December 15, 1985 – Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen were married.
“First Blood” Movie Cover Paperback Released
First Blood by David Morrell
Publisher: Ballentine
Copyright: 1972
Edition shown: 1st Ballentine edition paperback, November 1982
Tagline: “Nobody in the small Kentucky town knew his name was Rambo. All they knew was that he was a stranger… and that he looked like trouble. Rambo was trouble. The Army had trained him in the art of killing and now he did not know how to stop.”
Comments: The novel was written a decade before it was made into a movie. David Morrell is one of my favorite writers [and has been since I first read this book in 1973]. If you haven’t read First Blood, you should!
– Craig Zablo
“Rocky” Movie Poster Named One of All- Time Greatest!
The August 2001 issue of Premiere has a feature called “The 50 Greatest Movie Posters of All Time.”
Was there any doubt that “Rocky” made the list?
“Victory” Novelization Released
Victory by Yabo Yablonsky [based upon the screenplay by Evans Jones and Yabo Yablonsky]
Publisher: Bantam
Copyright: 1978
Edition shown: Paperback, August 1981
Tagline: “A daring story of Allied prisoners defying their captors.”
Comments: Novelization of “Victory”
– Craig Zablo
Sly Steps In
When the Nighthawks’ director is unable to get to the set, Sly steps in to direct the subway chase scene so that a day of filming won’t be lost. This creates a problem with the Directors’ Guild and the producers are fined!Rocky II Breaks Record
In the early 80’s the broadcast rights to “Rocky II” are sold to CBS for $20 million, which at that time is the highest fee ever.
“Rocky II” Novelization Released
Rocky II by Sylvester Stallone
Publisher: Ballentine
Copyright: 1979
Edition shown: 1st Printing, June 1979
Tagline: “Rocky’s back! Once he fought for a dream. Now, he’s fighting for love!”
Comments: Novelization of “Rocky II”
– Craig Zablo
“F.I.S.T.” Movie Cover Edition Released
F.I.S.T. by Joe Eszterhas
Publisher: Dell
Copyright: 1978
Edition shown: 2nd Printing, May 1978
Tagline: “The hammering novel of the making of a
union – and a man.”
Comments: Sly and Eszterhas had a falling out over the screenplay.
– Craig Zablo
The Official “Rocky” Scrapbook
The Official Rocky Scrapbook by Sylvester Stallone
Publisher: Grosset and Dunlop
Copyright: 1977
Edition shown: 1st Printing, 1977
Tagline: “In his own words Sylvester Stallone tells the rags-to-riches story of how he wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay ROCKY and fought to play the title role.”
Comments: Hardback and Trade Paperback
“Rocky” Novelization Released
Rocky by Julia Sorel
Publisher: Ballentine
Copyright: 1976
Edition shown: 1st Printing, December 1976
Tagline: “His whole life was a million-to-one shot.”
Comments: Novelization
– Craig Zablo