The Wrestler (1974)

Director:

James A. Westman

Writer:

Eugene Gump

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Athletes...? Actors...? Assassins...?

Plot:

Promoting the world of professional wrestling at the expense of the plot itself, Frank Bass (Ed Asner)...

Plot Keywords:

Wrestling | Pro Wrestling | Independent Film

Cast

Edward Asner	...	Frank Bass
Elaine Giftos	...	Debbie
Verne Gagne	...	Mike Bullard
Billy Robinson	...	Billy Taylor
Jerry Wade	...	Himself
Don Muraco	...	Himself (as Don Moraco)
Lord 'Tally Ho' Blears	...	Himself (as Lord James Blears)
Danny Hodge	...	Himself (as Dan Hodge)
Joe Scarpello	...	Himself
Dick Afflis	...	Himself (as The Bruiser)
Dan Gable	...	Himself
Vincent McMahon	...	Himself
Reginald Lisowski	...	The Crusher (as The Crusher)
Dusty Rhodes	...	Himself
Ed McDaniel	...	Himself (as Wahoo McDaniels)
Mel Jass	...	Himself
Bill Crouch	...	Himself
Marty O'Neil	...	Himself
Joe Dusek	...	Himself
Nick Bockwinkel	...	Himself
Billy Graham	...	Himself (as Superstar Billy Graham)
Jay Hyon	...	Himself
Sarah Miller	...	Betty Bullard
H.B. Haggerty	...	Bartender (as H.B. Hagarty)
Ray Stevens	...	Himself
Lawrence Batson	...	Himself
Sammy Menacker	...	The Mobster (as Sam Menacher)
Ric Flair	...	Himself (as Rick Flair)
Dick Murdoch	...	Himself
Greg Gagne
Eddie Graham	...	Himself
Harold Sakata	...	Odd Job
Larry Hennig	...	Himself
Wilbur Snyder	...	Himself
Rodger Kent	...	Himself
Bobby Cox	...	Himself
Ken Patera	...	Himself
James Klobuchar	...	Himself
Wally Karbo	...	Himself
Rod Trongard	...	Himself
Dennis Hilgart	...	Himself
Jim Brunzell	...	Himself (as James Brunzell)
Horst Hoffman	...	Himself
Fred Marxen	...	Himself
Dave Goldson	...	Himself
Jack Cornall	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack 'Wildman' Armstrong	...	Himself
Dory Funk Jr.	...	Himself
Pedro Morales	...	Himself

Directed by
James A. Westman		(as Jim Westman)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Eugene Gump

Produced by
W.R. Frank	....	producer
Verne Gagne	....	executive producer

Original Music by
William Allen Castleman		(as Wm. A. Castleman)
William Loose

Cinematography by
Gil Hubbs

Makeup Department
Jerry Cash	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Art Levinson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Pat Sullivan	....	mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Heideman	....	key grip
Melton Maxwell	....	gaffer (as Mel Maxwell)
Peter Smokler	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donald MacDonald	....	wardrobe (as Don MacDonald)

Editorial Department
Neal Chastain	....	supervising editor

Other crew
Marti Litis	....	production assistant
Margaret Tary	....	script supervisor
Joel Thingvall	....	intern

Distributors

• Entertainment Ventures (EVI) (1974) (USA)
• Frontier Amusements (Canada)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (video)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Trivia:

In addition to having real professional wrestlers playing the wrestlers in the film, "The Mobster" was played by professional wrestler Sammy Menacker. He was formerly known as "Slammin' Sam Menacker." By the time this film was made, Menacker had retired from the ring but was still in the business as a host/commentator.

Soundtrack:

I See Them

A look into the legend & legacy of professional wrestling

Quite simply, this movie should be remembered as a pure piece of Americana at its finest. In 1973 wrestling promoter Verne Gagne took some of the best wrestlers in the pro wrestling world and got them to make a movie about pro wrestling. The movie, 30 years in retrospect, looks more like a cheeky documentary produced in the classic "kayfabe" style (the traditional promotion of wrestling as a sport, cloaked in mystique and tradition).

The wrestling talent is pure, raw and unadulterated - featuring stars such as Dick the Bruiser, the Crusher, Nick Bockwinkle, Ric Flair, Dory Funk Jr, and "Dirty" Dick Murdoch, Dusty Rhodes and many others - all young and in just starting to hit their peaks. And in a rare appearance, Vincent J. McMahon, the progenitor of the now popular WWF/WWE - promoting pro wrestling in the old style, before the glitz, glamor and entertainment hoopla surrounding it. Verne Gagne himself also appears in this movie as one of its main stars, putting himself over the competition in his typical egotistical, yet entertaining, style.

But this movie isn't all wrestling. There's a good story to be told here, essentially giving the viewer the feel as if they've cut right into the middle of a traditional wrestling program. There is no real start or ending to this story, but it is another chapter in the daily struggle of faces and heels.

Ed Asner is the main star here, his acting ability along with his middle-age looks are a perfect fit for the character, he really does look like a wrestling promoter trying to keep his business together and defending it from the outside corrupting influences of a local mobster (played by legendary wrestler & commentator "Slammin'" Sam Menacker).

There is no comparison to any other wrestling movie made, this one is definitely the undisputed heavyweight champion!