Sylvester Stallone at 76: 'Every time I think about retiring, I take on another project'

Stallone had appeared in some 15 other movies before "Rocky" where he played minor and supporting roles, such as his scene with Woody Allen in "Bananas", his brief appearance as a background extra in Robert Altman's satirical comedy "MASH", or his brief role as the lover of the pimp's daughter girl in "Farewell, My Lovely".

These brief appearances left no memorable impressions on filmmakers or viewers, so Stallone was particularly eager to write a successful script.

He crafted the character of an underdog boxer, Rocky, who challenges a boxing champion and emerges victorious, ultimately achieving the American dream, which people from all walks of life spend years trying to achieve.    

And 47 years and some 100 movies later, Stallone is still active as an actor, director, and producer. His films still guarantee record ticket sales.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

How have you maintained your stardom for so long? 

I often ask myself this question. I think that stardom is not about toned muscles, popular film genres, or even handsomeness. Success stems from some mysterious combination of all these factors. Why is this particular actor more successful than another who is more handsome or muscular? I'm not sure.

Some actors continue to succeed even when some of their film endeavours fail. Did this happen to you?   

Absolutely. No actor with more than 10 films in their record hasn't experienced failure. Failure will either lead you to despair or motivate you to try again.

How did you overcome these setbacks?

By identifying the reasons for failure. It might not be the actor who is to blame for the film's failure. At the end of the day, an actor takes part in a movie because they liked the script and the cast, but the audience might not feel the same.

Or perhaps the film distribution process was flawed. But I think actors should not just rest assured that the same won't happen again. It will be if they don't pinpoint the reasons for failure and do their best to avoid them in the future.

In 1997, you starred in "Cop Land", which also featured Robert De Niro and was your first collaboration with him. Back then, you said that you wanted to showcase a different side of your acting abilities and challenge yourself with a unique role. But the audience apparently disagreed.

Exactly, this is what I mean. Sometimes the actor likes the script and is excited to perform with a star of Robert De Niro's calibre and under a distinguished director like James Mangold, but the audience has a different opinion. They don't want you to change what made them like you in the first place.

So you immediately went back to your usual roles.  

I did.

You also starred in some comedy films in the late 1980s and early 90s, such as "Oscar", "Tango and Cash", and "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot", but the audience didn't like these either.  

I'll be honest, that was a difficult period of my life, not because of a lack of new projects or job security, but because of my attempts to combine action and adventure with comedy.

Some of the movies you mentioned were a bit more successful than others, but all they did was make me eager to go back to the genre that made me famous.

At first, diversity seemed like a good idea, but now I know that it just wasn't. It felt like an athlete trying to combine football with basketball.  

Why did you decide to take part in "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot?"

Well, back then I heard that Arnold Schwarzenegger has a similar project, so I decided to beat him to it, and I won (laughs). But in fact, the film producer did not cast the right actress for the mom's role. Estelle Getty was a beloved actress, and we needed the opposite. That's what I think.

Was that film some kind of a turning point for you?

It certainly was.

Were there other major turning points in your career?

Yes, but they aren't obvious. They were not further attempts to perform unconventional roles. Rather, they're those things that you only understand once you've gotten past a certain age and you look back.

I think we all feel that typical vanity when we achieve success at an early age because it's when you can easily change paths. It's when you have too many things on your plate but don't care that they might fall and shatter to pieces.

As you grow older, you realise that you cannot afford to waste opportunities. You gotta do your very best to ensure everything you do is a success. You no longer have time to experiment.

I visited Beirut in 1981. There was war, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying my time in my native city. I went into a bookstore called "Antoine" and bought "First Blood," which I read in two days.

I remember wishing I were a filmmaker so I could turn that novel into a movie. When I returned to London the following month, I read that you'd be starring in it the following year.

(Laughs) You should have become a film producer instead of a journalist. You have a sixth sense.

You went into production yourself. What did this mean for you in terms of responsibilities? Did it bring you closer to success?

Even before I became a producer, I always felt a huge responsibility for each project I worked on, whether my own or others. Sometimes the audience thinks the studio can bear the loss from a failed film, as other successful movies would compensate for it, but that's not true.

Mistakes happen, obviously, but repeated mistakes often get the people responsible for them fired, even people in high-ranking positions. So as a producer, I can make sure the film is made like I want, but this means more decision-making. Once you've reached the top, you have to stay there.

Many actors are clearly nervous in televised interviews, but you always seem to be relaxed. Are there any questions that bother you more than others?

Interviews allow the actor, director, or any other celebrity to introduce themselves directly to the public. Obviously, the questions must give the space for the interviewee to say what they want to say. Otherwise, what's the point?

What question annoys you most?

I often get asked about the obstacles I had to overcome when making "Rocky" and my opinion on the success that followed. I always tell the interviewer: 'Do I not have enough movies you can ask me about?'

Well, rest assured that I will not ask you about "Rocky I" but I do have questions about "Rocky IV" and "Rambo III".

(Laughs) Go ahead.

Russia seems to be present in both movies. In "Rocky IV" you fight against a major Russian boxer, and in "Rambo III" you confront the entire Russian army. I once read that you noticed how Soviet media slammed both films in the 1980s. Did you expect that reaction?  

Yes. Back then, some diversity in the background of the boxers facing "Rocky" was necessary. In Rocky I and II, they were African Americans, so in "Rocky IV" it was a Russian boxer, portrayed by Dolph Lundgren.

However, I think that the character of that Russian boxer was treated respectfully in the film, regardless of his Russian identity, since Rocky's rival must be a formidable opponent to match his strength and abilities.  

What about "Rambo III"?

Well, "Rambo III" has a different background story. The entire world was against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the idea was to make this contribution at the right time.

But it was unrealistic: one man fighting hundreds of soldiers and winning.

In cases like this one, such fantasies are allowed. Many films, mine and others, are unrealistic fantasies.

For several decades now, Hollywood seems to go hand-in-hand with the right wing. The Cold War was depicted in several science-fiction films since the 1950s. How do you explain that?

I think cinema follows the stances of the people and government in any country. I doubt that any US-made pro-Russia film on the Ukrainian war would prove popular.

A Russian-made movie might, but here in the West, we are expected to make films that support Ukraine, since this is our official stance. You could do it, obviously, but you'd be facing the risk – especially for high-budget films – that no one will watch it.

Do you agree that your films support the right wing?

This is a common perception, but I am a neutral person by nature. Sometimes, movies send messages that do not align with the actor's viewpoint, but you know you must show up even if you don't approve.

What do you think of movie reviews and critics? Do you like to read their reviews of your films? 

Yes, I regularly read reviews, and I like the reviews of several critics. I admire any review that offers an alternative to whatever aspect of the film they don't like. There's no point in a review that just says 'This is a bad movie' without suggesting how it could have been improved.

You've turned the page on the success of "Rambo" and "Rocky" and moved to "The Expendables" in 2010. The fourth sequel is scheduled to be released this September. What are your expectations for this movie?

Based on the success of the other three movies, I expect it to be a success. It's just as good.

Who are the antagonists this time?

Arms dealers. My team and I will show them hell.  

Do you enjoy your work more when you're directing your movies?

I didn't direct "The Expendables IV", but to answer your question, yes I do. It's more demanding, but directing is fun because it allows you to control how the plot unfolds.

What do you think about what was said at the Cannes Film Festival about you and other actors of your generation still being the stars of action movies that the audience love the most?

I agree, and I am happy about it. All I want is to continue acting in these kinds of films, even though I often think of retiring, but then I find myself pushing forward.