Filmography - John G. Avildsen (Director - The Karate Kid)

Let's Talk - Cobra Kai
Episode 157: Filmography - John G. Avildsen (Director - The Karate Kid)

Jason Connell and Sal Rodriguez discuss the filmography of director John G. Avildsen whose credits include Rocky, The Karate Kid, and 8 Seconds.

John G. Avildsen
 Born: December 21, 1935
 Died: June 16, 2017 (81)

Recorded: 10-17-23
Studio: Just Curious Media
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Transcript

Jason Connell: 0:01

Whoa, just curious. Welcome to Just curious media. This is let's talk Cobra Kai. I'm Jason Connell.

Sal Rodriguez: 0:10

And I'm Sal Rodriguez.

Jason Connell: 0:12

All right, Sal, we are back for an incredibly special episode.

Sal Rodriguez: 0:19

Yeah. I'm very excited about this because I feel like this is long overdue. overdue. Not on my radar, but of course on yours. So yeah, you brought this to my attention. And yeah, I agree. We need to do this.

Jason Connell: 0:30

We needed to do this need to do this. And we're doing this. And that is a filmography for John G. Abelson, director of the Karate Kid. Oh, rest in peace. To John G. Albertson. But also, thank you, John G. Albertson. This is a celebratory podcast, and long overdue reason being back on episode 68. This is episode 157. So keep this in mind. Oh my god, Episode 68. We did a filmography of Robert Mark Kamen, rider of the Karate Kid, and we loved it. That was a great episode. And I remember saying in that episode, Spot check me somebody. We got to come back and do this on Appleton. Yeah, here we are. It just took a few 100 episodes to do. Now other things happen. And I knew this was gonna be a lot to bite off and do and I wanted to kind of be in the right place and space and time. We don't have episodes from the show happening right now. That being Cobra Kai, that's a whole other system. When that's going we're like banging those out. And I felt like this is long overdue. I was looking up some things there a day. There's something we're gonna get into this episode. There's a documentary on him that came out in 2017. I watched the trailer the other day, and I just got so inspired. I was like, You know what? Now's the time. And here we are, Sal. So thank you for joining me and being as excited as I am. To explore this together. Yeah, I'm

Sal Rodriguez: 2:04

very excited about this. I really am. I think it's overdue, and I'm excited to get into it.

Jason Connell: 2:09

Okay. Well, let's start at the beginning, shall we? Always the beginning, always the beginning. John G. Adelson was born in 1935. He spent his formative years in Oak Park, Illinois. In 1956, he earned his bachelor's degree from the prestigious Hotchkiss school. Later in 1962. He completed his undergraduate studies at New York University, where he honed his passion for film and storytelling. So I figured a backstory is really good, just a couple paragraphs, but it sets the stage because we know his work. But now we can know more about the man and other work that we're not familiar with. If you are some of our fans aren't. He had other movies, but obviously he touched us with to just touchstones in the industry, and there'll be with us forever for generations to come. So in the early stages of his career, Abelson directed a series of low budget films slowly gaining recognition for his work. His breakthrough came in 1976 when he directed

Sal Rodriguez: 3:18

rocky rocky I tried to say like some bestest alone, but I did a good job. You know why cuz right. Sylvester Stallone never says rocky

Jason Connell: 3:28

his own name. Yeah, no, he does. Exactly. Exactly. So yes, he directed Rocky, which would go on to become a cultural phenomenon, honestly. I mean, I was a kid and I was moved by it. Like it would just come I didn't see it in the theater. But I saw it on HBO and I once you watch it once, it's just like you're addicted and boxing movies became in vogue. And I've loved them ever since. Jason,

Sal Rodriguez: 3:51

can I just say this lease? I'm proud to say it but I'm also embarrassed to say it and that is I did not jump on the rocket train until rocky for

Jason Connell: 3:59

we have to end this podcast. Good night. That's it. Wow. So I was not aware of that. By then I was old hat to the Rocky franchise and enjoying every single one of the installments. The highlight ending at 4124 will really just in my wheelhouse cultural phenomenon. With Appletons masterful direction of the film, it established him as a prominent figure in Hollywood, you come out of nowhere obscurity, low budget films, and you make Rocky in your youth. I mean, he's you know, early filmmaking. Every studio is probably calling himself like, hey, how do I get one of those, you want to come in here so then all sudden, you have all this event from nothing to overwhelm with options, right? And we're gonna go through his filmography, too, but I wanted to give this backstory and then delve into each movie, like 10 of them I've highlighted. I

Sal Rodriguez: 4:53

feel like so we've seen this before, where you have a young director and somebody has to take a chance on them. So But he has to believe in them. Give them an opportunity against the odds. Oftentimes the studio's like, What, no. Yeah, but somebody believes in them. And they become history. I'm thinking of Steven Spielberg, when I talk about Yes.

Jason Connell: 5:17

And a lot of the people you're talking about referencing in the 70s. That was the great era in film, and I've studied it just in nauseam. I've just I loved 70 cinema, because that's what was happening. Hey, this is a risky movie, or, I mean, Rocky's not risky, but there was a lot of dark tragic movies happening in Chinatown. You know, these things where it's like, whoa, okay, you know, Harold and Maude, Easy Rider that was in the 60s. And they were getting these young filmmakers, these tours, who could make this thing sing had a good cast, and they were becoming these hits that probably wouldn't even make big green lighted today. That's what makes the 70s so special. And maybe rocky would have been, but it may not have had the tone that it ultimately had. Right? And let's not forget, he loses in Rocky, they would probably want to change it now. Now you gotta win. And so that's what I mean by tragic. It's like, Oh, it's great. But he didn't lose. It wasn't afraid to kind of hold back and not make you feel like always the victor. So amazing time. And here's Alison in it. He's one of these filmmakers. So now he's gone from obscurity to a prominent figure. And in 1984 Adelson. They say lightning doesn't strike twice. Wow. And Allison's case, he directed the Karate Kid, which was also a massive commercial and critical success. And it solidified his reputation as a director who could capture the human spirit, and the underdogs journey. We talk about it all the time, John gelatin, Rocky and Karate Kid, that's the connection. But let's take a step back away from just talking about the Karate Kid or Cobra Kai, think about what he did. And it wasn't just him. It's not a solo journey. It's a director of a lot of pieces to loan rights Rocky, the making of Rocky's incredible came in writes The Karate Kid, but Appleton was stewarding the ship. And he creates these two masterpieces. And they have lived on sale for so many sequels. And I'm sure if another spin offs and things are happening, but they hold true today's they ever did. And that's just you, as an artist, as a creator, you want to leave your mark, and then you want it to be sustainable. And I don't know that many filmmakers that have done this effectively. Now he doesn't have 20 or 30 of these but he's got two and there are two of the best.

