Sylvester Stallone is celebrating 50 years of the iconic film Rocky as the legendary bronze statue of the boxer finally finds a permanent home. To mark the half-century since the movie's release, the 8ft bronze statue of Rocky Balboa, arms raised in triumph, now stands atop the famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
A Moment in Movie History
Fifty years ago, Sylvester Stallone ran up the 72 stone steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, creating a magical cinematic moment that immortalised boxing hero Rocky Balboa. The original Rocky film, released in 1976, won the Best Picture Oscar and turned Stallone into an overnight superstar. Now, the statue commemorates that legacy, drawing millions of fans each year.
The Statue's Journey
Commissioned by Stallone in 1982 for Rocky III, the original bronze statue was loaned to the city and placed at the foot of the museum steps after much debate. It now resides inside the museum as part of the exhibition Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments, where it will remain until August 2. A second cast of the statue, also owned by Stallone, has been moved to the top of the steps, where the original will be permanently placed after the exhibition ends. The statue bears the inscription: "It's not how hard you hit, it's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward - that's how winning is done."
Stallone's Rise to Fame
Turning 80 in July, Stallone was born in New York's Hell's Kitchen to an astrologer mother and a hairdresser father. Expelled from 14 schools before age 13, he was voted "most likely to end up in the electric chair" in high school. However, acting became his salvation. After moving to New York, he took odd jobs, including cleaning at a zoo, while landing minor film roles and TV appearances. He wrote the script for Rocky in just three days, refusing a large sum from Hollywood bosses who wanted an established star. He sold the script for only $35,000 to play the role himself.
Reflections on the Legacy
Stallone says of the steps: "You can't borrow Superman's cape. You can't use the Jedi laser sword. But the steps are there. The steps are accessible. And standing up there, you kind of have a piece of the Rocky pie." He adds: "When I started I had nothing and I slept in a bus depot in New York for a week. I was homeless... I failed and failed again, but eventually you start to learn." With six Rocky films completed, he has no plans for another, stating: "If I do another Rocky I am going to be fighting arthritis."
Cultural Impact
The statue has become a major tourist attraction, with four million fans visiting annually. Dr Paul Farber, curator of the exhibition, notes: "Millions of people each year come to the statue as a site of pilgrimage, more than double the number that go to our Liberty Bell. New York has the Statue of Liberty. Florence has David. Philly has Rocky." A biopic titled I Play Rocky, starring Anthony Ippolito, is due in November, while Stallone's autobiography The Steps will be published on May 5. Sculptor Auldwin Thomas Schomberg is also releasing The Making of the Rocky Statue this month.
