Sylvester Stallone's Deep Cuts: Revisiting Some of Sly's More Obscure Films 

Nighthawks is one of my favorite Stallone films. I grew up with urban terror, so it was all very familiar to me. The scene where Deke identifies Wulfgar in the nightclub is my favorite. Rutger is awesome as always!

“Nighthawks” is great. First time I ever heard Sly curse!

I love Nighthawks. Speaking about cuts, even a blind man would recognize that Wulfgar's death was heavily trimmed down.

My uncle is Don Zimmerman, who edited a bunch of Slys movies early in his career, a couple Rocky movies, over the top, cobra, and other... Sly also gave him the golden glove in the Rocky movies that my uncle still wears on a necklace (although my uncle has been going thru cancer treatment for going on 5 years now and hasn't been working, tho several of my cousin's are also in the business, one getting loads of recognition for editing a bunch of Stranger Things episodes), but I grew up hearing stories, and meeting Sly and some others including Jim Carrey who my uncle edited Ace Ventura and liar liar and others. But always been a huge Sly fan.

Nighthawks Is an underrated classic 😎👍

Victory with Stallone, Michael Caine, and Max von Sydow has a cheesy poster that put me off seeing it but finally did. It's worth a look. It has an old school WW2 film vibe.

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:13 🎬 *Introduction to Nighthawks (1981)* - Overview of the movie "Nighthawks" and its cast. - Sylvester Stallone as NYPD cop Deke DaSilva. - Brief history behind the conception of the film as a third French Connection sequel. 01:24 🎥 *Challenges in Nighthawks Production* - Sylvester Stallone's involvement in the film's direction. - Tension on set between Stallone and Rutger Hauer. - Directorial changes and the impact on the production process. 03:00 🎭 *Lost Scenes and Director's Cut of Nighthawks* - Mention of missing scenes with extraordinary acting. - Description of a finale that was cut. - Stallone's comment on the difficulty of convincing the audience about urban terrorism in New York. 04:40 🌐 *Nighthawks' Reception and Legacy* - Financial success despite compromises in the final cut. - Stallone's explanation for the film's obscurity. - Recognition of Rutger Hauer's performance as the villain. 05:37 🕵️ *Sylvester Stallone's Performance in Nighthawks* - Appreciation for Stallone's performance pre-Rocky 3. - Nighthawks as a thriller rather than a typical action flick. - The film's focus on Stallone's character and the journey to confront the villain. 06:48 🎬 *Unique Elements of Nighthawks* - Commentary on the film's unique atmosphere. - Acknowledgment of the film's late '70s and early '80s NYC vibe. - Reference to Stallone's idiosyncratic choice of dressing in drag in the film. 07:58 📀 *Best Way to Watch Nighthawks* - Recommendation for the recent Shout Factory Blu-ray re-release. - Mention of missing music tracks in previous DVD versions. - Regret over the inability to locate the director's cut of the film. 08:56 🚀 *Nighthawks as a Surprising Film in Stallone's Career* - Placement of Nighthawks in Stallone's career timeline. - Acknowledgment of the film falling into a less-examined period. - Encouragement to give Nighthawks a try. 09:19 🎞️ *Rambo 3 and Over-the-Top: A Box Office Slump* - Mention of Rambo 3 as a costly box office disappointment. - Connection to the financial failure of "Over-the-Top." - Reflection on the challenges Stallone faced in the late '80s. 10:36 ⛓️ *Introduction to Lock Up (1989)* - Brief overview of "Lock Up" and Stallone's character, Frank Leone. - Setting the stage for the narrative of a model prisoner facing unexpected challenges. 11:50 🚨 *Lock Up's Deviation from Gritty Prison Movie Expectations* - Discussion on the departure from a gritty prison movie. - Mention of the real prison location in New Jersey. - Critique on the movie's tonal shift towards a more feel-good drama. 12:20 🎭 *Hokey Clichés and Naivety in Lock Up* - Critique of hokey clichés in the finished film. - Reference to other, more realistic prison dramas. - Stallone's admission about the film's impact on the audience and his career. 13:59 🏢 *Lock Up's Simplistic Portrayal of Prison Life* - Observation of the lack of brutal tribalism and gangs in the prison setting. - Naive depiction of prison camaraderie. - Absence of prison-related issues like violence and rape in the narrative. 15:06 🎭 *Character Dynamics in Lock Up* - Stallone's ability to make a likable hero despite narrative shortcomings. - Overview of the diverse inmate characters and their roles. - Donald Sutherland's contribution to the film with his performance as Warden Drumgoole. 17:08 💥 *Mixed Reception and Box Office Performance of Lock Up* - Acknowledgment of Lock Up as one of Stallone's biggest flops. - Comparison to other obscure Stallone films of the '80s. - Recognition of the movie's entertaining elements despite its flaws. 18:32 📽️ *Conclusion and Rating for Lock Up* - Acknowledgment of Lock Up's entertainment value. - Recognition of Stallone's performance and the supporting cast. - Final rating of six out of ten Stallones for Lock Up. 19:02 🎭 *Stallone's Comedy Ventures: Early Attempts* - Stallone's attempt at comedy with 1991's "Oscar" and 1992's "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot." - Motivation behind trying comedy linked to Arnold Schwarzenegger's success in the genre. - Stallone's earlier comedy, "Rhinestone" (1984), had been a significant flop. 21:02 🤔 *Lessons from Past Comedy Failures* - Stallone's prior comedy film "Rhinestone" with Dolly Parton. - Insight into the risky nature of Stallone's comedy choices. - Discussion on the challenges faced by Stallone in the comedy genre. 23:53 🎬 *Sly's Underrated Comedy: "Oscar"* - Overview of the comedy film "Oscar" directed by John Landis. - Mention of the cast and the humorous, old-fashioned gangster theme. - Financial failure of "Oscar" impacting Stallone's career. 26:03 🤯 *Schwarzenegger's Prank: "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot"* - Background story of Arnold Schwarzenegger tricking Stallone into starring in "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot." - Challenges faced during the making of the film. - The impact of "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot" on Stallone's career and reputation. Made with HARPA AI

