Book Review: ‘Going The Distance: Stallone, Philly, And The Story Of Rocky’ By Mike Sielski

by | Nov 8, 2026 | Books | 0 comments


The book is in stores on Tuesday, November 10th from St. Martin’s Press. Click on the link to buy a copy. https://link.amazon/B0ab3SjyG

Go ahead and admit it. When you think of Rocky Balboa, that “Gonna Fly Now” music pops into your head. Either that, or your internal voice yells “Yo, Adrian!” And if somehow it’s neither of those, you surely picture bounding up the stairs outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The 50-year anniversary of the surprise blockbuster ROCKY (1976) is upon us, and to mark the occasion, author Mike Sielski serves up a well-researched dive detailing how the film came together and how Sylvester Stallone viewed this as a personal project that would make or break his career.

Quite surprisingly, Mr. Sielski pays tribute to more than the box office success of the film. This is a true tip of the cap to the city of Philadelphia, an exploration of the behind-the-scenes challenges of getting a movie made on a tight budget, and the commitment required by a young, struggling actor/screenwriter who (almost) no one was familiar with. Regarding that last point, in no way is this a love fest or worshipping of Stallone. Sly’s dedication to the project is certainly appreciated, but the warts and his true nature are also exposed.

ROCKY redefined ‘underdog’ films, yet this book is much more than a celebration of an unexpected box office hit or a profile of young Sylvester Stallone … although it has a bit of those things as well. The remarkable research conducted by Sielski includes fascinating stories about the city of Philadelphia; director John Avildsen; composer Bill Conti; Stallone’s training and screenwriting; casting co-stars Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, and Carl Weathers; Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown; Butkus the dog; the surprising inspiration for the titular character; constant budgetary concerns; and the Oscar night confrontation between producer Irwin Winkler and NETWORK screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky.

The book’s release is timed to the 50th anniversary of the original movie, and so is Peter Farrelly’s new movie, I PLAY ROCKY, which is focused on Stallone’s mission to get the film made. It seems there is no shortage of ways to acknowledge fifty years of Rocky Balboa, so grab a raw-egg power drink, read the book, and watch the movies.

David Ferguson
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