Rocky (1976) | Keeping the Score Series

Be it a gentle piano interlude or a glorious orchestral fanfare, no element of filmcraft sets a movie’s tone and identity quite like the musical score. Film music has the power to underline a filmmaker’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 cinema’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! 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: princetongardentheatre.org/specials

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲: 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 “wooder” ice.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲: 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. ROCKY’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.

𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 $𝟭𝟬!Become a member of our nonprofit theater for as little as $40 a year. Learn more at princetongardentheatre.org/membership

You may also like the following events from Princeton Garden Theatre:

• This Wednesday, 14th May, 07:00 pm, Blade Runner (1982) Final Cut Version | Keeping the Score Series in Princeton
• This Thursday, 15th May, 07:00 pm, Prof Picks | 20,000 Species of Bees (2023) with Professor Raquel Mattson-Prieto in Princeton
• This Saturday, 17th May, 10:30 am, $ 5 Family Matinee | The Land Before Time (1988) in Princeton

Also check out other Entertainment events in Princeton, Sports events in Princeton, Music events in Princeton.