This movie is near and dear to my heart. I watched it when I was a kid with my dad. We recorded it so I saw it often❤ It took me over a decade to realize Stallone was in it😅 I also grew up in NyC so it felt so real to me.

Oscar is one of my favorite movies. 😂It was on cable nonstop when I was a kid.

Nighthawks a very underrated movie, i saw this at a local cinema and still enjoy watching it on DVD to this day.

😊❤ Nighthawks is awesome

I remember watching Nighthawkes when it came out on VHS.

No doubt, my fave Stallone movie! I remember seeing it when I was younger and being obsessed. I still watch it at least a couple of times a year. I own the DVD and blu-ray. Will have to compare the two someday. Would LOVE to see the director's cut.

I remember seeing the film Nighthawks on television as a kid. When I saw it again on cable I thought this was a really good taut thriller. It was a big departure from anything I've seen from Stallone. Very Brian Depalma-esq. Very visceral when Billy Dee Williams gets slashed in the face with a knife. It felt way more real than other films. More stylized than anything else from Stallone.. even his clothes and look. It has a satisfying twist ending.that who could forget..!

Unfortunately a lot of Stallones films have been cut or edited down - Nighthawks, Cobra, Cliffhanger, Demolition Man among others Im sure. No deleted scenes, no extended cuts. This subject could be its own video

Love when Sly is yelling obscenities to Haur as he's getting away. Lock Up is a great flick as well, but at the time you can see why people didn't like it since there's not as much action in it. Rhinestone is probably the only Sly movie I haven't seen. I saw Oscar and SoMMWS as a kid and now refuse to see Rhinestone based on how those 2 flicks were lol.

I loved this movie when I saw it back in the day.

Nighthawks is really his most underrated movie. He plays someone who wants to be an honest cop not an action hero blowing away bad guys like John Matrix. It really feels like more of a 70s movie than what was coming in the rest of the decade

NIGHTHAWKS is my favorite Stallone film. It's the first I ever saw in a theatre, and I went knowing nothing about it at all-- except, the music was by Keith Emerson. No kidding. After taping it off HBO, I showed it to several people who'd never heard of it, and they all loved it-- including my Dad, who loved that it was so fast-paced, and "never slowed down". Over the years, I often compared the scene-changes between countries, and the subway chase scene, to THE FRENCH CONNECTION. It was decades later I read it started life as FRENCH CONNECTION 3! I don't really like the 2 Hackman films, but I love this one. I heard about the music being replaced on various releases, but lucky for me, I never bought any of them. I plan to get the Shout Factory disc. It won't hurt me that it's not the longer version, since, all I know is the one that got to theatres-- and it'll be GREAT to see it in WIDESCREEN again for the first time since 1981. NIGHTHAWKS topped my list of movies I wished someone had done a sequel to... along with BUCKAROO BANZAI. Oh well! Back in late 1988, I rode that tram. I had to restrain myself from standing up in the middle of the ride and saying, "Anybody here seen NIGHTHAWKS?" Heh.

