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Pumping Iron (1977) is a documentary film, about the run-up to the 1975 Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition. The film focuses on Arnold Schwarzenegger and his competitors Lou Ferrigno and Franco Columbu. The documentary was co-directed by Robert Fiore and George Butler. It was based on a book written by Charles Gaines. Pumping Iron is considered the all-time classic bodybuilding movie, documenting what is commonly referred to as "The Golden Age" of bodybuilding, a time when mass and size mattered less, and symmetry and definition of the body ruled. The documentary follows the two main bodybuilding competitions, the IFBB Mr. Universe (for amateurs) and the Mr. Olympia (for professionals) in Pretoria, South Africa. Though the documentary focuses on Schwarzenegger, many notable bodybuilders make appearances, including Ferrigno, Columbu, Mike Mentzer, Robby Robinson, Mike Katz, Albert Beckles, Ken Waller, Frank Zane, Ian Chan, Ed Corney, and Serge Nubret, all talented champions in their own rights. The film was re-released on DVD in 2003 for the 25th Anniversary of the original. The DVD featured behind the scenes footage and recent interviews with the cast. PlotThe first part of the documentary features the Mr. Universe contenders and begins with a profile of Mike Katz who is intending to win the Mr. Universe. Competing against Katz is Ken Waller. The two are stark contrasts of each other: where Katz is humble and unassuming, Waller is arrogant and dirty (he deliberately hides Katz's belongings at the Mr. Universe to break his focus before going on stage). After a pose-down Waller, due to his superior definition and proportions, eventually wins the Mr. Universe with Katz coming a distant 4th place. It should be noted that Katz is considered by some to have the greatest chest of all time, measuring at one point a huge 60 inches (152 cm), a feat only equalled by Lou Ferrigno. The second part of the film follows the Olympia contenders, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno and Franco Columbu. Ferrigno, a steel worker, is trained by his father in a small downtown gym. Ferrigno is humble and trains hard, whereas Arnold trains in the luxurious Gold's Gym, flanked by women as he perform his calf raises. Franco and Arnold both train together in the gym outside, where spectators are able to watch, contrasting the conditions Ferrigno is training under. Franco Columbu is also documented in a memorable scene when he blows air into a hot water bottle until it explodes. Prior to the Olympia competition the documentary also reveals Schwarzenegger's lesser-known deceptive behaviour and practices when it comes to his fellow competitors. During his competitive years Arnold was known to use many tricks in his favour when it came to the competitions. One such example was when he was competing against the legendary Sergio Oliva for an Olympia title. Schwarzenegger whilst on stage made the comment that he was tired of posing and that the two should exit the stage. Oliva agreed; however, Arnold had no intention of going anywhere, and Oliva walked off stage to many boos and hisses from fans who thought it arrogant not to stay on stage. In Pumping Iron Arnold comments that if his competitors are indeed better than him that he will get a room with them the night prior to the competition and simply talk them into losing. The documentary then takes off to Pretoria, South Africa, to the build-up to the competition. The competitors all take part in the Pre-Judging rounds. The under 200 pounds (91 kg) class is judged first, and Franco Columbu is declared the winner. The next to be judged are the three finalists from the over 200 pounds (91 kg) class, Lou Ferrigno, Arnold, and Serge Nubret. Arnold is declared the winner and must go for a pose-down with Franco Columbu for the overall Olympia title. Arnold for the 6th time is crowned Mr. Olympia; after his win he announces his retirement from competition. The documentary ends with all who took part leaving for the airport on a bus. Follow OnsPumping Iron was the world's first introduction to Arnold Schwarzenegger and was a contributing factor to Arnold's acting career and also in popularizing bodybuilding. Franco Columbu would go on to win the Olympia in 1976 and eventually became a practising doctor. Lou Ferrigno also went on to much success: though he never won the Olympia title, he found success in television, starring as the title character in the TV series The Incredible Hulk. A sequel to the film was made some years later, entitled Pumping Iron II: The Women. As the name suggests, it focused on female bodybuilders. A 25th anniversary edition of Pumping Iron included some comments from Arnold and George Butler, admitting that parts of the movie were staged or faked to make the film more interesting. At first Butler had tried to make a simple documentary highlighting the human side of bodybuilders, but somehow it didn't quite "work"; so he chose instead to take a good guy/bad guy approach. Arnold and Ken Waller were the chosen bad guys. At one point in the movie Arnold mentions that he refused to attend his father's funeral in Austria because he was training for a contest; in the commentary he denies this ever happened. Ken Waller's deviousness toward Mike Katz in the movie was also faked or exaggerated, but it did earn him some real-life boos at later contests. Interesting quotesLou Ferrigno is performing a heavy shoulder press and is clearly overloaded:
Arnold walks up to the counter of Gold's Gym:
Franco Columbu, talking about his transition from Italy to America:
Ferrigno and his trainer father have just finished an intense session:
Arnold comparing the "pump" of lifting to sex:
Data originally published on Wikipedia |