Hercules in New York * (1970, Arnold Stang, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Deborah Loomis, James Karen, Ernest Graves, Tanny McDonald, Taina Elg, Michael Lipton) – Classic Movie Review 11,469

Director Arthur Allan Seidelman’s 1970 American fantasy-comedy film Hercules in New York [Hercules – the Movie] [Hercules Goes Bananas] stars Arnold Schwarzenegger (billed as Arnold Strong ‘Mr Universe’) making his film début at the age of 22 as the bored mythical hero Hercules sent by his dad Zeus (Ernest Graves) to investigate life in New York City.

He teams up with skinny, mild-mannered Pretzie (comedian Arnold Stang), captures a rampaging grizzly, has a chariot ride along Broadway and earns his keep as a professional wrestler.

Arnie’s acting is decidedly minimalist and his then heavy Austrian accent is crudely dubbed by an uncredited voice actor, but the movie is watchable in a so-bad-it’s-good sort of way, and it is played with just enough tongue-in-cheek humour.

It is written and produced independently by Aubrey Wisberg on a budget of $300,000, and shot entirely on location.

The Trimark DVD has an Original English Dialogue audio track with Schwarzenegger’s voice.

The cast are Arnold Stang as Pretzie, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Hercules, Deborah Loomis as Helen Camden, James Karen as Professor Camden, Ernest Graves as Zeus, Tanny McDonald as Juno, Taina Elg as Nemesis, Michael Lipton as Pluto, Harold Burstein as Rod Nelson, George Bartenieff as Nitro, Rudy Bond as Ship Captain, Dan Hamilton as Mercury, Mark Tendler as Samson, Dennis Tinerino as Atlas, Richard Herd as TV presenter, Tony Carroll as Monstro, and Aubrey Wisberg as Agatha.

Schwarzenegger auditioned for the role on the encouragement of his bodybuilder friend, idol and mentor Reg Park, who had starred in five Italian Hercules sword and sandal films, including Hercules in the Haunted World (1961). Schwarzenegger agent told producers his client had years of stage experience, implying theatre, when he had appeared only on bodybuilding stages. For three years in the Sixties Schwarzenegger was trained by Wag Bennett in his London East End gym, where Arnold met Reg Park.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,469

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