Stay Hungryis a 1976 Americancomedy-dramafilm by directorBob Rafelsonfrom a screenplay byCharles Gaines(adapted from his 1972 novel of the same name).[1][2][3]
| Stay Hungry | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bob Rafelson |
| Written by | Charles Gaines Bob Rafelson |
| Produced by | Harold Schneider Bob Rafelson |
| Starring | Jeff Bridges Sally Field Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| Cinematography | Victor J. Kemper |
| Edited by | John F. Link |
| Music by | Byron Berline, Bruce Langhorne |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 102 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $24.8 million |
The story centers on a young scion from Birmingham, Alabama, played byJeff Bridges,who gets involved in a shady real-estate deal. In order to close the deal, he needs to buy agymbuilding to complete a multi-parcel lot. He becomes romantically interested in the gym's receptionist (Sally Field) and drawn to the carefree lifestyle of the AustrianbodybuilderJoe Santo (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who is training there for theMr. Universecompetition.
Schwarzenegger won aGolden Globefor Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture, but it was not his true debut role; he had played Hercules (as Arnold Strong) in the 1970 filmHercules in New York,a gangster's henchman inRobert Altman's 1973 filmThe Long Goodbye,and a masseur in the 1974 television movieHappy Anniversary and Goodbye.
Plot
editCraig Blake is a youngSouthernman born of a wealthy family, but left lonely and idle after his parents died in a plane crash. He is content to spend his time fishing, hunting, and puttering around his large family mansion in Birmingham, Alabama, inhabited only by himself and a butler. Blake is employed at a shady investment firm run by a slick con artist named Jabo where Blake does very little actual work. He is asked to handle the purchase of a smallgymthat the firm is buying to clear space for an office high-rise.
Blake represents himself as a businessman looking to buy the gym and meets its owner Thor Erikson and employees Franklin and Newton. He is strangely fascinated with the world he discovers there. Blake's usual social life is centered around his upscale country club and its crowd, including his friends Lester and Halsey, and spends his time there playing tennis, shootingpoker diceand flirting with women, one of whom asks Blake to find a musical guest for an upcoming party.
As Blake moves forward with the business deal, he is smitten with the receptionist, Mary Tate Farnsworth, and befriends bodybuilder Joe Santo, who aspires to win theMr. Universetitle. He finds he ultimately cannot sell out his newfound friends at the gym for the sake of his job, so he constantly evades questions about the progress of the gym deal from friend and coworker Hal Foss.
Mary Tate and Craig begin a passionate relationship, but trouble erupts when he tries to integrate her into his country-club scene. At a party at the club, which features Santo performing with a country group, Craig's friends mock Santo as a "freak" and an outcast. A fight nearly breaks out between Halsey and Blake but is broken up. Halsey and his friend Packman formulate a plan to embarrass Santo. When Santo takes the stage, Halsey and Packman drunkenly heckle him and the band. Santo tries to ignore it but soon stops playing his violin and leaves the party. Craig tries to convince Mary Tate to see him for who he really is, and not for his snobbish friends and surroundings.
When Jabo realizes that Blake will not purchase the building, he plies Thor and his assistant Newton with drugs, booze, and hookers. The Mr. Universe competition arrives and Santo is hoping to beat his rival Dougie Stewart. While Thor is drunk and distracted with the prostitutes, Newton secretly stashes the prize money inside his bag and flees.
Blake visits the gym and engages in a fight with the drunken and drugged Thor. He finds Mary Tate, who earlier had been assaulted by Thor in anamyl nitrite-fueled rage.
When the Mr. Universe contestants discover that the prize money has been stolen, they run after Santo, who is running to meet Mary Tate. The chase of bodybuilders pours out into the streets of Birmingham and attracts an amazed crowd of onlookers. The bodybuilders engage in an impromptu posing routine for the crowd.
Craig sarcastically derides his former Boss es at the real-estate firm and goes into the gym business with Santo. Craig mocks Jabo with an exaggerated bodybuilding pose and moves out of his family's mansion, leaving his old family memorabilia to his butler.