Sal Rodriguez: 7:50

Yeah, what you do is you spawned a legacy. So you spawn legacy, something that outlives you is what is what happened. It outlives you, it grows beyond you. You know, I'm thinking of names like Jay Paul Getty, you know, these people, their life transcends their own life. If that makes any sense. Yeah. grows beyond them. Yeah, those those are some people held in high regard.

Jason Connell: 8:16

And you mentioned one as well. Spielberg. Obviously, Steven Spielberg is top of the food chain as much as I also love Kubrick and Scorsese. But Spielberg made huge impact made a huge impact on all of us. Sure, and younger generations, older generations. It's beyond him as well. And he's, you know, it's only a few that have done it that many times, but Appletons in that story in that group. And he made these two amazing, I'll call them franchises. Sure, two amazing franchises, but at the core of that, two masterpieces, Jason,

Sal Rodriguez: 8:48

the word I that comes to mind or the phrase that comes to mind is the Midas touch. Some people have the Midas touch, they really do. Yeah, I'm trying to find my Midas touch. I've got a little Midas

Jason Connell: 8:59

touch or a tickle. Gold wunderkin Gold finger now, sadly, Appleton died of pancreatic cancer at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on June 16. My sister's birthday 2017. And he was 81. Jason

Sal Rodriguez: 9:17

this week. I always say sad. It makes me very sad. Oh, yeah.

Jason Connell: 9:21

I know. He proceeds he passes away before Cobra Kai launches. He had a good run. So he made incredible movies and got to enjoy the fruits of his labor because he was he was younger when he makes Rocky. So hopefully, I always think positively. They had this great ride. He made these other movies along the way, riding that success and touching others and everything I've read and seen about himself is that he was such a gentle soul as well. It wasn't this dictator on a set. He was a genuine person. And so we're going to save this but the trailer I'm going to play for the documentary which I have not seen you have not seen into the trailers impactful loaded with talent, all that loved working with him singing his praises or just admires our other filmmakers who are like, Oh my gosh, Allison, of course, he's one of the best. But let's go through a filmography. Now his filmography, and not every single movie, just some beats along the way, and talk a little bit about them, obviously, with most emphasis on the two that really move the needle.

Sal Rodriguez: 10:29

Yes. And the two that have action figures. I don't know. Oh, yeah. Hey, what other Alvaston movies have action figures? Besides Rocky and karate kid? I'd like to know. That

Jason Connell: 10:41

isn't good. But that's how you know you've made it. Action figures out there. Jason,

Sal Rodriguez: 10:45

I tell you the truth. From the time I was a kid, I always imagine that when you had an action figure made a view that was as big as you could get. good

Jason Connell: 10:54

as it gets. So we already talked about one and we can talk more about it. But the 1976 Classic, Rocky, he directs this wonderful movie that never dies. This is the synopsis straight from IMDB. A small time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the World Heavyweight Champion in a bow in which he strives to go the distance for self respect. Yeah, that's right, because I have not seen Rocky in a while. I went to the theater and saw what actually the screening failed. So then I had to go home and bought it but rocky for Rocky verse Drago. And so to see that again with new scenes was really cool. And I was starting to watch them again. But I haven't seen the original in a while. But yeah, he gets this weird little opportunity to fight for the heavyweight title and Apollo Creed. And the rest is history. But he was probably and he was overlooked to make this movie. Other people were probably on the radar like, Oh, yeah. And here comes this kid. Well, yo, Allison's got the right sensibility and, and interest alone. He writes the script for himself, because no one wants to hire Stallone, you know, he's not that big. He's built short. He's got a thick accent. He's been in movies, but it's probably he's not going to get his dream roll. So what do you do? He goes home and writes it. So just the making of is an incredible story about the human spirit. And then they captured it in this movie. So it's just mind blowing. Yeah.

Sal Rodriguez: 12:24

And I think there's a lot to be said for the fact that Stallone had a lot to do with the choosing of Albertson. Yes. Right. It wasn't just like, they showed up and said, Oh, hey, guess what's the loan? This guy's directing your film? Yeah, he's your director. Yeah. Ya know. So I think that says a lot about Adelson. When, I mean, we all know the story, or most of us know the story of the regard that Salone had for Rocky. That was his baby. That was his actual baby. And he trusted Appleton with his baby. So there's a lot to be said for Adelson. And Stallone the trust that he was able to give to Adelson.

Jason Connell: 13:00

Right? You know, I'm gonna bring the poster up here as well. So there it is. bump bump.

Sal Rodriguez: 13:05

That's the original poster up

Jason Connell: 13:07

Ah, well, it's the poster now that you see on IMDb. I can't say it's the original or not but it's a nice poster really beautiful, but it makes it definitely makes it seem more like a lot of scribe itself for the listeners. Well, you

Sal Rodriguez: 13:19

see rocky walking hand in hand with Adrian right. That's what that is.

Jason Connell: 13:23

And he's got the boxing shorts on and he's just probably finished his bout Yes.

Sal Rodriguez: 13:28

Yes. That's you know, the fight fan that those moments after the fight. You see these every now and again. You get to see some backstage after a loss. And you see the spouse with with the fighter weather alert. Yeah. So yeah, that's a very tender moment. But like I said, it kind of gives it almost a different tone when you look at the poster there.

