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Pumping Iron is a 1977 American docudrama about the world of professional bodybuilding, with a focus on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and 1975 Mr. Olympia competitions. Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore and edited by Geof Bartz and Larry Silk, it is inspired by the 1974 book of the same name by photographer Butler and writer Charles Gaines [2] and nominally centers on the competition ...
- THE GENESIS. George Butler was introduced to competitive bodybuilding when Charles Gaines asked him to photograph the Mr. East Coast for an article that appeared in a 1972 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine.
- THE BOOK. Photographer Butler and writer Gaines subsequently created the 1974 book Pumping Iron, which became a surprise bestseller. For the story of that book with excerpts and rare photos, check out: Pumping Iron: The Book.
- STAY HUNGRY. Charles Gaines co-wrote the bodybuilding themed-film Stay Hungry (based on his novel of the same name), which was shot just before Pumping Iron and released in 1976.
- THE FINANCING. George Butler asked approximately 3000 people to help finance his bodybuilding documentary. Almost all said no, even after he filmed 10 minutes of test footage of Arnold posing at a Massachusetts amusement park.
Dec 21, 2023 · Key Takeaways: Pumping Iron changed how people saw bodybuilding, showcasing the intense training and fierce competition between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, inspiring a new generation of fitness enthusiasts. The film captures the dedication and sacrifices of bodybuilders, shedding light on the mental and physical challenges they face ...
- A Magazine Article Played A Part in Pumping Iron’s Creation
- The Pumping Iron Book Was Not A Vehicle For Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Pumping Iron Allegedly Inspired John Travolta’s Breakout Hit
- One of The Movie’S Most Memorable Bodybuilders Wasn’T Credited
- No, Schwarzenegger Didn’T Skip His Dad’S Funeral to Train
- No One Stole Mike Katz’s T-Shirt
- During Filming, Lou Ferrigno “Predicted” He Would Become The Incredible Hulk
- People Thought The Movie Would Tank Because of Schwarzenegger
- A Pumped-Up Legacy
- References
Most might imagine that Pumping Iron exists solely because of Arnold Schwarzenegger. But the first kernel of inspiration for the movie actually sprung up at a small bodybuilding show in Holyoke, Mass. (1) In 1972, the town hosted a bodybuilding contest, and Sports Illustratedhired Butler to take photographs of the event for a feature article writte...
Many fans of the film might not know that Pumping Iron started out as a book written by Gaines with photographs by Butler. (2) And it doesn’t focus solely on Schwarzenegger — heck, the “Austrian Oak” didn’t even make the cover. The cover of the first edition actually went to the late Ed Corney, a bodybuilder with his own niche, in-sport popularity....
Both Pumping Iron and Saturday Night Fever hit theaters in 1977 and quickly became pop-culture sensations. While they appear to be on opposite ends of the cinematic spectrum, Butler claimed that Pumping Iron’s supporting cast member, Lou Ferrigno, inspired the characterization of John Travolta’s fictional family life in Fever. (1) [Read: How to Inc...
In a movie full of memorable scenes, Schwarzenegger giving pre-contest advice to a young competitor stands out from the pack. The scene takes place right in the middle of Gold’s Gymas the blonde newbie bodybuilder receives criticism from the Austrian Oak. The young man’s name is Wes Brown, but you’d never know that, as he didn’t even get a credit i...
Both Schwarzenegger and Butler have long since gone on the record revealing many moments in Pumping Ironwere completely fictionalized in order to tell a more compelling story. It’s why the movie is labeled a docudrama rather than a documentary. One such story involved Schwarzenegger skipping his father’s funeral because he didn’t want to miss out o...
Another standout moment in Pumping Iron is the subplot of bodybuilder Ken Waller stealing rival Mike Katz’s T-shirt in order to psyche him out on the day of the competition. Butler and Schwarzenegger have long since admitted that the incident was completely fabricated, too. (1)(8) Yes, Mike Katz did really lose his shirt temporarily, and yes, he di...
Countless hours of footage filmed for Pumping Ironhad to be cut to meet the movie’s 90-minute run time. But that doesn’t mean the moments that were cut were duds. In fact, a few gems ultimately fell victim to the editing process during post-production. One such piece came when Lou Ferrignoapparently expressed that his goal was to “become the Incred...
When Butler wanted to get Pumping Iron funded in the early ‘70s, Schwarzenegger was far from a big-screen star. Until that point, his most high-profile movie was 1969’s Hercules in New York, a notorious indie flop that seemed to signal the end of Schwarzenegger’s nascent movie career. New York bombed so hard that one potential financier denied Butl...
Pumping Iron began as a humble two-man project, born out of shared curiosity about a niche subculture. In the end, despite a shoestring budget and piles of skepticism, the docudrama helped introduce bodybuildingto mainstream popular culture and was a key factor in Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming one of the biggest movie stars of the 1980s and ’90s. ...
Perine, Shawn. “Pumping Ironat 25: The Film That Almost Wasn’t.” IronAge.Us. 2002The Barbell Team. “Pumping Iron: The Book.” TheBarbell.com, August 19, 2022“Best Sellers.” The New York Times, April 20, 1975AFI Catalog, Saturday Night Fever. The five-time champion, Arnold Schwarzenegger, defends his Mr. Olympia title against Serge Nubret and the shy young deaf, Lou Ferrigno, whose father is his coach; the ruthless champ psyches out the young lion. Sardinian Franco Columbu competes in the lightweight class; at home in Italy, he solves a tight parking problem by lifting the car into ...
Feb 6, 2023 · 25 years after the release of Pumping Iron, the documentary Raw Iron was released, based on the foregone conclusion that Arnold was entering the field of politics and needed to enact his own ...
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Jan 30, 2017 · 40 Years Of ‘Pumping Iron,’ The Film That Turned Male Vanity Into Art. Pumping Iron, was released on January 18th, 1977, but the film’s influence can still be felt 40 years later. Most ...
