- (source: www.poster.at)
Rocky Balboa is a small-time boxer who lives in an apartment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his career has so far not gotten off the canvas. Rocky earns a living by collecting debts for a loan shark named Gazzo, but Gazzo doesn't think Rocky has the viciousness it takes to beat up deadbeats. Rocky still boxes every once in a while to keep his boxing skills sharp, and his ex-trainer, Mickey, believes he could've made it to the top if he was willing to work for it. Rocky, goes to a pet store that sells pet supplies, and this is where he meets a young woman named Adrian, who is extremely shy, with no ability to talk to men. Rocky befriends her. Adrain later surprises Rocky with a dog from the pet shop that Rocky had befriended. Adrian's brother Paulie, who works for a meat packing company, is thrilled that someone has become interested in Adrian, and Adrian spends Thanksgiving with Rocky. Later, they go to Rocky's apartment, where Adrian explains that she has never been in a man's apartment before. Rocky sets her mind at ease, and they become lovers. Current world heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed comes up with the idea of giving an unknown a shot at the title. Apollo checks out the Philadelphia boxing scene, and chooses Rocky. Fight promoter Jergens gets things in gear, and Rocky starts training with Mickey. After a lot of training, Rocky is ready for the match, and he wants to prove that he can go the distance with Apollo. (written by Todd Baldridge for imdb.com)
After we had read the 
original script, we discussed the plot, analysed different camera shots and their effects, wrote characterizations, talked about different levels of language and found out more about some songs and lyrics connected with the movie.
You can find some information on the camera work in "Rocky" on 
this site.
This is a small collection of quotes from the script and the movie.
Having read the script, we filmed our interpretation of the "Turkey scene".
This is a list of resources we used in class and on this webpage.
It is no coincidence that the person who is responsible for the camera work is not just called "cameraman" but "director of photography", which underlines his importance. Different camera shots have different effects, it's not just what you show, but how you show it. An author or orator uses stylistic devices such as metaphors to underline his ideas, a director (of photography) uses the camera, as you can see in the following examples:
On their first date Rocky takes Adrian to the ice rink, a place where she feels comfortable. Later that evening he invites her to his appartment. She is standing in front of the stairs and seems to be very shy.
In this scene the high-angle shot is used. The camera is placed above the subject and looks down on it to make it appear smaller, less important or inferior.
When Rocky is sitting in Jergens' office, expecting to get a well-paid sparring job, he finds himself confronted with an offer every second- or third-class boxer is dreaming of ...
Jergens lights a cigar.
JERGENS
Rocky, would you be interested
in fighting Apollo Creed for
the Championship?
ROCKY
... Like I said, I'd make a
boss sparrin' mate.
JERGENS
Did you hear what I said?
ROCKY
Sure, an' I'm smart enough to
know that no sparrin' partner
should take cheap shots at the
Champ. He's just there to
help condition the man.
JERGENS
Not spar, I'm asking whether
you would be interested in
fighting Creed for the
championship.
The weight of the statement comes crashing down in Rocky.
For a long moment he becomes nothing more than a basket case
as he ponders the statement... He half regains his senses.
In this scene the camera zooms in, which means that the camera moves closer and closer to the individual until we have an intimate close-up shot and the character's facial expressions can be observed in detail, emotions can be "seen".
The "steps scene" is probably one of the most famous ones, it takes place at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In the first draft of the script, Rocky was supposed to run up the stairs carrying his dog "Butkus" on his arms. If you have a look at this picture, you might be able to guess why the script had to be changed ;-)
EXT. ART MUSEUM STAIRS - DAY
It is twilight and Rocky is alone at the very bottom of a
huge flight of steps that seem to stretch into the heavens...
Rocky takes a deep breath and sprints up the never-ending
stairs... Halfway up, his body shows the strain. Nearing
the top, Rocky pumps with all his strength and arrives at
the very top... He looks down the steep stairs and swells
with pride... He is ready.
The opposite of the high-angle shot is called low-angle shot, as you might have expected ;-). The effect is diametrically opposite, which seem to make sense. Low-angle shots make people appear powerful and important, the viewer tends to respect or admire the character, because he is "looking up to him".
Paulie flies into a rage, because Adrian won't go out with Rocky on Thanksgiving. She says she can't go out, because she has a turkey in the oven. Paulie responds by tossing the turkey out the back door, but he manages to hang on to a turkey leg to munch on. In his DVD commentary, Burt Young ("Paulie") said the turkey scene caused some problems. "We had one turkey, only one turkey. There were two guys out there, catching the turkey. Each take, they'd re-spike the leg on it. That's why I didn't eat that much."
The following video shows our adaption of the turkey scene:
(By the way, we also had some problems in filming the scene, as you can see here.)
ROCKY
Ya sister knows I'm comin'?
PAULIE
Yeah, sure -- She's very
excited.
INT. PAULIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Paulie unlocks the apartment door and enters... Rocky
stiffly follows. Paulie's sister steps out of the kitchen.
A large serving spoon is in her hand... The TV is on.
She stops short and eyes Rocky... She is visibly unsettled
by Rocky's unexpected presence.
ADRIAN
(weakly)
Paulie, you're late.
She looks at Rocky again.
PAULIE
Did you call the hospital?
(to Rocky)
If I'm ten minutes late, she
calls the hospital.
Adrian enters the bedroom and slams the door... Paulie
follows. An argument ensues and Rocky overhears.
(…)
ADRIAN
... Paulie, why didn't you
tell me you were bringing him
home?! Look at me, I'm not
ready for this.