Jason Connell: 13:46

Yeah, so just a quick hitlist on the Academy Awards for Rocky. Okay, I had to go to IMDb and just look at this again. It was like well, not what, so when's Best Picture? Right? Boom, Best Picture, Rocky. Amazing. It's never gonna lose that. It's always gonna be the Academy Award winner. Nominated Sylvester Stallone for best actor. I didn't get nominated. They didn't win. So yeah, nomination. I didn't know he was nominated. He was nominee. I'm just gonna go in order here. Talia Shire who plays his wife Adrienne, also nominated for Best Actress. Burgess Meredith plays MC rakia abem. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Well, Bert young plays Polly, Adrian's older brother who is kind of a drunk and then he wins you over He's really charming, has a lot of charisma and rocking him find the kind of bond he's so good in the movie. He was nominated for Best Actor and supporting roles. So that's four nominations. No wins, but that's solid.

Sal Rodriguez: 14:52

Wait, hang on. Jason. You had Bert young versus Burgess Meredith. Yeah. To the same movie

Jason Connell: 14:59

in that crazy Yes. That's not what sometimes I'm against themselves. I've seen the actress go against themselves

Sal Rodriguez: 15:06

really? Oh, yeah, god. Wow. Very cool. Yeah, it's

Jason Connell: 15:10

amazing. Anyway, moving on. We have best director John G. Appleton winner, one for Best Director at one for Best Picture a lot of nominations for the actor's Best Writing nominated, and that goes to Sylvester Stallone Best Screenplay. Best Sound it was nominated for an Oscar. Best Film Editing winner for an Oscar Richard Halsey and Scott Conrad and Bill Conti a nice nominated not a win but nominated for Best Original Song best music. And the lyrics were Carol Connors and and Robbins. The song of course was gonna fly now. Was that gonna fly? Ah,

Sal Rodriguez: 16:01

yes. Did it? Yes, okay. Yeah.

Jason Connell: 16:07

Oh my gosh, I just get goosebumps. Yeah,

Sal Rodriguez: 16:10

I didn't know that was the name of the song.

Jason Connell: 16:11

So very cool. Here's just a couple little tidbits before we move on to the next movie. Most of the scenes of rocky jogging through Philadelphia were shot guerilla style with no permits, no equipment, no extras, just run and gun and here's a young filmmaker. We got to get this shot. In fact, I even read that. He got the guy that invented the steadicam. Right. And it hadn't even been used yet. Except for him messing around like filming like I think it's wife or something. And he had this idea and and was working with a Steadicam, and she was writing up some stairs and he had this cool Steadicam shot you know that you can move the camera but it looks to so different. It's such a good look, especially for the time. And that became the great sequence using the Steadicam for Stallone rocky running up the steps in the museum and doing the famous Yeah, jumping around to the song is playing so Bill County's original song Gonna Fly Now wasn't named had no title and John G. Abelson was meeting with them and said it's almost like Rocky is flying now. And then it became gotta fly now. Wow.

Sal Rodriguez: 17:22

Very cool. Trivia.

Jason Connell: 17:23

Gonna Fly Now. Yeah,

Sal Rodriguez: 17:26

and it's like a chorus, right? Yeah,

Jason Connell: 17:28

yeah, it's, it's incredible. And John G Appleton was so excited about the film getting hired to direct the film. He reduced his usual salary to about $30,000 but Sal with a percentage of the profits.

Sal Rodriguez: 17:43

That's the Tom Cruise deal.

Jason Connell: 17:46

The thing that made him some money I don't know how much 30,000 will come and go. It could have been 300,000 but a percentage of Rocky's profits and I hope that's the subsequent sequels. I don't know man, although he didn't direct them all so but original

Sal Rodriguez: 18:05

inflation calculator this no no I'm very stupid. I should not take just curious media salary instead should have went for the percentage

Jason Connell: 18:14

he should have by far the percentage it's too late students are incredible so well done. So happy that we have Rocky in our lexicon and our world in our it's in my heart

Sal Rodriguez: 18:29

yes and amazing song just amazing action figures and various make Oh amazing action figures who action figures fly NECA by Jack specific, beautiful action figures. seven inch scale. I think they also released like a special 12 inch Oh no, you know it was I think it was like a special Rambo action figures what it was I think it was the best alone was talking about his Rambo figure. Now

Jason Connell: 18:50

you're doing crossovers.

Sal Rodriguez: 18:51

I am doing stuff but yeah, it wasn't I thought that he had like a special 12 inch rocky figure. I don't think that I've seen

Jason Connell: 18:57

that one. Just curious media has not been paid for these endorsements and sales dropping. So now we're gonna go to another movie. Again. It's not necessarily an order. There was a couple in between but these are memorable movies to me and others, and not necessarily a high point. Okay, I'm not afraid to show some of the you know, the low points but neighbors here it is. 1981 I always love this movie because that was a huge John Belushi recipes and Dan Aykroyd fan. And this is dark comedy dark. They're both in it. But they did a role reversal. Meaning Belushi in hindsight, probably should have been the over the top guy and ackwards more of the straight laced but they flipped the script Sal. Yeah, he pulled a Karate Kid Cobra Kai a Cobra Kai I should say. And they went against the norm. And also, so Allison was brought in Here's hot gun for hire. Hey, work with these two stars mess and now they're blowing up right And that synopsis is a quiet man's peaceful suburban lifestyle is threatened by the new obnoxious couple that moves next door. So, I read a book about John Belushi called Wired, written by Bob Woodward who was of Woodward and Bernstein who cracked, you know, the Nixon scandal. And it became a great movie, All the President's Men. So this book came out in the 80s. It was really a whole story of John volution. I was fascinated by it, leading up to his dad at the Chateau Marmont, doing Speedball, cocaine and heroin mix. And I was a kid thinking what I didn't understand some of that stuff. But I was fascinated by the story. In the book, they talk about the making of neighbors, told by Bob Woodward accounts of other people he spoke to. And this is a little book, I don't know, but I read that Abelson was insistent on shooting it in order. And movies for those non filmmakers out there, things aren't really in sequence. Yes. You know, like, we're going to do this today. We're going to do some pickup shots over there. But it was like kind of confined to this location, this house and this little neighborhood. I'm sure it was on a backlog or I'm not sure, actually. But it was interesting that then that created some tension, there was a lot of fighting, John Belushi, who had a well known drug problem who had cleaned up for Continental Divide, which is a great movie that came out the year prior, fell off the wagon, Sal Ackroyd has gone and said this publicly, so he's back doing the drugs unreliable, and I say drugs, a lot of cocaine. So the set was just a party set. I'm sure there was a lot of friction Appletons coming from a whole other background. And it didn't create the best movie, but memorable movie bizarre movie, and I highly recommend checking it out. But I kind of put this together later because I'd already seen the Karate Kid and I already liked Appleton as a, you know, preteen or early teen, but was always like, wow, neighbors is this weird thing. It's like Spielberg has 1941 Love it or hate it. It's kind of a blemish. But you go back and watch it and you can appreciate a few things kind of like the Karate Kid part three, or The Next Karate Kid like you're looking for something to hang on to. So neighbors check it out if you haven't seen it, but Abelson was at the hill.

