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- A Street Gang Like No Other in The Lords of Flatbush
- Wait, What Happened Between Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere?
- Stallone and Gere Almost Got Into a Second Fight
As a movie enthusiast with a soft spot for 70s Hollywood, let me tell you, The Lords of Flatbush is a gem! It’s fascinating to delve into the behind-the-scenes drama, especially the tale of Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone. I can only imagine what it must have been like on the set of this coming-of-age film, with two rising stars clashing like a pair of oversized motorcycles!
Despite currently being a well-established actor with multiple awards under his belt, such as the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award, Sylvester Stallone initially struggled to make it big in Hollywood. During his early years, while honing his craft, the leading man behind blockbusters like Rocky, Rambo, and The Expendables, ended up taking on minor roles and even appeared as an extra in several films, receiving only modest paychecks.
For approximately five years, from 1969 to 1974, I followed a path that led me to the creation of a film titled “The Lords of Flatbush.” Directed by Stephen F. Verona and Martin Davidson, this coming-of-age drama ran about 86 minutes long, delving into the gritty motorcycle culture of the ’50s, much like “Happy Days” and “Grease” would later portray. The film featured Sylvester Stallone, Perry King, Henry Winkler, and Paul Mace (rest in peace) in leading roles. It was essentially a story about four rebellious teenagers in leather jackets trying to navigate life’s complexities, with Richard Gere nearly joining the cast as well.
Throughout the movie, Stanley Rosiello, Chico Tyrell, Butchey Weinstein, and Wimpy Murgalo undergo a series of events: initially pranking their homeroom teacher, experiencing relationship turmoil in the middle, and ultimately growing up by the end. Each character offers a compelling glimpse into the lives of adolescents maturing. The central narratives for Stallone’s Stanley (the strong and commanding figure) and King’s Chico (his second-in-command with emotional depth) revolve around romantic entanglements, while Winkler’s Weinstein portrays the shy, intelligent character struggling with acceptance issues. Lastly, Mace’s Murgalo serves as Rosiello’s sidekick, following his lead and carrying out instructions without question.
A Street Gang Like No Other in The Lords of Flatbush
Despite Murgalo’s role not being expansive, it effectively establishes Stanley as the dominant figure throughout the film. While Sylvester Stallone’s character might have been the leader in The Lords of Flatbush, production of this movie was marked by instances where a young Stallone could have forfeited his position. Remarkably, another well-known figure took the blame instead, and this incident has morphed into an ongoing feud. Noteworthy, Chico, who is part of the social athletic club as the lover boy, is portrayed by actor Perry King.
Despite having only two previous acting roles before the 1974 film under discussion, this up-and-coming actor delivered a captivating performance that showcased his resilience, combining cockiness with raw emotion. Following his role in Lords, he appeared in an impressive 18 more movies and even earned a Golden Globe nomination. However, it was Richard Gere who initially secured the part for the film, which would have been Sylvester Stallone’s first feature. Unfortunately, as Stallone recounted in an interview with Ain’t It Cool News, it seemed that his ego outshone him before he got involved with the project, causing him to miss out on what could have been his big break.
Wait, What Happened Between Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere?
In a lengthy Q&A session, a fan from Arizona queries Stallone about his experience working on the coming-of-age film. In response to the question about anecdotes from the set, Stallone discusses Gere’s behavior. Specifically, he recalls that Gere wore an oversized leather jacket which made him seem haughty and arrogant as he swaggered around the set. During one particular day on set when they were filming a fight scene (possibly the diner scene), Gere was rougher than Stallone preferred.
Despite being advised to loosen up, he was reportedly true to his character and difficult to handle according to Stallon. A conflict escalated rapidly when they found themselves next to each other during a break at Coney Island, where it was freezing. The only place to take shelter and eat was inside a Toyota. As per the account of the Rocky star, Gere carried a rather messy chicken as his lunch into the small vehicle. After some tense exchanges between the two about potential stains, oil indeed leaked out – Stallon is said to have then elbowed Gere on the head and pushed him out of the car.
Stallone and Gere Almost Got Into a Second Fight
As a devoted cinephile, I found myself reminiscing about “The Lords of Flatbush,” and it seemed that the director chose to resolve the story’s progression by employing an age-old method: a parting of ways between two characters. Despite the nostalgic feel of the food fight scene straight out of the 1950s, none other than Quentin Tarantino echoed this anecdote in a 2019 post on the Beverly Cinema movie theater website.
For movie enthusiasts, it appears that whether Gere left willingly or was forced to go will continue to be an unsolved enigma regarding their ongoing dispute, which extended beyond this ’70s film. Reportedly, Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere almost came to blows over Princess Diana at a dinner party hosted by music legend Elton John! This time, it was Stallone who stormed out, but not before exchanging some bold words with his adversary: “If I had wanted her, I would have taken her!
Let’s face the facts, though. For all the mutual dislike, Richard Gere losing the role wasn’t any detriment to the movie itself. King dedicated himself to the character, pulling viewers into a troubled, conflicted soul. Chico wanted to be the womanizer — the playboy — but sadly fell hard for the one he couldn’t have. We won’t ever know if Gere could have pulled it off the same way. Also, Henry Winkler starring in the movie as a slower, paced, and deep-thinking Fonz, is a treat for ’70s Hollywood fans. With all that being said, this nostalgic movie, The Lords of Flatbush, is available to rent on Google Play, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
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2024-11-10 03:32