PUMPING IRON (1977)

MORGAN'S RATING

In 1977, an independent documentary movie shone a light on the world of bodybuilding, becoming a huge box office hit and creating an international sensation. It launched one man's multi-million dollar career and changed the world of bodybuilding and physical exercise forever: Pumping Iron. Starring five-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie followed the 28-year-old bodybuilder as he competed for his sixth title.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Roger Callard, Marianne Claire, Franco Columbu, Ed Corney, Bud Cort (scenes deleted), Lou Ferrigno, Victoria Ferrigno, Mike Katz, Serge Nubret, Robbie Robinson, Liev Schreiber (Narrator, 2002 version), Ken Waller, Joe Weider, Jimmy Williams (Physique photographer at Mr. Olympia, uncredited).

FACTS

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

RELEASE DATE: 1977 (USA) - In the film Arnold Schwarzenegger states that he missed his father's funeral so that he could continue training uninterrupted. For the re-release (2002) of the film, Schwarzenegger said that that statement was untrue, and was made in order to help sell the film.

DIRECTORS: George Butler and Robert Fiore. WRITERS: George Butler, and based on the book by Charles Gaines. PRODUCERS: George Butler and Jerome Gary. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Michael Small. DISTRIBUTOR: Cinema 5 Distributing.

QUOTES

Interviewer: Do you visualize yourself as a living sculpture? Arnold Schwarzenegger: Yes, definately. Good bodybuilders have the same mind when it comes to sculpting, than a sculptor has.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Franco is pretty smart, but Franco's a child, and when it comes to the day of the contest, I am his father. He comes to me for advices. So it's not that hard for me to give the wrong advices.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Milk are for babies, when you get older you drink beer.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: I don't have any weak points. I had weak points three years ago, but my main thing in mind is, my goal always was, to even out everything to the point...that everything is perfect. Which means if I want to increase one muscle a half inch, the rest of the body has to increase. I would never make one muscle increase or decrease, because everything fits together now, and all I have to do is get my posing routine down more perfect, which is almost impossible to do, you know. It's perfect already.

Matt Ferrigno: Never feel sorry for yourself. Remember, if you are training hard, he may be training twice as hard. You just gotta keep coming back stronger.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"Surprisingly good documentary..." -- Peg Aloi, Boston Phoenix