Sal Rodriguez: 22:22

Jason, can I share this with you? Because it just occurred to me just now when I look back on my life. Yeah, I think my whole life I thought that neighbors was a David Lynch movie. Because I think it had that weird tone and have that Eraserhead has a weird tone. Yeah. So because of that, until this very moment. Right here with you. I thought it was David Lynch. I just thought it was a weird movie from back in the 80s. That was like weird, like Eraserhead. I never thought this was John G. Avolites. Well,

Jason Connell: 22:52

and again, it got into the studio, they were editing it. They were, you know, when you have something that's just not working, you just start tinkering. There's weird music, there's weird sound effects. It's just, you have this thing and you got to finish it. And you know, they couldn't just bury it. So for that, I appreciate it. For what it is what it could have been, it could have been a really great movie and it just wasn't so after that low point, but you're still king of the hill because you created rocky The Karate Kid 1984 I love this synopsis on IMDb. I've never seen one this tight this streamlined. a martial arts master agrees to teach karate to a bullied teenager. That's it says it all. But this will go on and just warm America's heart. And it probably I can't see the numbers. But it probably had a huge impact on kids enrolling into martial arts in karate across America and beyond. Oh, it was just amazing. In every way, it's a masterpiece. It's the reason Cobra Kai is successful. If you didn't have this owl, there is no Cobra Kai, you needed something so strong that the fruits of it can then go off and fall off the tree and create something else great. If you don't have that you're not going to get the other thing. Just go make something different. It's that great. And Appleton made it happen with all the others with you know, Bill Conti was back you had came in who was a very personal script to him like Stallone was to him. So incredible. And we'll never stop talking about it in our lifetime.

Sal Rodriguez: 24:38

No and I think it's great. And I feel like the youngsters, the young to know the origin story, the backstory because you have a lot of young people that love Cobra Kai and they may not know about the adults and legacy they may not know about the Karate Kid legacy that predates Cobra Kai and that spawned Cobra Kai so no, I do think this is very important to fans of Cobra Kai listeners and viewers. And Netflix

Jason Connell: 25:00

has a good Are because they have the rights now to Cobra Kai to put the original while the credit card for sure. part two and part three A lot of times back in rotation, because Netflix is funny about that they work a movie like HBO used to be, Hey, see this movie this month and it's gone. Well Netflix keeps bringing it there I think for the youngsters like you're saying, are for people to revisit it who haven't seen the credit kids since they were you know, a kid. Yeah. So then comes the Karate Kid part two. So he didn't do he didn't do rocky two. He didn't do rocky three. He didn't do rocky for Stallone started directing those. So here you are. He's part of karate kid. Hey, you want to come back? Get the gang back together. We had a huge success. Jerry Weintraub pulling the strings, the producer. In fact, we've talked about this on our program before but they were in production. 10 days after the Karate Kid came out with the sequel. There was no 10 days. Hey, this is a hit. Alright guys, it's showtime. Let's get back in there. So I would have been

Sal Rodriguez: 26:07

fun. I would imagine that if I were part of the gang. And that was there at that moment. I'd be like, yes, yeah, let's do it. Let's go back. I'm ready. I want to go

Jason Connell: 26:15

on to Okinawa. Why? And we're gonna do this movie and have some fun. And the synopsis for the credit card Part Two pulled from IMDB. Daniel accompanies his mentor, Mr. Miyagi to Miyagi he's childhood home in Okinawa. Miyagi visits his dying father and confronts his old rival while Daniel falls in love in inadvertently makes a new rival of his own. Okay

Sal Rodriguez: 26:40

so I'm a little disappointed doesn't met really mentioned you and Mr. Miyagi is love I know I'm talking about Daniels love but not about Miyagi is love. That's true.

Jason Connell: 26:48

And no BD Wong reference either. Would have been nice. Come on to the dance tonight with waiting for it. Or no Sato reference by name.

Sal Rodriguez: 26:59

Yogi come out. Again

Jason Connell: 27:02

Bill Conti was back in I'm not even getting into the cast and I should but I take it for a given. But Ralph maggio Pat Merida. They're legends from these roles. Daniel Russo and Mr. Miyagi I mean amazing but so many other performances are great but those two stay with this and then we move on to for keeps 1988 I don't know if you remember this movie or not. But this was a time that these types of movies were coming out. Here's a synopsis if you don't Yes, after she gets pregnant, a teenage girl must decide whether she should keep the baby or not.

Sal Rodriguez: 27:38

You know why Jason? Because of Papa don't preach. I'm in trouble. Madonna put put the baby on the map.

Jason Connell: 27:47

I'm keeping the baby and that video. Her father. Do you remember the video popping up

Sal Rodriguez: 27:54

for some reason? I'm thinking of Captain Lou Albano. But that was with Cyndi Lauper.

