Sylvester Stallone's memoir The Steps is published, recounting his path to Rocky
Sylvester Stallone, 80, has released the memoir The Steps, covering his struggles before and during the making of Rocky. Coverage centres on a feud with Richard Gere and on his advice to people who are struggling.
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The story, neutrally told
Sylvester Stallone, 80, has published a memoir, The Steps, about his rise from obscurity to the success of Rocky. The IndependentLC “In his new memoir, The Steps, the 80-year-old movie star recounts the litany of rejections, setbacks and just plain insults” Read at The Independent ↗ Fox NewsR “discussing his new memoir "The Steps."” Read at Fox News ↗ According to the Independent, the book ends when Rocky wins Best Picture at the 1977 Oscars, and it covers earlier jobs such as cleaning lion cages at the Central Park Zoo. The IndependentLC “the book finishing when (spoiler alert) the scrappy underdog of a movie gets its very own Hollywood ending and is named Best Picture at the Oscars in 1977.”““Fifteen minutes later, I was in a lion cage with a hose, a scoop, and a shovel,”” Read at The Independent ↗ Stallone writes that he clashed with Richard Gere while making The Lords of Flatbush, saying Gere grabbed his T-shirt during an improvisation and he told the director he would 'knock his teeth out'. The IndependentLC “When Verona asked what he’d do, Stallone replied: “Do? I’d knock his teeth out.”” Read at The Independent ↗
He says a later dispute over chicken grease led to a scuffle, after which Gere was reportedly sacked; Gere's account is not given in the coverage. The IndependentLC “After it became clear the pair could not work together, Verona reportedly sacked Gere and continued with Stallone.” Read at The Independent ↗ The Independent also highlights Stallone's difficult relationship with his parents, including a row with his father on the Rocky set over ringing the bell in the final fight. The IndependentLC ““Ring the damn bell. Ring it!” He slams the hammer down and rises to his feet.” Read at The Independent ↗ In a Fox News interview with Bret Baier, Stallone said his advice to struggling people is that 'you have nothing to lose', and that his motto is 'I tried'. Fox NewsR “"You have nothing to lose. Seriously, you have nothing to lose. With failure you don’t get shot. There’s no firing squad," Stallone said.” Read at Fox News ↗
He told Baier he wrote the book so his children could understand his journey, and described how producers nearly cut the 'go the distance' speech from Rocky. Fox NewsR “he wanted his children to "understand the journey" it took to get him where he is now.”“"They did pull the plug," he told Baier.” Read at Fox News ↗ The book's publication comes ahead of a Rocky biopic, I Play Rocky, which the Independent says arrives later this year. The IndependentLC “That story will get its own big-screen treatment later this year in Peter Farrelly’s aptly named biopic I Play Rocky.” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Entertainment feature and news piece mining the memoir for colourful anecdotes, especially the feud with Richard Gere and early odd jobs.
- Emphasis
- Personal conflicts, poverty, family dynamics and Hollywood gossip.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include Stallone's advice to struggling people or his stated reason for writing the book.
- Charged language
- “warts-and-all account”“biggest revelations”
- For example
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“It’s a warts-and-all account of risking it all for what seems like an impossible dream.” — The Independent
“Sylvester Stallone has opened up about the incident that sparked his long-running feud with fellow star Richard Gere.” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Interview-led piece built around Stallone's appearance on Fox News' Special Report, presenting an inspirational, self-help message.
- Emphasis
- Perseverance, the 'I tried' motto, why he wrote the book for his children, and Rocky's origins.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the Gere feud and the family conflicts covered by the Independent.
- Charged language
- “plucked me from obscurity”
What every side reports
- Stallone, 80, has published a memoir called The Steps.
- The memoir focuses on his struggles before and during the making of Rocky.
- An I Play Rocky biopic is linked to the book's publicity.
Where accounts differ
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Nothing substantive is disputed between the outlets; they cover different parts of the book.
- Left
- Focuses on anecdotes and the Gere feud, told from Stallone's written account.
- Right
- Focuses on Stallone's interview advice and motivational message.
Sylvester Stallone person
Presents his career as a story of persistence against rejection and says he wrote the book so his children understand his journey; his account of the Gere clash is his own recollection.
“Stallone said his own motto is "I tried."” — Fox News
“Stallone recalls: “Gere grabbed my T-shirt and his fingernails dug into my skin.” — The Independent
Richard Gere person
Appears only through Stallone's account; no response from Gere is reported.
““Hey, man, I don’t want to get physical,” Gere said, according to Stallone” — The Independent
Left2 articles
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Rocky, Richard Gere and lion dung: The 5 biggest revelations from Sylvester Stallone’s memoir
Mixed Listicle of the memoir's five main revelations, sympathetic to Stallone's struggle but leaning on humour and gossip.
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Sylvester Stallone reveals why he threatened to knock Richard Gere’s ‘teeth out’ on set
Neutral Reports Stallone's account of his feud with Gere, attributing claims to the memoir and adding a past anecdote from Elton John's memoirs.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Sylvester Stallone's advice to those who are struggling 50 years after 'Rocky' changed his life
Sympathetic Interview recap with inspirational advice and Rocky nostalgia, largely in Stallone's own words.
- 29 Sep 06:00 First The IndependentLC Rocky, Richard Gere and lion dung: The 5 biggest revelations from Sylvester Stallone’s memoir
- 29 Sep 07:00 +1h The IndependentLC Sylvester Stallone reveals why he threatened to knock Richard Gere’s ‘teeth out’ on set
- 30 Sep 02:59 +21h Fox NewsR Sylvester Stallone's advice to those who are struggling 50 years after 'Rocky' changed his life
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.