Cast
edit- Jeff Bridgesas Craig Blake
- Sally Fieldas Mary Tate Farnsworth
- Arnold Schwarzeneggeras Joe Santo
- R. G. Armstrongas Thor Erickson
- Robert Englundas Franklin
- Helena Kallianiotesas Anita
- Roger E. Mosleyas Newton
- Woodrow Parfreyas Uncle Albert
- Scatman Crothersas William
- Kathleen Milleras Dorothy Stephens
- Fannie Flaggas Amy
- Joanna Cassidyas Zoe
- Richard Gillilandas Hal
- Mayf Nutter as Richard Packman
- Ed Begley Jr.as Lester
- John David Carsonas Halsey
- Joe Spinellas Jabo
- Clifford A. Pellow as Walter Jr. (credited as Cliff Pellow)
- Dennis Fimpleas Bubba
- Garry Goodrowas Moe Zwick
- Bart Carpinelli as Laverne
- Bob Westmoreland as Fred Kroop
- Brandy Wilde as Flower
- Laura Hippe as Mae Ruth
- John Gilgreen as Security Officer
- Murray Johnson as Heavy #1
- Dennis Burkleyas Heavy #2
- Autry Pinson as Heavy #3
- Martin Hames as The Bartender
- Byron Berlineas Fiddler With Mustache
- Susan Bridges as Blonde Photographer at Contest
- Roger Callard as Bodybuilder In Blue Shorts
- Franco Columbuas Franco Orsini
- Ed Corneyas Bodybuilder
- Roland LeGrand Godfrey as Water Skier Single Ski Dock Start
- Mary Leona Perry Kirtley as Water Skier Double Ski Dock Start and Skiing Next to A Tug Boat and Barge
- Janelle Kirtleyas Water Ski Trainer For Sally Field
- William Kent Jones as Contestant Judge
- Bob Rafelsonas Man On Sidewalk With Painting
- Robbie Robinsonas Bodybuilder At Contest
- Ken Walleras Doug Stewart
- Jolene Wolff as Mrs. Clyde
Production
editStay Hungrymarked the final film for production designer Toby Carr Rafelson, Rafelson's wife and film-production partner. After learning that her husband pursued women during production, including Sally Field, she filed for divorce and never worked for Rafelson again.[4]
Roger Callard, a top bodybuilder of the era, said of his experience making the film: "The director was screaming over his megaphone, 'Please do not touch the bodybuilders!' People were rushing us, even scratching us!"[5]
In her autobiography, Sally Field wrote that during the audition with director Bob Rafelson, she was asked by him to take her shirt off and kiss him.[6]
Reception
editCritical response
editForThe New York Times,criticVincent Canbywrote that the film "isn't all bad. It just seems that way when it pretends to be more eccentric than it is and to have more on its mind than it actually does." However, Canby praised the film's depiction of theNew Southand the performances by Bridges, Field and Schwarzenegger.[7]
Los Angeles Timesreviewer Charles Champlin wrote: "It is several movies not quite rolled into one, good performances and good sequences tossed together in the lap of chance, leading to a denouement that would be even cheerier if what went before had engaged belief or concern."[8]
OnRotten Tomatoes,the film has an approval rating of 69% based on reviews from 16 critics, with an average rating of 6.5/10.[9]OnMetacritic,it has a score of 60% based on reviews from 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[10]
References
edit- ^Canby, Vincent(April 26, 1976)."Stay Hungry (1976) Screen: 'Stay Hungry':Rafelson Film Is About 'New' South".The New York Times.
- ^Hause, Irene. (1983, January).Mike Mentzer’s Video VentureArchived2009-01-25 at theWayback Machine.Muscle Mag International.Issue Number 33, page 25. (Retrieved August 21, 2008.)
- ^Tonguette, Peter.Bob Rafelson and His Odd American Places.The Film Journal.Issue 11. (Retrieved December 1, 2005.)
- ^Biskind, Peter. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls. Simon and Schuster. 1998. 273.
- ^MuscleMag International #33 - Jan 1983
- ^"Sally Field Bares All in New Memoir".people.Retrieved29 March2024.
- ^Canby, Vincent(1976-04-26). "Screen: 'Stay Hungry'".The New York Times.p. 41.
- ^Champlin, Charles (1976-05-12). "'Stay Hungry' Stays Loose ".Los Angeles Times.Vol. IV. pp. 1, 13.
- ^Stay HungryatRotten Tomatoes
- ^"Stay Hungry".Metacritic.