Customer Reviews

Stay Hungry

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

For a film with the kind of ensemble star power that this art-film had, one woul d be surprised to find that it also was the first serious role for future mega-star Arnold Schwarzenegger, playing a suprisingly articulate and overwhelmingly personally irresistable bodybuilder, in essence, himself. yet this first attempt at serious acting was with the support of Jeff Bridges and Sally Field, both with big reputations , and also from famed director Bob Rafelson, who has done a lot of stellar work.

The plot is a bit silly and contrived; Bridges plays a down on his luck good ole boy, who tries unsuccesfully at first to ploy his charm into talking the owner of a small and musty gym into relinquishing his lease so Bridges' shady real estate partners can go ahead with a big down-town development. The problem is that Bridges begins to empathize with and befriend this motley crew of off-beat character, including the ever-smiling and instantly likeable Arnold, who shows himself to be quite adept at handling a fiddle. And incidentally, that really is him playing as the film cranks away.

The film never saw wide distribution, but is quite interesting because of who was in it as well as for some of the connections hovering just below the surface. The screen writer was also the author of the original novel, a guy named Charles Gaines, who had gone on to later co-author the smash best selling book, "Pumping Iron", whose primary focus of interest was, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is a good movie for a rainy afternoon, sweet and sentimental in all the right places, if somewhat insubstantial. Think of it as "Going My Way" on steroids! I think you'll be surprised how much you like it, in spite of some hokey moments. Enjoy!

To begin, I'm a life-long bodybuilder and Arnold Schwarzenegger fan, so, although he's strictly a co-star in this, I'm obviously biased. That being said, however, I absolutely LOVE this movie all around! One of my favorite parts is the way some of the very best advice I've ever heard on friendships and relationships in general is dispensed throughout the film at times you didn't even realize you were learning something. Examples: Joe Santo (Arnold) is putting Craig Blake (Jeff Bridges) through a workout and advising him, "You can't grow without burning!", and we come to realize just how profound that was when Joe repeats those words as the two dispute just why Mary Tate Farnsworth (Sally Field) left Joe for Craig. Also, there's Craig's uncle Albert, whose voice is heard previously at times reading letters to Craig, telling him, "It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you do something, and do it unsparingly.". Again, awesome movie. I've worn out two videos of it thusfar, having watched it so many times. Time to get ANOTHER one...

If you were to take the packaging of "Stay Hungry" at face value you would think that the film is primarily a body-building film and that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the film's star. Nothing could be further from the truth. The film's main focus is about a recently orphaned rich kid(Jeff Bridges)from Birmingham,Alabama who along with his business partners is trying to buy a gym so they can tear it down and build apartments. These plans fall along the wayside when he falls for the gym's cute gymnast(Sally Field) and developes a friendship with the champion bodybuider(Schwarzenegger).This film takes a while to warm to because of it's unique rhythms. Bridges' character isn't an easy one to warm to because he seems a little self-absorbed and impulsive. That said, credit director Bob Rafelson for taking difficult material and making it interesting. As for Arnold's performance, he's very charismatic and has little trouble tackling the dramatic elements required of him. It's a wonder he didn't attempt more challenging roles in his career as opposed to the action parts that he churned out. Plus, he plays a mean fiddle.

This is an odd little film that could best be classified as comedy. Three major stars perform the three primary roles, Jeff Bridges, Sally Field, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. This film is considered to be Schwarzenegger's first serious film role which is ironic because he seems to be playing himself, a smart likeable and sometimes wise mega-bodybuilder. In fact, it is the Schwarzenegger character that offers the most unique perspective in this film for this world champion body builder serves as a wise catalyst and facilitator to link his former girl friend to a young rich boy trying to find himself but lacking focus and meaning. Sally Field plays the role of a southern girl (Mary Tae Farnsworth), daughter of the Sheriff of Prattville Alabama, who works in a gym in downtown Birmingham. Her relationship with Schwarzenegger is over and to some extent they have become close friends, so much so, that Schwarzenegger helps facilitate her new romance. I actually found this part of the story to be refreshing because I believe that it is possible for people to be lovers, recognize they make better friends than lovers, and then support each other's future life choices. The character played by Schwarzenegger is extremely likable since he is articulate, wise, calm, and dignified.

