Stay Hungry

I stumbled across this movie on the UK's little-watched TV network Channel 5. Initially intrigued by the idea of seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger's screen debut, I was quickly engrossed in this excellent and almost unknown film and the way in which the disparate characters inter-relate over the course of the story. The film manages to appear beguilingly simple and yet it deals with such issues as class, aspiration, loyalty, identity and love.

The way in which all the characters slowly but surely reveal their flaws and weaknesses is quite brilliant. Stand-out scenes include Arnie's bodybuilder character playing the fiddle (yes, the fiddle!) with a bunch of hillbillies out in the woods, Jeff Bridges' drunken jig, and the sight of about a hundred pumped-up bodybuilders running almost naked through rush hour traffic, which for me is one of the classic and most unexpected comic moments in cinema.

I may think more of this film because I 'discovered' it almost by chance, but I will always see it as an underrated classic and I urge everyone to seek it out.

A rich young man by the name of Craig Blake (Jeff Bridges), who feels like a guest in his own life and his home after the loss of his parents. He's surrounded by wealthy bores and seductive socialites. Craig decides to do something different in his future, a business deal with some low-life real estate developers. But when he's asked to buy a small Olympic Spa Gym as a part of the deal. Craig finds himself in a world, which he thought it never existed. Craig meets a perky gymnast (Oscar-Winner:Sally Field) and a fiddle-playing, philosophizing Mr. Universe hopeful (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Craig meets these new people that become a part of his life. Craig's new life will be never the way as he expected with his new found friends.

Directed by Bob Rafelson (Black Widow, Blood and Wine, Five Easy Pieces) made an dramatic comedy with happy performances by Bridges, Field and Schwarzenegger make it worthwhile. The film's has good supporting cast like R.G. Armstrong, Robert Englund, Scatman Crothers, Joanna Cassidy and more. This is an extremely underrated comedy. This film has a eccentric mixture of comedy and drama. This film has many fine scenes. This film is based on a novel by Charles Gaines, which he co-wrote the screenplay with the director. If you are a fan of the filmmakers or the stars of this film. You will find this film certainly enjoyable. This is a quirky, funny and a breath of fresh air. Don't miss this 1970's classic. (****/*****).

An interesting tale of "bodybuilding in the New South", "Stay Hungry" was scripted by Charles Gaines and director Bob Rafelson, based on Gaines' novel. Jeff Bridges stars as Craig Blake, product of a rich, upper class Southern family who's gotten mixed up with shady businessmen (among them, guys played by Joe Spinell and Richard Gilliland) in a real estate racket. As part of their latest plan, Craig goes to an old gym to try to convince the owner (R. G. Armstrong) to sell. Instead, Craig finds himself enjoying the company of the regulars. He falls in love with sweet gymnast Mary Tate Farnsworth (Sally Field), and makes friends with fiddle-playing Mr. Universe hopeful Joe Santo (a winning Arnold Schwarzenegger, who gets an official "introducing" credit).

Although the films' second half is less compelling than the first half, this is still an endearing, eclectic mix of comedy and drama. It works largely due to its time-honoured premise of introducing a character to a world he never knew existed. The camaraderie and atmosphere of this world is well realized by director Rafelson, who helped to really bring the sport of bodybuilding to the mainstream (followed by the documentary "Pumping Iron" the following year). There are some decent laughs to be had, and some fairly affecting moments as well.

The music by Bruce Langhorne & Byron Berline is first rate, and the on-location shooting in Birmingham helps a lot. But the principal value of "Stay Hungry" is its talented ensemble. Bridges is ingratiating as usual, Field is simply adorable (and even does a brief nude scene), and Schwarzenegger shows off an easygoing charm; it's no surprise that Arnold would be as good as he is here, since he more or less just has to play himself. I'm sure people who caught this on its first run in 1976 could sense a solid career in the making. This was also a pivotal film for Field, since up to this point she was basically known for her TV roles. Lots of familiar faces in the supporting cast, too: Robert Englund, Roger E. Mosley, Woodrow Parfrey, Scatman Crothers, Fannie Flagg, Joanna Cassidy, Ed Begley Jr., Dennis Fimple, and Dennis Burkley.

"Stay Hungry" is largely cheerful, breezy entertainment, with a refreshingly quirky, character-driven plot and some pretty good dialogue. Good fun, with a priceless climax involving bodybuilders taking to the street and then agreeing to pose for a bevy of amused onlookers.

Seven out of 10.

For starters, this is not Schwarzenegger's first movie. It is one of his firsts but not the first time he appeared in a movie. Remembered for many things, Staying Hungry is an interesting movie that attempts to be too many things besides a quick comedy. The movie jumps into a drama too often to confuse its audience whether this is just a comedy or a dramatic movie. Although this movie stars Jeff Bridges, he is not the highlight of the movie. The supporting cast, which includes Sally Field, Arnold Schwarzenegger, R.G. Armstrong, Robert Englund, Helena Kallianiota, Ed Begley Jr. and Joe Spinelli not only add to the quality of the movie, but are in fact, the main draw to the story. While Bridges does a good job as the star of the film, he doesn't hold the movie together, the rest of the cast does. By the third act, the movie turns into something completely different than the comedy it opened up to be. A very different, yet interesting movie.

Craig Blake (Jeff Bridges) is trying to help buy up a whole chunk of the city for a consortium to rebuilt. Gym owner Thor is holding out. Blake gets to know the disparate cast of characters who call the gym their second home. Only he starts to become their friend and falls for Mary (Sally Field) who's working there.

This is a weird little movie. Sally Field is trying to shed her good girl persona and goes out in the buff. Robert Englund is pre-Kreuger. Arnold Schwarzenegger is making a big move acting as a bodybuilder competing in Mr Universe, and playing the fiddle with rednecks. He's a brainy philosophers who gets the title line. And they got Jeff Bridges holding it all together. To top off the weirdness, some 30 bodybuilders have an impromptu pose off in the streets.

I like all these characters, but there isn't much of a story. It's obvious that Blake has befriend these guys quite early on. There doesn't seem to be much of a struggle. The land developer should be doing much more to drive these guys out. There needs to be more tension. The plot needs to flow better, and there is a little too much meandering going on.