Paul Newman, in discussing the careers of European versus American stars, put it this way: “One of the difficult things is that American filmgoers seem less able and willing to accept actors or actresses in a wide variety of roles—they get something they hook on to and they like, and that’s what they want to see.” In the case of Stallone, they could care less about him as a labor leader or a soccer goalie. But let him be Rocky Balboa, the pug, and they’ll stand happily in line for hours.
