The Rambo Report: Five Films, Three Books, One Legend

The ultimate guide to the Rambo phenomenon—from bestselling novel to Hollywood blockbuster to all-American hero, legend, and icon—written with the full cooperation of Rambo’s creator, bestselling author David Morrell . . .

From the beginning,  Rambo was more than a character in a 1972 novel by David Morrell. He was the culmination of the author’s personal encounters with veterans returning from the Vietnam War. The 1982 movie adaptation of First Blood reflected the novel’s powerful insights into a troubled veteran’s post-war experience. Then in 1985, the film’s explosive sequel Rambo: First Blood Part II transformed the character into something shockingly different. With a focus on blood-and-guts action—and the beefed-up muscles of Sylvester Stallone—Rambo became an invincible one-man army. A new kind of hero for a new day in America.  A full-blown pop-culture icon as controversial as he was crowd-pleasing—blasting his way through the most influential action film franchise in Hollywood history . . .

The Rambo legend was born.

Five feature films. Three novels. Seven video games. Countless comic books, action figures, and even an animated TV show for kids. The Rambo machine has been as unstoppable as Rambo himself. Now for the first time, Hollywood insider Nat Segaloff digs deep into the man, the myth, and the massive impact of the phenomenon known as “The Rambo Effect.” Packed with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, sharp cultural insights, and ongoing debates about violence in the media, this is an explosive, no-holds-barred report from the front lines of Hollywood mythmaking. A must-read for Rambo fans, movie buffs, and anyone interested in American culture . . .

Nat Segaloff has been a movie publicist and film critic (not at the same time), TV producer, college teacher, reporter, and broadcaster. He has brought all those skills to over 30 books, most of them about film history and filmmakers. His print and TV biographies include those of John Belushi, Larry King, Arthur Penn, Harlan Ellison, William Friedkin, John Milius, Paul Mazursky, Stan Lee, Stirling Silliphant, Walon Green, and Shari Lewis & Lamb Chop. His Citadel books include The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear, Say Hello to My Little Friend: A Century of Scarface, and The Rambo Report: Five Films, Three Books, One Legend. Visit him online at NatSegaloff.com.