Pumping Iron
Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiori
Based on the book “Pumping Iron” by George Butler and Charles Gaines
1977/US
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Amazon Prime (free to members)
You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; jealousy you have to earn. — Arnold Schwarzenegger
Don’t know whether body building is a sport. If it is this is one of the great sports documentaries. If not, it’s a vaey interesting psychological study.
The setting is Pretoria South Africa in 1975, where the Mr. Universe (amateur) and Mr. Olympia (professional) body-building championships are to be held. We watch various competitors training and talking about their competition. The film focuses on two contenders for the Mr. Olympia title – 5-time winner Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou (“The Incredible Hulk”) Ferrigno.
Ferrigno is a taller, bigger man than Schwarzenegger. He trains under the guidance of his father, which may be a blessing or a curse. Both are utterly determined to defeat Schwarzenegger.
Schwarzenegger has not a worry in the world. It is a amazing how much charisma can be packed into the massive body of a big jerk. He frankly admits to spending much of his time giving bad advice to his opponents and otherwise psyching them out. But this ruthless man has a big smile on his face the whole time and you can see how he would be able to do almost anything he set his mind to.
I have never found muscle bound men particularly attractive and am not a fan of body building. You don’t have to be to enjoy this film. It made a household name out of Schwarzenegger and the rest is history. If the topic appeals, go for it.
