Rocky (1976) - Philadelphia Morning

Rocky(1976)Bill Conti Philadelphia Morning
It’s a gray, cold winter morning in Philadelphia that day – 4 a.m, still dark and 28 degrees. Bill Conti’s score, opening with its flat French horn, captures the cold remoteness of the setting as well as the unwelcoming challenge ahead.

[MelancoliaI]

Everyone remembers the second, triumphant trip up the Philly Steps, but everyone forgets the lonely, painful, bitter-cold morning of the first run where Rock has a stitch in his side with a belly full of raw eggs and a mind full of self-doubt, all alone with the world against him and nothing but sheer will and determination to fall back on. One of the greatest film sequences ever.

[MyThoughtzAndOpinionz]

This scene shows you what discipline is. Waking up 4am even if you’re tired, eating breakfast based on it’s nutrition not taste, go for run even if it’s cold.

[Crazyness]

This scene really expresses that lonely time in the morning when you're on your own in a situation like this. The Music is so somber and beautiful and matches just perfectly.

[jaegermann]

Those who’ve been through this phase didn’t just watch this scene, they literally felt it

[CineMasochist]

This is so brutally relateable. the fact he sleeps in a sweater (cold drafty apartment with no heat) stalling at the edge of the bed before he gets up etc. We've all had mornings like this, and it is MASTERFULLY acted by Sly. I love Rocky so much.

[Wringfale]

Honestly my favorite scene of the franchise. Like many have said already this scene represents the loneliness when you are on your own in a tough time in your life and the world is looking down on you. You have much self doubt and low self esteem to the point you don’t even believe in your self. I’be been to this phase when my self esteem was at its lowest and was straight up suicidal, but because of those feelings I had was the key to motivate me to get up early and go for run and workout 3 times a day. Right now I’m still in trying to overcome myself, but im doing much better both physically and mentally.

[ohiyotrippole]

How they pulled this off I'll never know. A no-name script about a no-name philly bum that turned out to be one of the greatest films to ever come out of the United States. The score, the players, the story, the cinematography, the acting...it's all just brilliant. It's so real and relatable. Uncanny. Bravo.

[thenakedsingularity]

When no one is there for you, you have yourself, and you can succeed through your will.

[riverit]

Pain, perseverance and hope displayed through cinematic poetry.

[Hustler_]

Blows me away that when your a kid and you watch this movie you just care about the fighting, when you get older scenes like this one are the ones you really appreciate and value. Also side note props to rocky for running in chuck Taylor’s cus if I did that my shins would explode 😂

[cpb]

Most underrated scene in the entire saga imo.

[wizardsandwarriorz]

There’s something about the technology of Hollywood 70’s camera’s that captures a timeless look. It’s vintage and has a softness to it. The colors just look beautiful with a pastel tone to them. Bill Conti’s minimal score with the violins and piano melded perfectly with the time of day in these scenes. Just by the cinematography direction and music, one can just feel, without being there, what these very, very early morning’s are like. Solitude. Reflection. Quietness.

This whole scene is quite remarkable and movie’s today are entirely way too overproduced in post-production. Every angle/color/lighting is manufactured to where, it loses the “groundedness” of say…Rocky’s production.

I always loved the craft of this scene. Especially that higher pullback shot in the alley, that transitions to the low positioned camera in downtown with the green light hues…all to great effect.

[bradbodfitness]

this scene still gets me emotional every time I wake up early in the morning and its just me and my thoughts and to grind another day away hoping it pays off one once and for all

[Al-jgko]

This scene is relaxing to watch and yet inspirational to be like Rocky and do a 4am jog just to show how dedication works and get in touch with tranquility with no noise or distractions from civilization sleeping. Good scene.

[kfjexitw]

Unbelievable score by Bill Conti. Great scene. Still watching in 2022

[PhilMante]

Had an amateur fight in 2019, my first one. It was a fundraiser so it was like a Rough'n'Rowdy type of fight. Thanks to this movie, I got up at 5am on a cold December morning to go for a 6km run. First song i played when i drank my coffee and ate my rice krispies was Philadelphia morning. Really set the tone.

[TheNauma]

This is one of those moments in life when God speaks to you, go out there and do what is your purpose, your destiny... Sly Stallone, John G. Avildsen and Bill Conti did a great job creating such a moment on film

[vincenzoriccio]

No movie will ever zero in more on a mans life than an actor that's basically playing himself in which is Rocky. As Sly and Rockys' story runs parallel, both broke and just trying to make it and say I AM. Then that makes it all the more sincerely relatable to us. Knowing that dark cold morning all alone, Bill Conti low que piano score kicks in when Rocky runs off into the distance as the camera zooms out on a broke down mysterious street somewhere in philly in the morning a wake before everyone else, its chilling. it's almost robotic the fact you have to get up, no ones gonna do it for you. You see how worth it was when Rocky actually makes it up to the top of the steps later on to show how strong he's become. It is truly emotional and inspiring!

[dannyspooner]

I feel like this scene represents how hard Rocky has had it, not just in his boxing career, but his whole life. When he wakes up, he’s alone, and tired. When he runs down the street, he’s alone, when he runs up the steps, he’s alone. The music can depict a sad tone, rocky having to carry the weight of the world on his shoulder as he runs, and the steps being so large, and looks like they’ll never end, shows how far he still has to go

[andypike]

One of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written