Four decades later, Sylvester Stallone’s lovable character resonates with fans drawn to his underdog tale of determination, grit and sleepy-eyed charm. By: Associated Press | Philadelphia |

Published:November 21, 2016 5:37 pm

Four decades later, Sylvester Stallone’s lovable character resonates with fans drawn to his underdog tale of determination
On Nov. The reach of  Rocky is international, and the film serves as a slice of Americana. It is shorthand for Philadelphia as much as the Liberty Bell or Benjamin Franklin. 21, 1976, audiences met Rocky Balboa, the southpaw boxer from south Philadelphia. “Anytime we are speaking to overseas visitors … the conversation always turns, at some point, to Rocky,” said Julie Coker Graham, president of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They ask, `Have you met Rocky?” A lot of them think it’s an actual, real-life person.”
On the film’s 40th anniversary, a few reasons for its enduring legacy:
LOVABLE UNDERDOG