PAULIE
Like it would make a difference
if you were, right? This
guy's a friend and now he's
takin' ya out.
ADRIAN
No... I can't!
PAULIE
Ya, ya goin' outta the bedroom
an' I don't wanna know from
nothin'.
ADRIAN
Paulie, please --
PAULIE
Hey, I want ya out
instamaticly. -- I'm sicka
lookin' at ya hangin' around
like a friggin' spider -- Go
out -- Live! Do, enjoy life.
ADRIAN
... Like you?
PAULIE
Don't get wise with me. I
want ya to stop bein' a loser.
ADRIAN
I can't go out.
PAULIE
Why?
ADRIAN
Paulie, it's Thanksgiving.
I've gotta turkey in the oven.
Paulie turns and leaves the bedroom... He enters the kitchen.
Grabbing a large fork, he opens the oven and spears the
turkey... With the turkey suspended on the end of the fork,
Paulie heaves the dripping bird out the window.
Adrian has seen this and is shattered. She runs back into
the bedroom and locks the door.
PAULIE
!! Ya want the bird, go out in
the alley an' eat the bird --
I want ya outta the house --
Enjoy ya friggin' life... Ya
hungry, Rock?
ROCKY
Maybe ya better forget it.
PAULIE
Forget nothin' -- Here, talk
to my sister, tell 'er
somethin' nice.
Rocky walks over to Adrian's bedroom door and begins speaking
to the enclosed girl.
ROCKY
... Yo, Adrian, it's me,
Rocky... Ah, ah -- Ah, it's
kinda hard for me to think of
somethin' to say, y'know --
'Cause I never talked to a
door before, I mean whatta ya
say to a door.
Rocky turns away and begins to walk off.
ROCKY
(continuing)
... Maybe I better forget it.
PAULIE
Try again, c'mon, try again.
Rocky goes over to the door and begins speaking again.
ROCKY
Ah, Adrian, I know ya ain't
too happy at this moment, but
would ya do me a favor -- I
ain't got nobody to spend
Thanksgivin' with -- How 'bout
you an' me goin' out -- Get
somethin' to eat, maybe laugh
a little, who knows... Would
ya like, I dunno, go out
together?
Adrian opens the door... She already has her winter coat on.
ROCKY
(continuing)
We'll have a good time.
Paulie opens the front door and gives Rocky an encouraging
smile...
ROCKY
(continuing)
What's ya sister like to do?
PAULIE
Ice skate.
ROCKY
I didn't want no turkey anyway.
ADRIAN
It's Thanksgiving.
ROCKY
To you, to me it's Thursday.
Rocky is talking to Paulie about Adrian:
The restroom stench is overwhelming... Rocky covers his nose
with the neckline of his t-shirt.
PAULIE
(continuing)
She's a loser -- She don't
enjoy life -- She reads --
Brainy -- Pushin' thirty
friggin' years old! She's
gonna die alone if she don't
wise up.
ROCKY
I'm thirty myself.
PAULIE
An' you're dyin' alone, too.
ROCKY
I don't see no crowd around
you, neither.
Adrian is optimistic about Rocky's chances:
ADRIAN
Einstein flunked out of
school... twice.
PAULIE
That so.
ADRIAN
Roosevelt finished last in his
class -- Beethoven was deaf,
an' Helen Keller was blind --
I think Rocky has a good chance.
The evening before the fight - Rocky has doubts:
INT. ROCKY'S APARTMENT - DAY
Rocky arrives at his apartment... Adrian is asleep on the couch. He lowers himself beside her. Her eyes open.
ROCKY
... Can't do it.
ADRIAN
... What?
ROCKY
... I can't beat him.
ADRIAN
Apollo?
ROCKY
Yeah, I can't beat him.
Adrian touches his face.
ROCKY
I been watchin' the movies -- studyin'
-- He ain't weak nowhere.
ADRIAN
What're we going to do?
ROCKY
... I dunno.
ADRIAN
Oh, Rocky -- you worked so hard.
ROCKY
It ain't so bad, 'cause I was a nothin' before --
ADRIAN
Don't say that.
ROCKY
C'mon, it's true -- But that
don't bother me -- I just
wanna prove somethin' -- I
ain't no bum... It don't
matter if I lose... Don't
matter if he opens my head...
The only thing I wanna do is
go the distance -- That's all.
Nobody's ever gone fifteen
rounds with Creed. If I go
them fifteen rounds, an' that
bell rings an' I'm still
standin', I'm gonna know then
I weren't just another bum
from the neighborhood...
Adrian touches Rocky's face... The fighter gently lowers himself beside his woman.
slang/informal English: he ain't weak nowhere=he has no weak point (ain't + nowhere=double negation, often found in slang), it ain't so bad=it is not that bad, c'mon = come on, that don't bother me=that does not bother me, I wanna do=I want to do, them fifteen rounds=those fifteen rounds, an'=and, gonna=going to/will)
Have a look at "Memorable quotes for Rocky" at the Internet Movie DataBase.
http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/rocky.html
the original script, written by Silvester Stallone (You will find plenty of scripts here!)
the Internet Movie DataBase (great website)
pictures, reviews, information on the actors, etc.
type in "Rocky Balboa - Rocky Steps" or "Running up the Rocky steps" and see people from all over the world travelling to Philadelphia, trying to go the distance ;-)
http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Stories-Happiness-Americas-Famous/dp/1589880293
a book about the people mentioned above