Columbia Pictures
Before Sylvester Stallone became a household name with his breakthrough film “Rocky,” he starred in a comedy titled “The Lords of Flatbush.” This 1974 movie depicts the story of four friends embracing their greaser lifestyle, navigating their way into adulthood while getting into mischief in Brooklyn’s rough streets during the late 50s. Although it doesn’t match the charm of “American Graffiti,” it provides a raw depiction of life in those times.
Fast forward to 50 years, Stallone is now the most recognizable face of the film. However, during its release in 1974, he was outshined by the then rising star, Henry Winkler, who had just debuted as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli in the ABC sitcom “Happy Days.” The film also starred Perry King, who would later achieve television stardom with the NBC action series “Riptide,” and Susan Blakely, who received a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1976 for her role in ABC’s hit miniseries “Rich Man, Poor Man.”
Interestingly, the role played by King could have been Richard Gere’s debut film role. Gere was initially cast and had even begun shooting, but a food fight with Stallone changed his fate.
The Chicken Lunch Incident That Led to Richard Gere’s Exit from The Lords of Flatbush
Columbia Pictures
Stallone shared a memorable incident from his time with Gere on “The Lords of Flatbush” during a 2006 reader Q&A with Ain’t It Cool News. According to Stallone, Gere was quite difficult to handle during the shooting of the film.
Stallone recalled, “He would strut around in his oversized motorcycle jacket like he was the baddest knight at the round table. One day, during an improv, he got a bit too engaged in the fight scene. I asked him to ease down, but he stayed in character and was unmanageable.”
Their professional relationship ended in the backseat of a Toyota. Stallone was eating a hot dog, and Gere came in with a chicken covered in mustard. Predicting a mess, Stallone warned him, and when his prediction came true, he didn’t hold back.
As per Stallone:
“I said, ‘That thing is going to drip all over the place.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ I said, ‘If it gets on my pants you’re gonna know about it.’ He bites into the chicken, and mustard lands on my thigh. I elbowed him in the head and basically pushed him out of the car.”
Following this incident, the director had to choose between the two actors. Stallone was chosen, and Gere was dismissed from the film. “Richard was given his walking papers and to this day seriously dislikes me. He even thinks I’m the individual responsible for the gerbil rumor. Not true … but that’s the rumor.”
Intrigued about the “gerbil rumor?” I suggest a quick Google search. You might never see “Pretty Woman” in the same light again.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
