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Rocky (1976) | Keeping the Score Series

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Be it a gentle piano interlude or a glorious orchestral fanfare, no element of filmcraft sets a movieโ€™s tone and identity quite like the musical score. Film music has the power to underline a filmmakerโ€™s narrative ideas, forge our bond to a heroic character, and move us to the point of tears. Join us all year long as we showcase cinemaโ€™s iconic composers whose musical talents enrich the images we see on screen and have us humming their unforgettable melodies as we exit the auditorium. The series continues with ROCKY! ๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜€: princetongardentheatre.org/specials

๐—”๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ฒ: A true Philadelphia movie from start to finish - from South Philly to the top of the Art Museum steps. Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer gets a long-shot chance to fight the heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed. ROCKY is the ultimate sports underdog movie and features Sylvester Stallone in his defining on screen role, which is just as synonymous with Philly as cheesesteaks and โ€œwooderโ€ ice.

๐—”๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ: In 1976, composer Bill Conti could not have anticipated the profound cultural influence his work on ROCKY would have on the world of film, sports, and the city of Philadelphia. Working with a modest budget, Conti received $25,000, which was allocated for his own compensation, the payment of musicians, studio rental, and the purchase of recording tape for the score. ROCKYโ€™S inspiring compositions embody themes of perseverance and victory. The piece "Gonna Fly Now" features prominently in the film's crucial training montage, culminating in the memorable scene of Rocky ascending the steps of the Art Museum. This theme not only established a benchmark for subsequent sports films but also became an anthem for the City of Brotherly Love, frequently played at various sporting events, particularly before every home game for the Philadelphia Eagles. This score has transcended its cinematic origins to become emblematic of an entire city.

๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—บ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ป๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ถ๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ป $๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฌ!Become a member of our nonprofit theater for as little as $40 a year. Learn more at princetongardentheatre.org/membership
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