Jason Connell: 27:58

Danny Aiello was her Yes, that's right whom I've met while he passed away, rest in peace Daniella. He was a great guy. I met him in Hoboken Film Festival. We hit it off. Give me a hug. We had a good chat. He was such a nice man great presence great singer as well. But he was in that the video and then also movies like she's having a baby and nine months. It was a lot of she's pregnant and it was that time thick baby. Boom. Also, baby boom. This one had Molly Ringwald in it. So she's coming off fame from the John Hughes movies. And here comes for keeps written by I got to throw this out there. Tim Kerensky. Wow. SNL writer. He was also in neighbours. Tim Kassar was great. He was kind of funny. I always think he could have also been in police academies because he had like a weird persona did. It was also written by Denis de clue about last night. And about last night remake. I wasn't sure if there was remake but yeah, so there's the tie in neighbours you have Abelson? So, you're looking for projects, things that inspire you, you don't know what the next big things gonna be. And for keeps, I wouldn't say it's super memorable, but it's there. It's there in your filmography. Well,

Sal Rodriguez: 29:18

you know what, Jason, you know why? Because right now, in 2023, the phrase gig worker, we all know the phrase gig workers. But what we forget is, gig worker isn't just small time, it can be big time. If you're a director here, we have a major director. You're still a gig worker. You're just a gig worker at another level. You're looking for the next gig.

Jason Connell: 29:40

Yeah. And maybe it's something that Tim and I'll pitch to him and he was like, yeah, and listen, when you make rocky Sal, and you make the Karate Kid and the Karate Kid, Part Two was successful. You can do whatever you want. They're gonna come to you with things like you know what I kind of work with him and I want to make for keeps and something smaller, less scary. El Molly Ringwald up and comer. This could be the next Pretty in Pink. I don't know. Let's do it. And hey, I need to revisit this movie because I just don't remember it kind of blends in with these other things and also the Madonna video. So you know, I lose sight of this one. Yeah. Now the next one I remember vividly, very powerful lean on me. 1989

Sal Rodriguez: 30:24

I remember the title I don't remember the movie. Well,

Jason Connell: 30:26

this the synopsis, the dedicated but TT ironical. Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner city school. He is determined to improve by any and all means.

Sal Rodriguez: 30:39

Oh, Jason. Yeah, he walked around with the bullhorn. Yes, that's right says

Jason Connell: 30:43

it was played that the lead, Joe Clark was played by none other than the incredibly talented Morgan Freeman. He's right. You know, that was a powerful movie. Also, around this time, we had movies like The principal coming out with Jim Belushi, Yan and deliver, yes. Which I cannot watch enough times. Edward James Olmos that hits me every time it's so powerful,

Sal Rodriguez: 31:11

it's true. But what you find is you have these these themes that will become popular and then you have all these hit movies coming out of those, right that those particular themes,

Jason Connell: 31:21

but this one was better than most better than the Principal Standard deliver. They're not even the same ones about like working with these kids in one class. While Joe Clark is clean up a school. I want to revisit this movie, I loved it, then I'm sure I'll love it. Now. Also, lean on me was a classic song. And then club nouveau did like a cool song. And the 80s as well remember that? They kind of brought it back in a modern way. Lino me, had lots of I loved it. Club nouveau movie. Oh, it is in the movie. It is.

Sal Rodriguez: 31:54

I don't know. I know the original I think right lean on me when we and then I think they did like this. Almost like We Are the World Ensemble with many people. But the one you're talking about? I don't know if I remember that. What did I do like the song? It's a great song. Oh,

Jason Connell: 32:09

me. Oh, it's cool. Man, club Devo nails it I have a link in there to the video. I'm gonna check it. So watch. Check it out. Check it out. Alright, so then, as if that wasn't enough of karate kids Appletons back for the third installment. The Karate Kid part three. Jason teen 89 I'm

Sal Rodriguez: 32:29

sorry, Jason. I feel like such an idiot. I forgot that Appleton directed Karate Kid. Part Three. I forgot. This

Jason Connell: 32:35

is an education for you. So I thought he had bailed after to know oh my gosh, no, no what they were doing for athletes. And at this point in time while I'm traveling everybody.

Sal Rodriguez: 32:46

Blank Checks is what they're given them. Oh, I'm

Jason Connell: 32:49

sorry. I didn't I'm sorry. I'm behind on my cue cards. There's the Karate Kid poster. Hold that thought. Hold that thought. Yep. There's the Karate Kid. Part Two part. Yep. For keeps Molly Ringwald. They're nice. Lean on me. Like an powerful powerful poster. Nice. And the Karate Kid part three. We're up to speed here. So I think this was a pay day. Yeah, he would come back. Do the third one. We'll get the crew back together. What can go wrong? What can go wrong? Honestly? Well, we can all kind of fall into it in in some key points like the all Valley tournament. Oh, yeah, we need to put an all Valley in here. I'll tell you. I'll tell you. I'll tell you what, we don't have a lot of time we got to spend this money. Let's just have Daniel fight one fight when one point we'll call it two time champ. Okay. Now it's not Alice's fault. That's a collective decision. And even Daniel Russo, Ralph maggio will agree there are things in the credit card, part three. That could have been done better. But I'm not throwing apples under the bus. There's a lot of cool things to take away from the third installment. There really is I've gone back and watch it now. A lot more times, teenage me hated it. I've learned to appreciate it. And now that there are characters that are in Cobra Kai, it's kind of taking it to a new level. So there's that?

Sal Rodriguez: 34:12

Well, Jason's this brings to mind the whole idea of being a motion picture director. How much power does the director have? How much power does the director not have? Because obviously when we have a hit, we think the director but if we have a bomb, do we blame the director also partly okay, why do some ties but I mean, me why? Okay, you have the writers, right? You have the studio, you have the producers, you have the actors, right? So it's such a collaborative effort. I never understood how you can watch a movie and give so much kudos to the director when it is such a collaborative effort, but

Jason Connell: 34:50

somebody is in charge. And some producers have more power and weight than the director but someone's gotta be pulling it all together and ultimately responsible unjustly or justly and successfully or not. That's what happens. It happens in sports too. In others 11 people on the field and football, it's very complicated. The quarterback is going to get all the praise, or all the blame. It's just true. It's true. Not all if there's a kicker misses a kick, you can blame the kicker, but more often than not, it's your stars and Ableton. I don't blame him. I think the movie, like I just said has definitely been redeemed and helped. But it wasn't the strongest effort. If the Karate Kid part three was the Karate Kid. We're not having this discussion. There's no sequels. There's no spin offs. There's no shows. I mean, it's this week. It's a week effort, but we love the character so much. We'll join them on a bad day. Like, oh, yeah, okay. Yeah. But that's what happens also, when everything's going good, so everything's going good. Listen, we can all get caught up with our own success. Oh, man, I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm not saying that's the case. But even in our own life, the minute you think you're the master of something, hello, you'll be challenged you'll realize, man, you don't get knocked down a peg. And this is what happened here. Oh, and here's the synopsis as well. ostracize villain, John crease attempts to gain revenge on Daniel, Miyagi, with the help of a Vietnam War comrade, the wealthy owner of a toxic waste disposal business, nice dyno or some craziness. It doesn't.

