Watch Stay Hungry For Free

Memorable, crazy movie

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Continuing my plan to watch every Arnold Schwarzenegger movie in order, I come to 1976's Stay Hungry.Plot In A Paragraph A syndicate wants to buy a whole district to rebuild it. They've bought every property except the small gym "Olympic", where Mr. Austria Joe Santo (Arnie) prepares for the Mr. Universum championships.In his supporting role, Arnie gets a 'Introducing' credit here, and he won a Golden Globe for his performance. Best Acting Debut In A Motion Picture. How that works when it isn't his movie debut, I don't know, but win he did. His performance is OK, I don't think it's great, but it's OK. The movie actually belongs to a charming turn by Jeff Bridges and the always cute Sally Field. I remember the joy of seeing Field naked in this as a kid!! I'd fancied her since Smokey & The Bandit. Future Freddy Kruger Robert Englund is here in a supporting role, and future Sly co star Joe Spinell has a small role too. In his autobiography Total Recall, Arnie talks about how director Bob Raffleson, asked him to take acting lessons and drop down from 240 pounds to 210. This meant he had to retire from competing at bodybuilding competitions. Despite good reviews, United Artists didn't know how to market the movie, and it failed at the box office. Arnie was sent on The Mike Douglas show to promote it with Sally Field, and to show the 50 year old how to excercise. It was advertised in gyms and gym magazines. Arnie felt it should have been advertised as 'A Bob Raffleson picture starring Jeff Bridges and Sally Field' and then let the bodybuilding be a surprise.I think sold differently, Stay Hungry could have done differently. 6/10

Most reviewers already described why the movie is definitely worth-watching, and they were completely right.One thing, which was totally missed, was the meaning of "Staying Hungry". Those, who are acquainted with Arnold's career and his biography*, know that "staying hungry" was one of the main life-guidelines in his whole life. A strong-willed, persistent, goal-oriented perfectionist, who was fighting all his life and, guess what - he has won! Geez, people, stop looking at Arnold as just a Terminator and governor of CA - you have a great role-model right in front of you to learn from about how true persistence brings you to your goals.* "FANTASTIC" is a MUST READ if you're looking for something truly inspiring and motivating "I don't want to get too comfortable. I'd rather stay hungry." Keep this in mind: a talent must be ALWAYS hungry.P.S. As for all those sexual-abuse related scandals, come one - in most European countries it's absolutely normal to flirt and hit on women, compared to the U.S., where even an "inappropriate" look may get you in serious trouble, which is absolutely ridiculous. Look at most of celebrities world-wide and the stuff they are doing on daily basis! Arnold is an angel compared to them, plus consider what he has achieved in his life. As for steroids, nearly EVERYONE was using them those days, not something to really frown upon back then.

The only saving grace of this movie is the bodybuilding, and those scenes are few and far between. If you are an Arnold fan, you will be greatly disappointed in the portrayal of your hero, if not, you may appreciate the way that he is taken out of his usual bad ass roles to show a more "sensitive side." The problem is that this portrayal is ridiculous, to the point where there is a scene with Arnie in the woods playing fiddle in a country jam. If you desperately wan to see this film to see all the films he is in do it. Otherwise, this movie should be prescribed to insomniacs, as i have fallen asleep to it on numerous occasions and suffer from the occasional bout myself.

As I watched this film last night it occurred to me that it has a certain fun, Altmanesque element of found local color. The shady southern businessmen Jeff Bridges' character is involved with all talk in a hilarious retro jive, "I'm fine as wine!" and sport really sharp looking plaid blazers. Rafelson decides to throw in random things just for sheer fun; a car race, with 70's Monte Carlos shooting through the streets of Birmingham, Alabama and getting air like it's San Francisco, a whole crew of 70's bodybuilders running through the city streets and posing on top of buses. Arnold Schwarzeneggar puts in his only true serious acting turn, although I'm not sure how much it should be considered acting as he's playing his real self; philosophical and shrewd. Sally Field is hot in this movie, there's even a scene where she jumps out of bed in the nude, displaying a great ass. Jeff Bridges puts on his usual display of fine, unselfconscious screen acting. One of the nicest and most refreshing things about this movie is that it unfolds organically; we don't feel an overarching awareness of chugging plot structure like we do at today's movies.