1982. Director: Ted Kotcheff starring Sylvester Stallone with Richard Crenna and Brian Dennehy. Kirk Douglas was originally cast to play Colonel Samuel Trautman. Because of script issues (Kirk wanted Rambo to die at the end, as in the novel), he dropped out of the film and Richard Crenna was cast at the last second. John Travolta was considered for the part of Rambo. Based on the novels by David Morrell.