Sal Rodriguez: 36:37

It doesn't even mention his name. It doesn't matter. No. Jerry silver. No. And Chris has given these orders from Tahiti. Tahiti?

Jason Connell: 36:45

Yes. Classic. Good call. Again, Bill Conti was back and off macho Pat Merida, we're back. But I say go see it. Enjoy it for what it is. And again, Appleton there it does look the same. So that's nice. It's not like we look at a different part of the credit card franchise and go oh, yeah, that one just looks different. Now I appreciate that. They're shooting on film. That lighting is great. You know, there's just the story is kind of where things start, then comes. Now my posters are in sync, Rocky 519 90. I sell this in the theater. So the story here, let's do the synopsis reluctantly retired from fighting rocky takes charge of Mickey's gym and agrees to train a young protege who is hungry for success. And that is one Tommy Morrison from Oklahoma was in that movie. He was Tommy Gunn in the movie. And it was such a different vibe and tone from the original. And I think still Oh, and having had a break after rocky for a good break. And that was such a high to end on. That. I don't know how it happened. But he got Appleton back and I was like hey, this is going back to the roots. We're going back to Philly Rockies going back from being a champ to kind of humbled guy brings in Appleton. And I saw the theater and I was like oh man, I really wanted to love it and the tone was different. Rocky doesn't have a big fight. He's got like a street fight street fight against tommy gun. And,

Unknown: 38:24

you know, I

Jason Connell: 38:25

probably should go back and revisit it. I wouldn't say it's bad. But I think our expectations were here. Right? Like it's gonna be a Rocky movie. And it was something different. Well,

Sal Rodriguez: 38:35

because whenever I think of a street fight, especially a long street fight, I'm always reminded of Any Which Way But Loose with Clint Eastwood, when they would have these long drawn out fights going through the neighborhood going through the city, how they were completely unrealistic. So in Rocky five, is this street fight a realistic fight? It is,

Jason Connell: 38:55

but it's not what we signed up for. But, you know, it's good though. He's mentoring this young fighter who starts to believe there's a kind of a Don King character like and he's trying to recruit him over and then he turns on him. And so again, I want to go back and revisit it. It's just it was something different. It was I

Sal Rodriguez: 39:15

do need to revisit it. I absolutely do need to revisit rocky five. It's been a very long time. The only thing I remember is him versus Tommy Morrison. I don't remember much else. I remember the street fight vaguely. Yeah, I gotta revisit this one. And I'm when you said that. He directed the first Rocky and he comes back for five. That's a big jump. He missed two. He missed three. He missed four. And they have him back. I would love to hear how that conversation took place where they're asking please come back to number five. I'm

Jason Connell: 39:44

going to go back and kind of hit one two and three again, because I have most recently seen for and really enjoyed it but there it is Appleton brought back in the franchise that he helped launch. That's kind of a cool story. Reuniting with Stallone. Now there mega stars I mean Stallone I mean commodity became an action hero icon him and Swartz and agar were dominating the 80s I've always liked alone I love what he's done and given us and still giving us and Allison do then goes and does the power of 190 92 Another boxing movie that has kind of ties to Karate Kid So, an English boy living in Africa during World War Two, through his boxing prowess becomes a symbol of hope and a time of war. Screenplay by Robert Mark came in, mouth open mouth ajar,

Sal Rodriguez: 40:41

my jaw is Jason Why am I just hearing about this? Now you're telling me we have a motion picture that was written by Robert Mark Kaman and directed by John G. Albertson. And I'm just hearing about this now.

Jason Connell: 40:54

Well just are just remembering because I'm sure on the filmography for Robert Mark came in. We discussed it. But that was years ago. I'm a failure. Even Dorf was the kid and Morgan Freeman is also in it. I have to admit this right here and now. Yeah, I've never seen it. I knew of it jaw drop again ever. No, I this is like back on my radar. Like you know what I knew about it. I've seen it. Come on. I watched the trailer today and thought, oh my gosh, I'm probably gonna love this movie. Yeah. So God is see it. Sal Rodriguez Jason Connell must go see

Sal Rodriguez: 41:36

it says let's see, because I can only imagine that I'm gonna sit there. And you're gonna see these pieces of the Karate Kid. Yeah, right, right. Elements accidentally, you know, whatever. These are from the creators of The Karate Kid. They got together did another movie. Surely you're gonna see some little, you're gonna see the spirit of the Karate Kid, I would imagine exactly. I

Jason Connell: 41:58

don't usually do a filmography with posters. Sometimes I'm insane. can sometimes I'm behind but there's the power of one poster. And there's only one more before the documentary. And it's a movie I did see. And I really liked and when I saw it, I didn't make the connection to Allison. And that is poster please. Eight seconds. 1994 Based on a true story. The film chronicles the life of Elaine frost the 1987 P RC A bull riding World Champion his marriage and his friendship with tuff Hedeman three time world champion and Cody Lambert. So I didn't know of the real life Lane frost at the time. But Appleton sprinkle in his magic dust on this made a very powerful movie. Luke Perry plays Lane frost he Puffin Stephen Baldwin. Well, spoiler alert. Lane frost dies. Thanks, bull riding. Thanks, bro. Now it's a well documented

Sal Rodriguez: 43:02

Okay, well, he dies bull riding.

Jason Connell: 43:04

Yes.