The plot is all about the young man, played by Jeff Bridges (as Craig Blake), trying to find himself and in this instance it involves finding a country girl when all the wealthy girls are available, of trying to begin life as a businessman when his ancestors were among the steel families that built Birmingham, and of trying to find a moral compass when those in his peer group appear to be drunk and greedy good-ole-boys. Bridges plays this part well as he navigates the social scene at the Birmingham Country Club and the back-woods moonshine fiddle parties (where Schwarzenegger actually plays a mean fiddle). It is the body-building theme and characters that adds much to this story for in the gym we see heroes and villains, just as we saw heroes and villains in the Country Club set that Bridges from which Bridges is trying to extricate himself.
The novel on which the screenplay is written was by Birmingham native Charles Gaines who later wrote "Pumping Iron" with Schwarzenegger as the central character. Actress, novelist, and screenwriter Fanny Flagg plays a Birmingham socialite in the film. Overall, it is a treat to watch the film if you are from Birmingham because so many familiar landmarks are integrated into the film. The mansion where much of the action takes place is ironically not a southern plantation but was based on George Washington's home, Mt. Vernon. I lived in Birmingham when the film was being made and the Birmingham News reported daily on film activities in the city. It is an interesting film in that Schwarzenegger plays his first serious part and Sally Field plays a nude scene and begins to break from the image she had built as a cute little nun in her TV series The Flying Nun. Jeff Bridges gets to play one of the first of a long line of conflicted characters he will play in his career. I recommend it, it is unique.

This is one of many films that have acquired 'cult' status.
An off beat work for Sally Field and the rest of the cast.
There is no gray area on this film.
Either you like it or you do not.
Watch it and decide for yourself.

The movie is just horrible,but the cast of stars in early roles make it most entertaining. It must have been the fault of the people who wrote,directed and produced this movie because most of the people in it had very successful careers ,despite this dreadful film. Sally and Arnold were really cute in this,but they deserved a better script. Very off beat! It is worth checking out(for the curious,like myself),if it is low priced,but I wouldn't invest any large sum of cash for this(and I am glad I didn't) !

This is a great film for any Arnold fan to add to his/her collection. It is just a fun film to watch and get a good laugh at how we all were back then, you know what I'm talking about, and if you don't , well then I suggest you buy this!

If you grew up in Birmingham, specifically Mountain Brook, in the 50s to the early 70's, this movie is a hoot. Look closely and you can see all of the people you know in the characters of the movie. The characters are based on real people, making the movie far more entertaining for those who have been there.

Stay Hungry is a film about the new south trying to preserve the old south. This was the turning point for all of the stars.

The film takes place in Birmingham, Alabama. The Blake's have been part of Birmingham society forever. Craig (Jeff Bridges) recently lost his parents and are at odds with himself. He has fallen in with some shady real estate developers. Craig has been given the assignment to buy the last piece of property for a development. This building is a gym.

The gym contains an assortment of characters. The receptionist is Mary Kate Farnsworth (Sally Field), Joe Santo (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a former Mr. Austria training for the Mr. Universe Competition,

Joe and Mary Kate take his Craig and his friend society Dorothy to the lake. The lake is where Joe and Mary Kate go to relax. This is the beginning of the relationship between Craig and Mary Kate.

Craig gets further drawn into their culture when Joe takes him to meet some of his fiddling friends. This is a great scene with people who play music just for enjoyment.

Things start to go wrong for Craig when Craig's business partners trash the gym. Then Joe brings Mary Kate and Joe to a country club event. When Joe took Craig to his friends, the accept him for who he is but the country club set want Joe and Mary Kate to know they just guests.

The day of the Mr. Universe contest arrives. Troy and Vernon have been set up with hookers and Vernon and the hookers steal the prize money. When the contestants suspect something is wrong, a crazy chase through the streets happen. A lot of this is impromptu with the citizens of the city as observers.

In the end, Craig and Mary Tate find each other.

At the time of this film Sally Field was still in transition. Norma Rae was still three years away and Sybil had not aired yet. This was an early chance to see her potential. She shines as the little hill girl who escaped to the big city.

Jeff Bridges had some early success with films like The Last Picture Show. But he never became a star in his own right. Stay Hungry would be one of many great performances that he did not capitalize on.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was the world's most renowned body builder but his first two films were disastrous quickies designed to capitalize on his name. This was his first quality film. Arnold knew that he over his head with this part, so he played it as close to himself as possible. And that paid off for Arnold winning the Golden Globe and critics awards.

The cast featured numerous actors that made their name in the 80's and 90's, mostly on television. Robert Gilliland (Designing Women) played Craig's business partner. Ed Begley, jr. (St. Elsewhere / Arrested Development) played a country club friend. Fannie Flagg (The New Dick Van Dyke Show / Match Game) as a country club matron. Joanna Cassidy (Who Framed Roger Rabbit / Six Feet Under) is a society dilettante. Roger Mosley (Magnum PI) and Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) are two guys who work at the gym. Scatman Crothers as Craig's houseman.

DVD EXTRAS :

Commentary by Bob Rafelson, Jeff Bridges and Sally Field

Video Introduction by Rafelson - 5 minute introduction where director Rafelson explains the origins of the film.

Arnold is classic early Arnold in this. The book is apparently pretty close to the movie, and so necessitated a scene near the end where all the bodybuilders - many of them real-life big names of the 70's - running through the streets and flexing for random people while they supposedly looked for Sally Field's character who was being assaulted in the gym. Jeff Bridges carries the movie - if you can call it that. His character is central and stands as the protagonist among many antagonists.