Beefcake (1998)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Thom Fitzgerald

Writer:

Thom Fitzgerald (writer)

Release Date:

14 October 1999 (Singapore)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This film looks at the 1950's muscle men's magazines and the representative industry that were popular supposedly as health and fitness magazines...

Plot Keywords:

Homosexual | 1950s | Homosexuality | Semi Documentary | Model

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Daniel MacIvor	...	Bob Mizer
Joshua Peace	...	Neil E. O'Hara (as Josh Peace)
Jack Griffin Mazeika	...	Red (as J. Griffin Mazeika)
Carroll Godsman	...	Delia Mizer
Jonathan Torrens	...	David
Thomas Cawood	...	Mizer's Attorney
Jaime Robertson	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Dick Sircom	...	Judge
Thom Fitzgerald	...	LaFleur's Attorney
Orest Ulan		(as Orest E Ulan)
Glen Deveau	...	Soldier Just Off the Bus
Marla McLean	...	Cabaret Singer
Daniel McLaren
Bernard Robichaud	...	Jukie
Marc St. Onge

Runtime:

Netherlands:93 min | USA:97 min

Country:

Canada | UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | UK:18 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Alliance Independent Films

Quotes:

Bob Mizer: Sun, schmun. This scoundrel's on some kind of a drug trip.
[Looks at David]
Bob Mizer: You. I warned you. We do not slap wrists here at AMG. I want you to take your weed-head friend here, and I want you to scram. I mean it!
[David picks up his friend]
Bob Mizer: And don't come back! Ever!
[looks down at their naked behinds as they walk out]
Bob Mizer: Not until you've learned your lesson!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You: Beefcake (#1.7)" (????)

Soundtrack:

Hooray for Hollywood

Bi ceps and homo concepts

Very entertaining and often funny, this re creation - with selected, astonishing genuine footage - of the AMG he-man 'studio' of the 1950s BEEFCAKE is best seen with a large (gay) crowd in a big cinema. That's how I first saw it and enjoyed the reactions as much as the movie. However the dramatic aspects of BEEFCAKE disappoints or falls short for several reasons: some of the casting is really terrible. Throughout BEEKCAKE, we see genuine footage made in the 50s by Bob Mizer. Parts of the production of these films is dramatized. The actors in these re created scenes are far from physically right. The actor who plays 'Red" has a podgy body, unlike anyone in the real footage, and this is jarring against the photos and film strips screened. Also, one stupid scene with what is supposed to be "Ramon Novarro" with a massive black fake phallus, the old man actor looks like Montgomery Burns from The Simpsons. I cannot fathom the point of having really inappropriate looking actors play parts of well known handsome and athletic men. Even the actor playing Mizer does not look like the real Bob Mizer. BEEFCAKE has some excellent interviews with original AMG talent, especially Joe Dallasandro whose early work is astonishing and humorous. However, the recreated scenes often lurch into territory only seedy gay guys want and it is somewhat alienating from what is basically a fascinating part of Hollywood history. There is actually a good story and better movie unmade (yet) here that is half way successful in this production of BEEFCAKE