Sal Rodriguez: 43:05

Oh my gosh, what's

Jason Connell: 43:07

on video goes on. It probably is. So this is my salt when it came out. 1994 I've never done a deep dive into Lane frost beyond what the movie showed me. And I read. So there probably is all this old footage of some sorts of different time. Yeah. But then his friend goes on and becomes a champion too. And it's just it's powerful. I really enjoy it now. Does it hold up? I don't know. I saw it. 94

Sal Rodriguez: 43:32

You know what? I'm thinking of Top Gun, right? It's almost like got a tag

Jason Connell: 43:37

element. It has that quality written by Robert knobs getting now so there are some takeaways. Appleton gave us two masterpieces, Rocky, the Karate Kid created sequels and spin offs and everything else. And some other very enjoyable movies along the way. And others I didn't mention because we could just be talking forever. But these were the bigger ones. And, you know, he lived longer, maybe even more, but he left us plenty. And this documentary which we're also going to watch and we're going to show the trailer. I'm telling you I'm going to be in tears just watching this documentary. Just the power of it the people speaking about how move they were by his movies and just the genius of Abelson but anything else you want to add before we queue up

Sal Rodriguez: 44:30

the trailer? No. Well, I've got a few things on my to watch list. Yeah, you do. And I'm a little disappointed in myself. I mean, I should be as co hosted let's talk Cobra Kai, you would think I'd be a little more up to speed on these things. That's

Jason Connell: 44:44

okay. That's that's okay. So it's an education for you tonight. I'm here is the poster. Really cool. If you can see that. Describe that sound? Can you see it?

Sal Rodriguez: 44:55

Yeah, let me blow you up here a little bit. What we have is we have Daniel sun is up on the what is it? Some sort of beam at the beach during the crane we have Dennison practicing the crane on the beam of wood at the beach in the word king of the underdogs, and then down below. Oh, you have Rocky in the end with his arms raised. Okay, so you have his two most iconic characters there. Yeah, Daniel Russo, and of course Rocky Balboa there with the arms raised in the end. So yeah, that that pretty much says it all like no when I saw this side, again, jaw drop. I said, well, I need to see this. Why haven't I seen this? Yeah, so why

Jason Connell: 45:37

haven't you seen this, but lame. The name of the documentary is John G. Abelson, King of the underdogs came out in 2017. Directed by Derek Wayne Johnson. The synopsis is an examination of the Oscar winning director who brought to life some of cinema's most beloved motion pictures. Very true. Let's play the trailer and talk a little bit more before we sign off on this memorable episode.

Media: 46:13

He was pretty self confident and he had an opinion, he was feisty. He wasn't about to be bullied by anybody. He was an arrogant pitch. He knew what he was doing from front to back from beginning to end. John Allison guy what filmmaking was about and what story was about understands those moments that are are are really deciding factors. So what better artist than John Allison to be working with those stories, there was no doubt that John would go on to become a very, very important filmmaker. He was one of the great directors of the 70s and 80s. This was a guy who was right there through the film, the legacy of the filmmaker lives. I think that's the case with Jaya, is it safe to say that John's sort of the king of the underdog story, the underdog is a story that most of us can relate to? I don't go out of my way looking for those stories but when they come my way, and if they're good i responsible I couldn't have found a better director for Rocky there's no way.

Sal Rodriguez: 47:40

Jason what platform can we see this on? Purpose on Amazon Prime? I have Amazon Prime right now.

Jason Connell: 47:46

We're going to stream it right now for August. So scene by scene breakdown. I believe it's on Apple to buy I'd have to check. I'm now going to have add this to my library. No doubt about it.

Sal Rodriguez: 47:58

That's why I missed the days of blockbuster. Because you see a movie you like you go to Blockbuster. You rented. Okay, fine. Oh, we don't have it right now. Okay, I'll be back in a couple days. You're back in a couple of days. And there it is, you know, every movie was available for rent at some point. But unfortunately today not every movie is available for rent. And actually not every movie is available for even purchase because I've been seeing a lot lately. currently unavailable currently unavailable. So some of these movies just kind of end up loss it seems. Yeah.

Jason Connell: 48:26

Someone's keeping them at their house.

Sal Rodriguez: 48:28

I think they are Neverland a mattress.

Jason Connell: 48:30

That's a crime so episode of that.

Sal Rodriguez: 48:33

I got to see this movie king of the underdog.

Jason Connell: 48:36

Love season.

Sal Rodriguez: 48:38

It's a must see for us

Jason Connell: 48:40

worked for sure.

Sal Rodriguez: 48:41

For any. But any, any. Yeah. Any fan of Karate Kid. Any fan of Rocky. This is a must see for sure.

Jason Connell: 48:48

Absolutely. And it looks like they did a great job. They've covered it. What great talent to come on and talk. Scorsese's honouring scores says it forget about it.

Sal Rodriguez: 48:59

I wish john Abelson could see that. You know, that's that's what I mean. When it comes to me being sad about someone dying. A lot of it has to do with if there's something wonderful happening and they don't get to see it. He didn't get to see Scorsese honor him. He didn't get to see Cobra Kai. I get sad when I think about the things that that person missed that are honoring to them.

Jason Connell: 49:19

Yeah. I agree with you completely. And it's sad, but he does. You know, he's in there. His presence is in the documentary his own words. I appreciate when they do that.

Sal Rodriguez: 49:31

Okay, so we did get to see Scorsese honoring him, hopefully, no,

Jason Connell: 49:34

we don't know I didn't say that I saw in there because they interview or they pull old clips or something. So I'm not sure of the technique. So I can't say that for certain No, but I'm sure I'm gonna score says he had conversations over the years. So I was

Sal Rodriguez: 49:49

thinking I hope he didn't pass away before he got to see the documentary.

