When ROCKY IV was originally released in the winter of 1985 in the US and January 1986 in the UK, it was a huge film and the most successful at that point of the four ROCKY films released. When the UK ‘Sun’ newspaper advertised 12.000 free tickets for a preview the same month of UK release, there were near riots of people outside Odeon cinemas to clamour for a pair.
Sylvester Stallone was on top of the world in 1985, with not one but two blockbuster sequels, with RAMBO – FIRST BLOOD PART II obliterating all opposition that summer (save for a little-heard of original called BACK TO THE FUTURE, which surpassed it by that year’s end)
However, the critical assessment was far less kinder than the reaction of fans, who lapped up the film and cheered all the way through to the inevitable final fight. The majority of the criticism was levelled at the amount of stock footage used in montage, not to mention a robot bought by Rocky (Stallone) for Paulie (Burt Young) to keep him company.
Now, there is a new cut of the film, full title ROCKY IV: ROCKY VS. DRAGO (THE ULTIMATE DIRECTOR’S CUT) – and I am pleased to say it is a vast improvement on the original theatrical cut.
The background for this is hence: With a recent production shut down due to the global situation, Stallone reflected on his experience re-cutting ROCKY IV from a recent tie-in event Q and A in Philadelphia (which played after the public screening of the new version which I attended at London’s Prince Charles Cinema.
Stallone also admitted there that the film was also re-cut for a more contemporary style and feel reminiscent of ROCKY BALBOA (which Stallone claims is his favourite of all the ROCKY sequels) I have a sense that this new cut is going to rival it and he has every reason to be proud of it, considering that what he thought was going to be a three week re-edit ran to more like nine months to a year.
So, what has changed? Firstly, ignore any rumours or talk on the ‘Net about there being much more footage in this version (forty-five minutes was one rumour I heard). In some ways, Stallone has re-cut in a similar way to Ridley Scott on the ALIEN – DIRECTOR’S CUT, subtly adding elements to the basic structure of the film, which retains more or less the same logistical narrative as the 1985 cut.
The other more obvious change is that the film is in Cinemascope (2.35:1) rather than Widescreen (1.85:1) which is the ratio all the original ROCKY films were released in, looking more in sync with the two recent CREED spin-off films.
The film opens differently as well (the original version opened with two gloves turning and then colliding on screen to EYE OF THE TIGER by Survivor) with an extended prologue of scenes from ROCKY III, the meeting between Rocky and Apollo (Carl Weathers) after his first defeat to Clubber Lang and right up to the fight at Madison Square Garden. Cut to Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) arriving in America with a bid to fight Rocky. Apollo wants to take him on in an exhibition bout in Las Vegas in a bid to show who’s superior. The fight ends badly and Rocky relinquishes his title to fight Drago in a bid to right wrongs…..
If you are familiar with the film, rest assured key songs from the original cut are intact, including Survivor’s BURNING HEART, Robert Tepper’s NO EASY WAY OUT (which plays over a modified montage sequence as Rocky drives around Philly in that the original footage is black and white and not colour) and John Cafferty’s HEARTS ON FIRE during the climactic training montage.
Subtle changes include more domestic scenes with Rocky and Adrian which expand on key scenes in the earlier version and Brigitte Nielsen’s role as Drago’s wife has been eliminated to a mere appearance in key scenes as before, but with little or no dialogue). Familiar scenes to fans have been re-cut to different camera angles and the sentiment apparent is toned down here.
There is a touch of xenophobia about the affair now, given that the paranoia about Russia remains timely, but the film is a vast improvement on the original cut and as involving as it was in its’ initial release form. Fans of ROCKY IV ’85 will not be disappointed. New fans should watch this with ROCKY BALBOA and enjoy the pleasant surprise on show here.
