Because all of us have been the underdog at some time in our lives and we love to watch him and perhaps live vicariously through him. That is the beauty of Rocky. If Rocky can do it then dammit so can I!

When the movie ended on that cold night back in 1985, and people were filtering out to their cars for the drive home, I swear I could hear the crowd chanting his name, as did the millions..... and millions of the Rock's fans.

" Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!"