Jason Connell: 49:52

Well, I have some news on that. But hang on. So I have a little trivia here. Just a little things I saved for the end, which I typically do on Let's Talk movies, but Allison was going to direct Serpico 1973 Al Pacino movie classic but was replaced before filming due to differences with the producer. So there's that because I'm always intrigued like, what actors we're going to do these roles and and what directors are going to do that so Serpico that yeah, that would have been a different movie. But still I loved learning this about him. He Appleton that is declined to direct rocky to I don't know why you're coming off a movie that prestige. You've won Best Director, the movies one Best Picture, all these accolades. Some people don't want to go right back into it. And test fate. Stallone did, but it was a different beat and he didn't direct the first one. So maybe he just was like, You know what? I'm gonna pump the brakes and try something different. I don't think it was a creative differences. Sometimes people aren't ready. He was ready. By the time the Karate Kid Part Two came out maybe said hey, I learned my mistake. Last time I'm in who knows? He was the original director of Saturday Night Fever 1977. But pulled out he was replaced by John Batum. And I knew this and that's fascinating to me. That that can happen like a man not know I'm out. And I don't know why that was 1977. So that was before rocky two. But interesting. nonetheless. Appleton also directed seven actors to Oscar nominations. Jack Lemmon, Jack Guilford Burgess Meredith Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Pat Marita and Bert young lemon won Best Actor prizes for Save the tiger 1973 which is a movie he did before Rocky, which looks pretty good. By the way. I'm

Sal Rodriguez: 51:54

just thinking about all the stuff I need to see.

Jason Connell: 51:58

You're making a list. I got injury list over there.

Sal Rodriguez: 52:02

I gotta see save the tiger. I do. 73 Yeah. You know what, Jason before you and I even started podcasting? Yes. I heard from a friend, a friend of a friend who said he made the statement. He said, The 70s was the best era of movies. I always say that. I know. But be even before you said and other people said no, I'm not. You're not the only person that yeah, a lot of people think that a lot of people it was. But now I'm now learning that like, oh, yeah, I think they're right is what I'm thinking. Now

Jason Connell: 52:33

to end on. A little bit of sadness, but we just reminisced about this movie or highlighted this movie. Abelson died a month and a half before the release of the documentary. He kind of the underdogs, John G. Edwards and King of the underdogs. So we don't know. We don't know if he saw an early cut. You don't know I'm sure him and the director Derek Wayne Johnson were in constant communication. He had pancreatic cancer, which is a terrible cancer to get. None of them are good. But that one in particular is bad. And no,

Sal Rodriguez: 53:08

you know, whatever. Also fatal and very fast. It's one of the quickest, very fast,

Jason Connell: 53:13

so we hope you didn't suffer too much. Hopefully, it was just uplifting to know that this documentary was being made and all these people that he loved and admired and had relationships with, wanted to be in it and sing his praises and just share. So yeah, it makes me want to see this all the more and also visit and revisit some of these movies we just talked about tonight. Oh,

Sal Rodriguez: 53:39

yeah. I definitely got to see some of these. I got to see the one that's written by came in as well.

Jason Connell: 53:45

No, yeah, power of one, the power of one.

Sal Rodriguez: 53:48

And Jason I gotta say, you know, because it's it jumps out at me as far as me being twice removed from John G. Wilson, myself, via Luke Perry, who was directed by Adelson in the 1994 movie eight seconds. I was an extra in Beverly Hills not to win. Oh, in fact, you brought to my attention a screenshot of me in the classroom near Luke Perry near from Beverly Hills, not a toy. No. And then also there was one other name that jumped out at me is that I used to work out at the gym and have a very pleasant conversations with John Batum. Now, it's kind of removed in the sense of John Batum. Okay, so But John Batum took over for John Allison. They maybe knew each other they may be chatted at one point. So I'll use that as another tie once removed with me and John Adelson via John Batum and Saturday Night Fever and me at the gym in Sherman Oaks. I love

Jason Connell: 54:42

it. Batum is now 84 He did movies like war games blue thunder, short circuit steak out Saturday Night Fever. So many of my faves. I'm a huge fan so fascinated and not know that you met him. He met a lot of people when you were working at the gym but

Sal Rodriguez: 55:00

i did i Got the gyms. I spent many years working in gyms on Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino. And you know what a lot of celebs live in that area. All my life growing up in Los Angeles, I saw more celebs in the San Fernando Valley than I ever did over the hill in Los Angeles, or West Hollywood. Wow.

Jason Connell: 55:20

Well, John G. Albertson, your spirit and movies will live on forever. And thank you for giving us all that you gave us. And we will come back and enjoy them, revisit them, talk about them, any and everything. And this has been a real pleasure doing a filmography on John G. Woodson, director of the Karate Kid.

Sal Rodriguez: 55:42

Yeah, very excited and honored. Thanks, Jason for having me. John G. Abelson, rest in peace. Thank you for all that you've given us. I want an action figure I want to John Adelson action figure and let me tell you something. Some of you may not know the toy industry you may think well that's kind of obscure. No, it's not believe me. It's entirely possible that could one day release action figure honoring John G Adelson and I am here with dollars in hand ready for it.

Jason Connell: 56:09

I really like it. I think it's a four pack or a five pack. It's got John G Robinson in it. You have Rocky Balboa Apollo Creed. And then you have Daniel Russo and Mr. Miyagi it's a five pack by NECA and I will say you know he can have the whole film thing going on right he is the director in the pack right and then he could be directing them and you could play with him and no no cry kid I said like the Crane Kick and then he could you could just have fun like you're making the movies come on Stallone really hit him this time really hit Apollo this time? I don't think he talks like an Australian guy but but I still think I would have a lot of fun so I think it could happen Sal called neck let's get this greenlit well safe pack.

Sal Rodriguez: 56:54

Let's see what companies we can get involved in this but no, I'm on board for that. I'm very excited to learn more. I'm still learning more about John G. Albertson here we are looking only been through Jason you and I would let's talk Cobra Kai all the rabbit holes we've gone down and as I'm still learning about our director, John G Appleton so very excited to be here and excited to learn even more.

Jason Connell: 57:16

So thank you so much for listening and please be sure to subscribe to the let's talk Cobra Kai podcast and the let's talk Cobra Kai YouTube Live Channel. You can also really help us by giving the show a five star rating on Apple podcast.

Sal Rodriguez: 57:31

And for all you listeners that enjoy sharing your thoughts you can leave us a review on Apple podcasts send us a direct message or post a comment on any let's talk Cobra Kai social media platform.

Jason Connell: 57:40

We also highly recommend checking out our other podcast and visiting just curious media.com No Mercy