Becoming Rocky: The Birth of a Classic is intimate flashback documentary filmmaking at its finest, that reminds of the humble beginnings of a movie classic and its star.

The making of Rocky is a story told countless times. Once struggling actor Sylvester Stallone wrote his magnum-opus in three days and sold the script to United Artists at a reduced cost so he could star in the film. It was a gamble that paid off big time, with Rocky winning the Oscar for Best Picture and catapulting Stallone into movie stardom. Several Rocky sequels would also follow.

Becoming Rocky: The Birth of a Classic (also known as 40 Years of Rocky: Birth of a Classic in North America) takes us back to the low-budget production of the first Rocky to see how this Cinderella story of a movie was made. Although only 30 minutes long, Becoming Rocky is a fascinating and informative look at the techniques and craft utilised to bring to life its story of a slugger from Philadelphia who gets a one in a million chance to prove his worth as a fighter and a man.

Comprised of behind the scenes Super-8 footage originally shot by Rocky director John G. Avildsen, Becoming Rocky will appeal to Rocky enthusiasts and fans of the filmmaking process. Many Rocky devotees, who would have already seen some of this footage in the varied Rocky documentaries released over the years, will be giddy to see unreleased footage of a young pre-fame Stallone laying down the legendary foundations of what would be his star making role.

While there is a certain snobbery over the Rocky films (most due to the films numerous sequels), Becoming Rocky reminds of the films low-budget gritty character driver roots. It also reminds of how Rocky is an innovative film, as seen through the introduction of the Steadicam and Stallone’s approach to fight choreography.

What really makes Becoming Rocky is the narration by Stallone himself. More of a commentary than a scripted work, Becoming Rocky becomes that much more of a personal reflection, as Stallone reacts to moments (some seen, others forgotten), tied to his pre-fame days. Stallone has made a career creating stories that speak to the nostalgic heart, and it is indeed an experience to hear him take a trip back to a time when he was that underdog looking to land that one in a million shot.