The stardom that Hollywood veteran Sylvester Stallone enjoys today, takes us back to his breakthrough opportunity in the industry. His story is a classic example of overnight success.
But, he put in a lot of work to gain a reputed status among other artists. Struggling to make a name for himself, he worked in The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker (1970) in an uncredited appearance before making his way onto becoming the lead in The Lords of Flatbush (1974).
It was the year 1969 when his career started to take shape with the first film credit to his name being The Square Root. It was also the year when Anthony Quinn’s melodrama film had the much-needed inspiration which would later help the actor land an iconic theme for Rocky III (1982).
Sylvester Stallone Wanted A Banger Theme, Said Jim Peterik
Jim Peterik, a former guitarist and keyboardist in the rock band named Survivor, once told The Guardian that Sylvester Stallone had called him to make a punchy theme that had a “pulse.”
“So I’m talking to Stallone on the telephone, and he said, ‘I want something for the kids. Something street, something with a pulse. Can you help me out?’ I told him, ‘I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this since I started my career in music.’”
He highlighted the fact that the band had called Sylvester Stallone to get the film’s story. Carl Weathers’ character Apollo Creed said a dialogue that had them all going. But it was originally inspired by Quinn’s film.
The $3 Million Film That Originally Inspired Eye of the Tiger
Sylvester Stallone, 77, said in an interview with Chicago Tribune in ’86 that filmmakers in Hollywood or people at a party can indulge in vague and forgetful conversations for long durations, but dialogues in a film tend to be remembered. A Dream of Kings (1969) had been stuck in Stallone’s mind, as per the publication. He said –
“You will remember lines of dialogue from a good movie, and that’s the way my mind has always worked. The concept of ‘Eye of the Tiger’ came from ‘A Dream of Kings’ (1969) by Anthony Quinn.”
Throwing light on his days of struggle, he said he hoped to use the iconic line from the show someday.
“At the time I was a movie usher at the Baronet Theater, I kept hearing him say, ‘Each day, my son, you must wake up and face life with the eye of the tiger.’ And I remember saying to myself, ‘Even though I had never written anything, someday I’m going to use that.’”
It has been over 40 years since Rocky III aired and the legacy is now being carried by Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed in the Creed franchise.
Rocky films can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Chicago Tribune, The Guardian
