MovieChat Forums > Stay Hungry (1976) Discussion > This movie tried to be to many things.

This movie tried to be to many things.

posted 20 years ago by josh888
15 replies | jump to latest

I am a huge fan of Arnold and his movies but I have to be honest and say this movie just plain stunk. Field and Bridges were the only decent actors, Arnold did not play a major part. Some movies you are just captivated by but this one was boring, slow, and the storyline was unclear. I went into this expecting more emphasis on Arnold and bodybuilding but found something totally different. The sex scene at the end with the two prostitutes was rather suprising and unneeded with concern to the storyline. Sometimes scenes just stick out as unneeded and that was one of them. I had however been wondering why the movie was R up until then and quickly discovered why with the woman being topless for quite a while. All in all Arnold was good but the movie tried to be to many things at one time and ended up being nothing. I don't know if anyone see's my point or not, hopefully so though.

[–] jenword 18 years ago

I agree, this movie was plain old boring. I only started watching it because I saw Arnold playing a violin!! I found all of the characters to be unlikeable. The scene with the prostitutes was completely tasteless, disgusting and unneeded. There was nothing about this movie I found even remotely interesting. There is really no reason at all to watch this movie. The fight scene at the end was excruciating to watch. I'd much prefer watching the alley fight between Roddy Piper and Keith David in "They Live." I'd have to say the only scene I enjoyed at all was watching Jeff Bridges do his crazy drunken dance while Arnold and his band played their 'deliverance' music.

[–] lightkeeper-1 18 years ago

The stringed instrument was a fiddle...not violin. What it is called depends on the type of music played. If you play bluegrass/country, it is a fiddle. If you play Brahms, it's a violin.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] freakytall 18 years ago

I finally got this movie I've seen nearly all of Arnold's movies but I agree with the rest of yas. I fastforwarded most of the movie except for watching the club fight, the fight in the gym, Arnold working out, Thor losing sanity and fighting Jeff Bridges (THAT FIGHT WAS PRETTY COOL), and the bodybuilders running around the streets. No other part really caught my eye and got fast forwarded. It is really hard to watch this again but could somebody please pull out the excerpt of when Arnold refers to the term "Stay Hungry"? I would like to know the line or 2 that goes with it so I know exactly what he meant.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rockmail 14 years ago

Yeah, he also preferred to "Stay on Steroids" (in real life) instead of sticking with what nature gave him.

Remember kids, cheating to get ahead is just fine if nobody catches you! Whooo Hoo!

[–] wlhess 17 years ago

"The stringed instrument was a fiddle...not violin. What it is called depends on the type of music played. If you play bluegrass/country, it is a fiddle. If you play Brahms, it's a violin."

A rose by any other name....

[–] trimby99 14 years ago

LOL @ your reference to "They Live". That *was* a great and totally pointless fight scene.

[–] Xcalat3 17 years ago

I agree, it just tried too hard

4/10

I Worship The Goddess Amber Tamblyn

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] blescha 16 years ago

you know what, i agree too
just saw it, and i found it to be really really weird. i mean, it had many great things like seeing sally field's butt, or arnold running half naked across the blocks with a bunch of muscle freaks following him
it's just, after each scene it leaves you wondering what the heck is going on
well, gonna keep it probably, for laughs (and sally field)

Average IQ: 100
Average IQ (Imdb): <80

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

It's almost like Bob Rafelson was attempting to make a "Nashville" set in Birmingham, Ala. This film has a lot of threads, none of them particularly interesting.

[–] Donniebb 15 years ago

I tend to agree with this review:

http://www.sportzflickz.com/stay-hungry/

[–] Druffmaul 9 years ago

Hmm, I had pretty much the opposite reaction. I too have always loved "Arnold and his movies" and have been sort of going on a bender over the last few weeks, watching pretty much every Arnie movie I can get my hands on. I went into Stay Hungry expecting him to have a very bit part with very little screen time. I was pleasantly surprised. And I thought he was great in the role. Overall I think the movie is a true gem.

[–] Htos_Drol 9 years ago

Agree 100%

I have a feeling the film maker had a script about a spoiled rich kid who falls into a real-estate scheme with some savvy, opportunistic people. Sally Field probably was in the film as his 'mark' turned love interest as he learns about life.

Then.... the film maker probably met Arnold somewhere along the line, and wrote in the whole bodybuilding sub-plot.

From the synopsis, I was led to believe that Arnold was to show young Craig the real world of body building and become his fitness mentor.

Instead, the film ended on some very creepy and weird notes with the prostitutes, the old man going crazy, and the body builder parade. All for no apparent reason.