MovieChat Forums > Rocky (1976) Discussion > Getting Talia Shire and Burgess Meredith...

Getting Talia Shire and Burgess Meredith.

posted 7 years ago by enriquesingh (1786)
10 replies | jump to latest

Rocky's budget was barely 1 million dollars.

Talia Shire by then had been in Godfather 1 and 2 (nominated for the Academy Award for Supporting Actress for part 2).

Burgess Meredith had also been nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for The Day Of The Locust the year prior to the release of Rocky, plus an extensive film and tv career spanning various decades by the time this role came about.

Seems like they would have commanded some sort of salary for such a small budget film. If the same movie had been produced today they probably would have given both roles to unknowns.

I wonder if it was difficult to convince them to take on these roles, or did they just fall in love with the script, or did they get some sort of backend deal... I mean they were both far from A listers, but still they were not 'unknowns'.

Much has been talked about how difficult it was for Stallone to make the movie and more than anything getting to the opportunity to star in it... but I have never heard about the rest of the casting process, only about Carl Weathers that he had the right attitude and was way too in shape for the role lol.

[–] nmitrione (293) 6 years ago

I remember reading that Talia signed up for the role late in the game after Carrie Snodgress pulled out due to a money dispute. Personally I think Talia is a wonderful actress, however, her most notable acting role was the Godfather which her brother had directed. Maybe she wanted to prove to people that she could be hired for projects that were not associated with her family?

[–] enriquesingh (1786) 6 years ago

Thanks.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 5 years ago

I think shire was trying to break away from her brother. Don’t quote me on that but I think I read that somewhere

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yeah I remember reading that Stallone wanted Carrie Snodgress to play Adrian and Harvey Keitel to play Paulie.

[–] Cognoscente (2504) a year ago

In a book about the Creative Artists Agency, Ron Meyer mentioned that he represented Talia and Burgess, so he convinced the producers to test them instead of casting Lee Strasberg and Carrie Snodgress.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) a year ago

strokes of genius.

rocky would be nothing without great supporting casts.

[–] Wombat (26) a year ago

Agreed, it’s one of those movies where you ‘believe’ in all the characters.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) a year ago

yes. great films like rocky is like a miracle of having so many talent people in one place at same time - like fluke, but good fluke. that is why creed is shit and will be forgotten while 100 year from now people will enjoy rocky!!

[–] Wombat (26) a year ago

Yes, for sure, and the story of the struggle to make the film itself in some ways mirrors the story portrayed in the actual movie……an unlikely writer, actor, against all the odds and conventions of the movie industry actually succeeds in making a great and successful movie 🎥

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) a year ago

yes well said wombat! sly is underrate. he write the story and script for oscar winning film. not any other action man from sly's era can say this. he is good actor!! sly's persevere and determination gave us a great story, he is just like rocky haha.