I saw Night Hawks as a teenager and loved it, but I don't think I've seen it since. Definitely not something you'll find if you're not looking for it.

Nighthawk was awesome.

Such a great video thank you

Remember seeing this in the theatre way back in the 80's. It's just like Clint Eastwood's Tightrope.

I have seen all of them, and Oscar and Nighthawks is great. I wish there would be a sequel to Tango & Crash.

I absolutely LOVED "Lock up"

My second fave Sly movie after Rocky.

Never been a huge Stallone-fan, but Nighthawks was one of the first dvd's I ever bought, and it is really good, actually.

Landis did Coming to America in 1988, huge success.

He had a cameo in Woody Allen's "Bananas". The subway thugs scene.

Nighthawks is a brilliant movie.

Sly Is The Man!! 👌😊👍 living legend! ✊😆👊🍁

Stallone was Great in Night Hawks

I've only seen Lock Up one time when my family rented it on VHS after it came out. I barely remember it. Same with SOMMWS. I kind of enjoyed Rhinestone though. "This is SERIOUS dark!".

Lock Up was a good flick. I enjoyed it. Cast very well. Would have never expected a huge pay out of it…

I loved Oscar. It was a fun movie. Also Lock Up was one of my fav little known movie.

“Rhinestone” does have its funny moments though.

I really enjoy Lock Up and Nighthawks. And Dolly in the 80s..

I still love Oscar. Just shared it with my son recently and he enjoyed it too

I loved lock up as a kid, when it had just came out.

I saw nighthawks in the theater!

It seems mr Stallone has been a underdog even when having superstar status, ive enjoyed all his movies. We shouldn't take things to seriously afterall its entertainment

Oscar is a pretty good movie. It is one of my favorite stallone movies

I hope you do get carter. That's my favorite underated Stallone flick

Oscar is actually entertaining, and Rhinestone might have been better had Stallone not rewrite the script and left it as it originally was

'Oscar' 1991 is a great comedy with an amazing cast and brilliant direction! Stallone is the weakest link there but it doesn't diminish the film's brilliance!

I actually like Oscar, never had any issues with it. I find it entertaining and will watch it any time it's on.

Came for Kitty & Studs.

Paradise Alley was a good movie

back in the day, my parents had nighthawks on VHS and I bought it on DVD myself and they don't play the rolling stones at the disco and the ending isn't nearly as bloody

I love this movie 🎬🎥

"Oscar" was hilarious, mostly because the entire cast brought the funny.

Was that Rutger Hauer playing the bearded Wulfgar at the start because I've never believed it is.

The only good movie on the list is Nighthawks, that one is legit good. Would love to watch the directors cut.

The Villain was a great little movie, lol

lock up is AWESOME rambo 3 is AWESOMER

I really liked this movie.

Deep Cuts is right

Actually, I liked NIGHTHAWKS a lot. I thought Sly and Billie Dee had great chemistry and they looked very stylish. In NIGHTHAWKS, Sly felt like a real person before RAMBO blew him over the top.

I'm sure I see a video cassette tape years ago, and it was Arnold swartzniga and sylvester stalone in a gay movie together. Not even joking.

Hey, Porkys is a classic.

Oscar is one of Sly's better films. Surprised at how many times I've returned to it over the years.

Nighthawks is a good movie.

Wagner was in Death Stranding so that's something

I love most of Sylvester Stallone's movies. But there are just some that are not re-wachble because of bad writing, directing and weak plot. 1. Oscar (Sure Stallone looks good in suit and Mafia leader role, but come on, this is not what he should have been in) 2. Paradise Alley 3. Rhinestone 4. Avenging Angelo 5. Spy Kids 3D (Stallone so badly regret this) 6. Rebell

I love Oscar

I absolutely love Oscar! I just don't understand why people think it's so bad. Maybe it's because people think of Stallone as an action hero rather than an actor in the broadest sense of the word. I've always thought Stallone was adequately funny, as is everyone else in the film

Sad this movie wasn’t a big hit, Stallone was at his best pre Rambo physique. His acting was both natural and believable. Though Cobra was a fun vehicle for Stallone and over exaggerated. Nighthawks is the most gritty yet better of the Police movie.

As overrated as shawshank redemption, I often think of any prison movie under the sun, such as Blood In, Blood Out, We’re No Angels, Cool Hand Luke, Life, Shot Caller, Death Warrant, even No Escape and Sly’s prison film.

Nighthawks is great, but jees talk about giving away the ending. Spoilers

I always thought this movie was good

FIST! FiST!

You can really see stalone Jewishness in nighthawk

You forgot the 🐬 movie he directed