Adrian Pennino
Adrianna Pennino | |
---|---|
Paulie Pennino (brother) Logan Balboa (grandson) | |
Religion | Catholicism |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Italian |
Status | Deceased |
Adrianna Pennino-Balboa is a fictional character from the Rocky series, played by Talia Shire.[1]
Shire was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Adrian in Rocky. The final scene in Rocky II, in which Rocky yells "Yo Adrian, I did it!", has been named by film enthusiasts as one of the most iconic quotes in sports film history.[2][3]
Casting
Originally, Stallone offered Carrie Snodgress the role of Adrian, but she turned it down due to the low salary she was offered. Susan Sarandon was considered, but she was turned down because she was deemed too pretty to play the mousy character of Adrian. Talia Shire then auditioned for the role, and was selected.[4][5]
Biography
Rocky
In the first film, Adrian is an
Adrian and Rocky later go to an ice rink on
Rocky II
In the second film, Adrian witnesses Rocky in the hospital after his recent match against Apollo Creed. At first, Apollo goads Rocky into a rematch, but Rocky, instead, intends on retiring from boxing, and undergoes surgery for
Rocky III
The movie begins with showing that Rocky has been very successful and living an opulent lifestyle. Rocky convinces Mickey to move into his mansion so he can look out for him. Rocky, Adrian and Mickey attend the unveiling of a bronze statue in honor of the "Italian Stallion" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Overwhelmed by the generosity of the city, Rocky announces his plan to retire from professional boxing. With the crowd booing in disbelief,
Rocky IV
In the fourth film, Adrian and Rocky are visited by Apollo Creed, who has plans to have an exhibition match against a Russian
Rocky V
In the fifth film, shortly after the match with Drago, Adrian sits with her husband who is showing signs of complications. Upon their return to the United States, they reunite with their son, Robert, and hold a subsequent press conference. With questions about the complications were brought forth, she quickly denies it and states that her husband is in fit condition. But, Rocky is interrupted by fight promoter, George Washington Duke, in hopes of creating another lucrative match. Adrian takes the podium to announce that Rocky is retiring, which stuns the audience.
Settling back home, Rocky overhears her and Paulie arguing about a dramatic life-changing situation. Paulie inadvertently has Rocky and Adrian give their accountant a power of attorney. In recoil, the accountant subsequently embezzled and squandered the Balboas' money on real estate deals gone sour, costing the Balboas their entire fortune and virtually all of their assets. In addition, the accountant had failed to pay Rocky's taxes over the past six years, and the mansion has been mortgaged by $400,000. Rocky tells Adrian that he wants to fight again to recoup their assets, but she requests that he should be tested with a physician's approval firsthand. The doctor performs computer-simulated tests, confirming that Rocky is diagnosed with a form of brain damage, and the effects are permanent and irreversible, making it impossible for him to be licensed to box in any state. While Rocky tries to go against his physician's orders, Adrian reassures him that they could make it through, and Rocky reluctantly acknowledges that it's time to retire from boxing.
From their lavish lifestyle, they return to the streets, moving into Paulie's old house in South Philadelphia. Returning to her job at the J&M Tropical Fish pet shop, she and Rocky are cornered by Duke. Rocky would consider offers, but Adrian would deny all of them, as she knows it's a matter of money, and Rocky would be severely disabled if he were to come out of retirement again. She becomes skeptical when Rocky invites a young ruffian boxer from Oklahoma, Tommy "the Machine" Gunn, to stay with them. With Rocky spending his time training Tommy, it creates a rift between Rocky and Robert. Duke managed to catch Tommy's attention, which causes him to part ways from his mentor.
Adrian comes to Rocky's aid, following his dispute with Tommy, leaving Rocky severely frustrated. Rocky saw their relationship as another way of winning, getting back to the life they once lived, but Adrian attests to that, citing that the partnership was actually destroying their family, and should he pass down values, as well as passing it on to his son[clarification needed]. From this, Rocky calms down and reconciles with Robert. As Tommy and Rocky engage in a street fight, she is notified by Robert, and the two make their way to the scene. Adrian is last seen walking away with the family in high spirits after Rocky emerged victorious.
Rocky Balboa
In autumn of 2001, Adrian discovered that she was dying from ovarian cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, but it was not enough to save her life. Adrian died peacefully in her sleep on January 11, 2002, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aged 51, with her family by her side.
In the years since, Rocky, trying to break out of his bankruptcy, manages to open a small Italian restaurant, named after her. The walls of the restaurant showcase pictures of Adrian, Italian heritage, as well as Rocky's sports memorabilia, such as ringside photographs, clippings from newspapers, paintings, and his championship belts.
Creed
Adrian doesn't physically appear in Creed, having previously died from ovarian cancer, but photos of her are seen around Rocky's restaurant (which was named after her). When Rocky goes to the graveyard he first goes and puts her brother Paulie's favorite alcoholic drink on his gravestone next to Adrian's. He then places a single red rose at the base of Adrian's headstone and then reads the newspaper to her and Paulie.
When Rocky is diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Rocky initially chooses not to undergo chemotherapy, partly because Adrian's own treatment had failed, and partly because most of his loved ones have died. Eventually, however, Rocky's new protege, Adonis Creed persuades him to keep fighting.
Creed II
In Creed II, Rocky again visits Adrian and Paulie's graves and admits that he has been unable to bring himself to call his son Robert, who had moved to Vancouver years earlier. At the end of the film, Rocky goes to see Robert and meets his grandson Logan for the first time, remarking how much he looks like Adrian.
Other media
In the 2012 Broadway musical based on the first Rocky film, Adrian Pennino was portrayed by Margo Seibert.[7]
References
- ISBN 9781135167455. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
- ^ Iconic Quote accessed 1-4-2016
- ^ Talia Shire as Adrian biography accessed 1-4-2016
- ^ Rocky Casting Might-Have-Beens accessed 1-4-2016
- ^ The films of Avildsen accessed 1-4-2015
- ISBN 9780826417572. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
- ^ Broadway Direct:Rocky accessed 1-4-2016