Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1980s
    Movies - 1980s Movies - R 3 Mins Read

    Rocky IV (1985)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Among the very few things in life you can truly count on, it is comforting to know that winter turns to spring, taxes must be paid, and Rocky always wins. Knowing that going in, you may now proceed to Rocky IV.

    After being bludgeoned by Mr T it’s a miracle that Rocky Balboa can get through the streets of Philadelphia without a wheelchair. But, a right hook pays off.

    Rocky now has a magnificent mansion, sports cars, a happy nine-year marriage, a great son, and a fresh, contemporary haircut to go with his designer wardrobe. I know it’s hard to swallow, but Rocky has turned into a class act.

    Along comes Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a 260-pound undefeated amateur heavyweight champion from the Soviet Union called the “Siberian Express” to shake Rocky out of the magnolias.

    First, there’s an exhibition match at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas between Drago and Rocky’s best friend, fellow boxer Apollo Creed (pictured below right).

    rocky4_56

    The match begins as a joke, with sets, costumes and chorus girls. Hell, there’s even a splashy rock and roll production number by James Brown.

    Tragedy results when Drago kills Creed in the ring.

    Now it’s up to good-hearted, loyal Rocky to avenge his buddy’s murder by taking on the human jackhammer himself-in Moscow, on Christmas Day!

    There’s so little left to say about Rocky that Sylvester Stallone, who serves as star, writer, and director, has even resorted to padding Rocky with film clips from the three previous Rocky movies.

    The film is mercifully only 90 minutes long, but it isn’t until the final half-hour that we get to the big fight.

    The Russian is taller, bigger, heavier, and stronger. The entire country is cheering for his success. Poor Rocky is all alone, with his prayers and integrity. Who wouldn’t root for the underdog?

    rockyIV

    Before the end of the first round, we know Stallone has taken us with the smoothness of a professional con artist.

    He’s not only written in a comparison between the championship match and the story of David and Goliath, but he’s made it obvious that the fight symbolises the whole political future of Russia vs. the free world.

    When Rocky takes on the Russian tank, it’s hero vs. villain, man vs. robot, American patriotism vs. Communist tyranny.

    It’s incredibly hard not to like Rocky or to like Stallone in the role. It’s the one character he knows and plays better than any other.

    Rocky IV is manipulative, it holds no surprises and reveals nothing new, but a legion of Rocky fans grew up with the big lug, and it’s now quite pleasant to grow old with him, too.

    Rocky Balboa
    Sylvester Stallone
    Adrian Balboa
    Talia Shire
    Paulie
    Burt Young
    Apollo Creed
    Carl Weathers
    Ivan Drago
    Dolph Lundgren
    Ludmilla
    Brigitte Nielsen
    Duke
    Tony Burton
    Nicoli Koloff
    Michael Pataki
    Sports announcer
    R J Adams
    Godfather of Soul
    James Brown
    Manual Vega
    James “Cannonball” Green
    Rocky Jr
    Rocky Krakoff
    Mrs Creed
    Sylvia Meals
    Interviewer
    Dean Hammond
    Maid
    Rose Mary Campos

    Director
    Sylvester Stallone

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Rocky V (1990)
      Rocky V (1990)
      Poor old Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is on his uppers, with brain damage and a cleaned-out bank account. He is forced to…
    • Back To The Future, Part II (1989)
      Back To The Future, Part II (1989)
      Doc Brown's time machine works its magic once more in this merry sequel to Back To The Future. Barely back to…
    • Angel (1984)
      Angel (1984)
      23-year-old Donna Wilkes plays 15-year-old Molly, or "Angel" if you’re one of the few that have ties to her nighttime…
    • Shock Treatment (1981)
      Shock Treatment (1981)
      On the drawing board for almost four years, Shock Treatment is notionally a sequel to the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror…
    • Legend of Billie Jean, The (1985)
      Legend of Billie Jean, The (1985)
      The silly saga of an unjustly accused Texas teenager who becomes a pop hero by getting a punk haircut and…
    • Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, The (1984)
      Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, The…
      Most cult classics didn't start out trying to be that way. We're fairly confident the people behind The Rocky Horror Picture…
    • Chariots Of Fire (1981)
      Chariots Of Fire (1981)
      It's hard to think of a more quintessentially British film. Based around the 1924 Olympic Games and the preparation of…
    • Princess Bride, The (1987)
      Princess Bride, The (1987)
      Part swashbuckling adventure, part tongue-in-cheek parody, The Princess Bride is a fairy tale with a comic edge. The story begins when a…

    1985
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleRocky III (1982)
    Next Article Romancing The Stone (1984)

    Comments are closed.

    A Labour of Love

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small – to help me with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Here’s Boomer
      1 9 8 0 – 1 9 8 2 (USA) 20 x 30 minute episodes Incredible […]
    • Only Fools and Horses
      1 9 8 1 – 2 0 0 2 (UK) 63 x episodes Only Fools and Horses […]
    • Sharky’s Machine (1981)
      Burt Reynolds directs and stars as Atlanta vice cop Tom Sharky […]
    • Noah and Nelly in SkylArk
      1 9 7 6  (UK) 30 x 5 minute episodes All aboard the SkylArk!  […]
    • Little Blue
      1 9 7 6 (UK) Yorkshire Television produced the series Little […]
    • Buster
      Teenagers Peter Leay (guitar/vocals), Kevin Roberts (bass) and […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65006801 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Terry Hall: Coventry scooter ride-out pays tribute to singer

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Hundreds of people ride through Coventry on what would have been the singer's 64th birthday.
    4 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/the-whos-roger-daltrey-thinks-theres-no-point-releasing-an-album-18434779/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Who's Roger Daltrey thinks there's 'no point' releasing another album

    metro.co.uk

    Bad luck.
    4 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64963359 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Sir Michael Caine's first Rolls Royce sells at Duxford for £120K

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Italian Job actor hired a chauffeur to drive the 1968 Silver Shadow, with its doors still intact.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64900348 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mystic Meg: Astrologer dies aged 80

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV star, whose real name was Margaret Lake, was a well-known TV figure in the 1990s.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Do you think she know it eas going to happen

    PlayTalk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay

    Talk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Gary Rossington had survived a 1977 air crash that killed several of his bandmates.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    What a talented man. Lucky enough to see original band in concert. BRILLIANT.

    Rest in peace Dickie Davies. An absolute giant of British sports broadcasting.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dickie Davies, World of Sport presenter, dies at 94

    www.theguardian.com

    The broadcaster became something of a cult figure after fronting the ITV show for 20 years
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Yes, one of the great presenters. R.I.P.

    For fans of the radio series Round The Horne (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty close to the edge, even by modern standards. Bona! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA

    For fans of the radio series "Round The Horne" (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty "close to the edge", even by modern standards. Bona!

    open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    For those interested, the complete “Jules and Sandy” is available on Audible…

    Bona to vada your jolly old eek. Lovely riah....

    RIP the beautiful Stella Stevens, who has died at the age of 84.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Stella Stevens: Nutty Professor and Poseidon Adventure star dies at 84

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The co-star of Elvis Presley also worked in TV on series such as Murder She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends. 

If they only knew what lay ahead . . .

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends.

    If they only knew what lay ahead . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 18
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    I always hated the Beatles, and as it happens I still do.

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Bubblegum music Canada Civil rights Cold War Computer games Crime Disc Jockeys Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Folk rock Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen James Bond JFK Kraütrock Labels Madchester Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave New Zealand Nixon Northern Soul NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Reggae Rolling Stones Scotland Ska Ska revival Skiffle Soul music Space Race Sport Surf music Video games Vietnam war
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.